State Land Use Planning Offices

State level planning bodies that enact legislation which provides a framework for land use planning throughout the state; delegates decision-making authority to the local legislative body in individual jurisdictions (usually the city/town council or board of supervisors); and establishes requirements for development of a general plan (also known as a comprehensive, master or official plan), specific/area plans (sometimes referred to as community, neighborhood or secondary plans), subdivision regulations and zoning ordinances within those jurisdictions. Although state law guides state and local authorities in making sustainable land use and development decisions, the state rarely becomes directly involved in local decision-making.