The Virginia legislature has delegated control over land use decisions to local governments, including the authority for land use planning and zoning. State law calls for local planning commissions to prepare and recommend Comprehensive Plans to guide the physical development of territory in their jurisdictions. As such, decisions and plans vary widely between communities. Local governments must adopt Comprehensive Plans, review them, and potentially update them every five years. 

This fact sheet provides an overview of local planning processes and Planning District Commissions (PDCs) in Virginia.