The department has the main responsibility for the county’s planning work under the Planning and Building Act, including cooperation with and guidance of the planning tasks of the county’s municipalities.
 
The planning promotes sustainable developments for the benefit of the individual, the society and for future generations. Public health, urban development, the principle of universal design, consideration of children and young people’s upbringing conditions and aesthetic design are important considerations.

The department will participate in setting the agenda in current issues related to community development locally and regionally. The department has the competence in the use of geographic information systems. It also has the mandate of ensuring that cross-departmental tasks go through an interdisciplinary assessment in the county.