diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index b25ba96973..f73759d797 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ crashlytics-build.properties
 fabric.properties
 
 ### Maven ###
-target/
+/org.lflang*/target/
 pom.xml.tag
 pom.xml.releaseBackup
 pom.xml.versionsBackup
diff --git a/org.lflang/src/org/lflang/LinguaFranca.xtext b/org.lflang/src/org/lflang/LinguaFranca.xtext
index 64a634f9f5..edc887d987 100644
--- a/org.lflang/src/org/lflang/LinguaFranca.xtext
+++ b/org.lflang/src/org/lflang/LinguaFranca.xtext
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ Reactor:
     '{'
     (     (preambles+=Preamble)
         | (stateVars+=StateVar)
+        | (methods+=Method)
         | (inputs+=Input)
         | (outputs+=Output)
         | (timers+=Timer)
@@ -143,6 +144,18 @@ TargetDecl:
     ) ';'?
 ;
 
+Method:
+    const?='const'? 'method' name=ID
+    '(' (arguments+=MethodArgument (',' arguments+=MethodArgument)*)? ')'
+    (':' return=Type)?
+    code=Code
+    ';'?
+;
+
+MethodArgument:
+    name=ID (':' type=Type)?
+;
+
 Input:
     mutable?='mutable'? 'input' (widthSpec=WidthSpec)? name=ID (':' type=Type)? ';'?;
 
@@ -457,7 +470,7 @@ Token:
     'target' | 'import' | 'main' | 'realtime' | 'reactor' | 'state' | 'time' | 
     'mutable' | 'input' | 'output' | 'timer' | 'action' | 'reaction' | 
     'startup' | 'shutdown' | 'after' | 'deadline' | 'mutation' | 'preamble' |
-    'new' | 'federated' | 'at' | 'as' | 'from' |
+    'new' | 'federated' | 'at' | 'as' | 'from' | 'const' | 'method' |
     // Other terminals
     NEGINT | TRUE | FALSE |
     // Action origins
diff --git a/org.lflang/src/org/lflang/generator/cpp/CppMethodGenerator.kt b/org.lflang/src/org/lflang/generator/cpp/CppMethodGenerator.kt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0ad793413c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/org.lflang/src/org/lflang/generator/cpp/CppMethodGenerator.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+/*************
+ * Copyright (c) 2021, TU Dresden.
+
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification,
+ * are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+
+ * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice,
+ *    this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+
+ * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice,
+ *    this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation
+ *    and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND ANY
+ * EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
+ * MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL
+ * THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+ * SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
+ * PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS
+ * INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT,
+ * STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF
+ * THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ ***************/
+
+package org.lflang.generator.cpp
+
+import org.lflang.InferredType
+import org.lflang.generator.PrependOperator
+import org.lflang.lf.Method
+import org.lflang.lf.MethodArgument
+import org.lflang.lf.Reactor
+import org.lflang.toText
+
+/** A C++ code generator for state variables */
+class CppMethodGenerator(private val reactor: Reactor) {
+
+    private val Method.targetType: String get() = if (`return` != null) InferredType.fromAST(`return`).targetType else "void"
+    private val MethodArgument.targetType: String get() = InferredType.fromAST(type).targetType
+
+    private val Method.cppArgs get() = this.arguments.map { "${it.targetType} ${it.name}" }
+    private val Method.constQualifier get() = if (isConst) " const" else ""
+
+    private fun generateDefinition(method: Method): String = with(PrependOperator) {
+        with(method) {
+            """
+                |${reactor.templateLine}
+                |$targetType ${reactor.templateName}::Inner::$name(${cppArgs.joinToString(", ")})$constQualifier {
+            ${" |  "..code.toText()}
+                |}
+            """.trimMargin()
+        }
+    }
+
+    private fun generateDeclaration(method: Method): String = with(method) {
+        "$targetType $name(${cppArgs.joinToString(", ")})$constQualifier;"
+    }
+
+    /** Get all method definitions */
+    fun generateDefinitions() =
+        reactor.methods.joinToString("\n", "// methods\n", "\n") { generateDefinition(it) }
+
+    /** Get all method declarations */
+    fun generateDeclarations() =
+        reactor.methods.joinToString("\n", "// methods\n", "\n") { generateDeclaration(it) }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/org.lflang/src/org/lflang/generator/cpp/CppReactorGenerator.kt b/org.lflang/src/org/lflang/generator/cpp/CppReactorGenerator.kt
index 8a760315d3..fd7c293dba 100644
--- a/org.lflang/src/org/lflang/generator/cpp/CppReactorGenerator.kt
+++ b/org.lflang/src/org/lflang/generator/cpp/CppReactorGenerator.kt
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ class CppReactorGenerator(private val reactor: Reactor, fileConfig: CppFileConfi
 
     private val parameters = CppParameterGenerator(reactor)
     private val state = CppStateGenerator(reactor)
+    private val methods = CppMethodGenerator(reactor)
     private val instances = CppInstanceGenerator(reactor, fileConfig, errorReporter)
     private val timers = CppTimerGenerator(reactor)
     private val actions = CppActionGenerator(reactor, errorReporter)
@@ -96,6 +97,7 @@ class CppReactorGenerator(private val reactor: Reactor, fileConfig: CppFileConfi
             |  class Inner: public lfutil::LFScope {
         ${" |    "..parameters.generateDeclarations()}
         ${" |    "..state.generateDeclarations()}
+        ${" |    "..methods.generateDeclarations()}
         ${" |    "..constructor.generateInnerDeclaration()}
         ${" |    "..reactions.generateBodyDeclarations()}
         ${" |    "..reactions.generateDeadlineHandlerDeclarations()}
@@ -135,6 +137,8 @@ class CppReactorGenerator(private val reactor: Reactor, fileConfig: CppFileConfi
             |
         ${" |"..assemble.generateDefinition()}
             |
+        ${" |"..methods.generateDefinitions()}
+            |
         ${" |"..reactions.generateBodyDefinitions()}
         ${" |"..reactions.generateDeadlineHandlerDefinitions()}
         """.trimMargin()
diff --git a/test/Cpp/src/target/Methods.lf b/test/Cpp/src/target/Methods.lf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f9c063def3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/Cpp/src/target/Methods.lf
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+target Cpp;
+
+main reactor {
+  
+  	state foo:int(2);
+  	
+  	const method getFoo(): int {=
+		return foo;
+	=}
+	
+	method add(x:int) {=
+        foo += x;
+    =}
+    
+    reaction(startup){=
+        std::cout << "Foo is initialized to " << getFoo() << '\n';
+        if (getFoo() != 2) {
+            std::cerr << "Error: expected 2!\n";
+            exit(1);
+        }
+        
+        add(40);
+        std::cout << "2 + 40 = " << getFoo() << '\n';
+        if (getFoo() != 42) {
+            std::cerr << "Error: expected 42!\n";
+            exit(2);
+        }
+    =}
+}