Comprehensive Plan Update

The Council reviews comprehensive plans for completeness before evaluating updates or amendments. A plan is considered complete when it meets statutory requirements and provides enough information to assess:

  • Conformance with metropolitan system plans
  • Consistency with adopted policy plans
  • Compatibility with adjacent and affected jurisdictions

Each Plan Element page outlines minimum requirements to help you submit a complete plan. A checklist of submittal requirements is available on your Community Page. Comprehensive plan updates must be submitted by December 31, 2028.

Before submitting your Comprehensive Plan Update, local governments must:

  1. Hold a public hearing
  2. Obtain approval from local governing body
  3. Allow adjacent and affected jurisdictions to review

    • Before submitting your comprehensive plan update, you must allow adjacent and affected jurisdictions to review and comment. These may include school districts, watershed organizations, state and federal agencies, park agencies, transit providers, commissions, and neighboring communities. A list is available on your Community Page.

    • All affected jurisdictions must submit comments, or the six-month review period must expire. Include their feedback and your response with your submission. You may submit earlier if all comments are received.

The Metropolitan Council offers an optional preliminary review of your draft plan, which can help identify issues before the formal review. This process makes the formal review easier by addressing potential conformance, consistency, or compatibility concerns early.

More information about preliminary reviews is coming soon!

MRCCA plans approved by the DNR and adopted by LGUs as part of the 2040 comprehensive plan update process do not need to be updated – they may remain as-is. There is no expectation that LGUs need to or will update DNR-approved MRCCA plans as part of the 2050 process. All DNR-approved plans remain consistent with Minnesota Rules, chapter 6106 (the MRCCA rules). The rules have not changed and thus no MRCCA plan updates are necessary, nor are any changes expected to DNR-approved MRCCA zoning ordinances. 

Incorporating the DNR-approved plan with no modifications

If the LGU is incorporating the approved MRCCA plan, and not changing it, the following requirements and procedures apply: 

  • The draft 2050 comp plan acknowledges the existing DNR-approved MRCCA plan as an element in the 2050 plan by including the existing DNR-approved plan as: 
    a “MRCCA” chapter in the 2050 plan, or  
  • an appendix to the 2050 plan, and 
  • referencing the DNR-approved MRCCA plan in the 2050 plan with language similar to: 
    "The MRCCA plan adopted on xx/xx/xxxx and approved by the DNR on xx/xx/xxxx (is included in this chapter/section or in Appendix X). This MRCCA plan continues as the policy document guiding development in the MRCCA under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 116G and Minnesota Rules Chapter 6106."

Amending a DNR-approved plan

During the 2050 Comprehensive Planning Process, communities may find that an amendment to their approved MRCCA plan is required. 

LGUs must follow these requirements for a complete submission:

  • LGUs must submit the existing DNR-approved MRCCA plan as a Word document to their Sector Representative
  • All changes must be shown using track changes 
  • All changes must be explained using the comment feature in Word.  
  • MRCCA plan amendments submitted as PDF documents or plans that do not show the proposed amendments with explanatory comments will be returned as incomplete. 

Submit Online

We’ve created an online tool for submitting your comprehensive plan updates, amendments, and supplemental materials. This tool simplifies the process, reduces paper use, and speeds up review.

Visit your Community Page for the submittal tool and refer Resources page for detailed instructions.

Registration required to use the portal. 

Submit By Mail

We still accept hard copies of plan update. Hard copy submittals must include:

  • Comprehensive Plan Update Application Form
  • Include a searchable PDF copy of your entire plan and appendices, not a scanned image.
  • Comments from adjacent and affected jurisdictions
  • A copy of your adopted local resolution authorizing the plan to be submitted for review. 

Mail your plan to us at:

Reviews Coordinator
Metropolitan Council
390 North Robert Street
St. Paul, MN 55101

Email PDF to: [email protected]

After the Council’s review, there are a few final steps before your comprehensive plan update is complete:

  • Adopt your final plan and comprehensive sewer plan by resolution within nine months. If the Council recommends changes, incorporate them or respond before adoption.
  • Submit the adoption resolution and a copy of the approved plan, including the sewer plan.
    • Your comprehensive sewer plan is effective only after final adoption of your plan update. You cannot alter, expand, or improve the sewage system until then.
  • Complete adoption of your sewer plan before altering or expanding the sewage system.
  • Submit one electronic and one hard copy of your full plan update. The electronic copy must be a searchable PDF.
  • Adopt official controls as outlined in the plan and submit them within 30 days.
    • The Council does not officially review these, but retains them for tracking and information purposes.
    • If your official controls conflict with the plan, they must be amended within nine months.

Amend Your Plan

After adoption, your plan may be amended due to encourage developments, implement planning studies and policy changes, or updated information. See the Comprehensive Plan Amendments page for detailed guidance.