The Office of Planning and Zoning

The Office of Planning and Zoning is responsible for planning the physical growth and development of the county. In order to fulfill that responsibility, the office prepares a revised general plan periodically, updates the rules governing subdivision of property, reviews and revises the zoning laws that regulate the use of property and administers both the subdivision code and the zoning ordinance.

The Office is dedicated to managing the County's development in an efficient and equitable manner, balancing the interests of diverse parties. The Office seeks to provide clear, timely information to the public concerning the planning and development activities within the County.

The Office is organized into six divisions: Development Review, Long Range Planning, Research & GIS, Transportation Planning, Cultural Resources and Zoning.

The Office works in partnership with the Department of Inspections and Permits and Public Works to operate the Customer Service and Intake Center. The Center provides a one-stop shop for citizens of the County to file permits, and applications for licenses, subdivisions and zoning. Professional staff is available to answer questions regarding the rules and regulations concerning development on a walk-in-basis. The Center is located on the first floor of Building 2664 Riva Road in the Heritage Office Complex.

The Office is also involved in many other planning activities that assist in implementing the adopted policies in the General Development Plan. These activities include developing a Master Plan of Water and Sewer, transportation planning, and revitalizing older communities. The Planning Advisory Board, a charter mandated body of seven citizens, reviews and advises on all county plans and makes recommendations on the capital budget and program annually.

Finally, we are also responsible for administration of specific programs that work to protect important County resources. These include the Historic & Archaeological Resource Program and the Critical Area Program. These programs are responsible for various research/development and regulatory tasks including administering Critical Area compliance, and historic and archaeological site review prior to development.