Local governments pass laws to regulate how land is zoned and subdivided, among other things.
In 1967, the Wisconsin Legislature provided counties with the specific authority to plan for the physical development of the county. The plan document prepared by the county is referred to in the Wisconsin statutes as the county development plan . The county zoning agency is either a planning and zoning committee of the county board or a planning and zoning commission which is made up wholly or partially of people who are not members of the county board. The county board creates the county zoning agency. If a county with a county executive creates a planning and zoning commission, the county executive appoints the commission members subject to confirmation by the county board.