Most local governments have a board that decides what the zoning plan will be for the town or city. The people who plan communities think about where roads, parks, factories, and homes should be built. These planners consider water supplies, pollution, noise, and other important factors when making plans for a community. To ensure that these plans are followed, local officials establish certain kinds of local laws to determine what areas are set aside for residences, businesses, and recreation. 

This board may be called a Planning Board, a Zoning Board, or a Board of Overseers. The members of this board develop a zoning map and a set of guidelines for how land can be used. 

In addition, there may be another board, sometimes called a Board of Adjustments, that administers the zoning plan. The members of this board must be convinced that the proposed building or change of land use is within the guidelines set by the Planning Board. For example, if someone wants to turn a home into a store, he or she will have to show that the use of the building as a store is within the zoning guidelines for that area. If it is not, then the permit is denied.