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Note:

In accordance with legislation effective July 1, 2005, the services provided by the Local Planning Assistance Center are no longer available. However, resources produced by the Local Planning Assistance Center through June 30, 2005, will remain available from this web site. The LPA site has also been archived and can be downloaded via http://www.gda.state.mn.us/resource.html?Id=17467

Please direct requests for information packets to:
Professor Tony Filipovitch, Chair
Urban and Regional Studies Institute
Minnesota State; University at Mankato
106 Morris Hall
Mankato MN 56001
507-389-5035
tony@mnsu.edu

Governance in Minnesota

Minnesota has recognized the importance of local planning for nearly five decades, passing laws that give local governments authority and responsibility to plan for a wide variety of issues. There are, however, different requirements and levels of authority for counties, cities and townships. Click on our statute link to view Minnesota's planning laws for local governments.

Counties in Minnesota

With the exception of Hennepin and Ramsey, all Minnesota counties have authority to prepare comprehensive plans and adopt official controls, including zoning and subdivision regulations and official maps, to protect general health, safety and welfare.  Many counties now have Web sites.

Cities in Minnesota

Minnesota's 853 cities may prepare, adopt and amend comprehensive municipal plans and implement the plans by ordinance and other official actions. Many cities now have their zoning regulations and other planning-related materials on their Web sites.

Township in Minnesota

Minnesota's 1,792 townships also may prepare, adopt and amend comprehensive municipal plans and implement the plans by ordinance and other official actions. However, official controls for townships cannot be inconsistent with or less restrictive than the county's controls. Some townships now have Web sites.

Minnesota Regional Development Organizations

Minnesota authorized 12 regional development commissions covering areas outside the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Commissions are authorized to prepare plans for local governments and provide a broad range of services to local governments and residents in their regions. 

Minnesota Regional Development Organizations (MRDO) Web site

Minnesota Development Regions

Technical problems? Contact: andrew.koebrick@state.mn.us