Comprehensive Plan

The Comprehensive Plan is a document that provides direction in making land use, development, and other long-range planning decisions in the county. The 2040 Comprehensive plan update began with a civic engagement process which all community members were encourage to participate in developing a shared vision of the county's future. This vision lays the groundwork for a plan with broad goals, policies, and action plans that will guide planning decisions in the future. 

The Comprehensive Plan contains components relating to economic development; land use; agricultural & natural resource preservation; transportation; housing & livable community design; park, recreations & open space; and sustainability.  It contains implementation strategies in the form of goals and objectives to achieve the collaborative vision of the county’s future, and serves as a guide for development decisions over the next ten to twenty years.

After numerous meetings and methods of gathering input, a draft comprehensive plan document has been developed.  The draft 2040 Rice County Comprehensive Plan, along with the Fundamental Inventory Guide is below.   In addition, the Fundamental Inventory Guide, contains extensive background data and information used in the development of the plan.

Rice County is inviting citizens to provide input on the draft 2040 Comprehensive Plan & Fundamental Inventory Guide before refining the document for formal adoption.
Please send all comments and questions to: Email

Comprehensive Plan Process Flow Chart

Public Input Received as of November 23, 2020

Citizen Comments 
County's, Cities and Townships Comments
Organizations Comments 

 We welcome your input. The future of Rice County depends on you! 

• Full 2040 Preliminary Comprehensive Plan Draft 
• Chapter 1. Introduction 
• Chapter 2. Economic Development
• Chapter 3. Land Use
• Chapter 4. Transportation 
• Chapter 5. Housing and Livable Communities Design 
• Chapter 6. Parks, Recreation, and Open Space
• Chapter 7. Sustainability
• Chapter 8. Implementation 
• Appendix A: Fundamental Inventory Guide 
• Appendix B: Public Forum Summary
• Appendix C: Community Survey & Results 
• Appendix D: 2025 Rice County Transportation Plan (May 9, 2006) 
• Appendix E: Comprehensive Housing Study
• Appendix F: Le Sueur & Rice Active Living Profile 
• Appendix G: Rice County Parks, Recreation & Open Space 2011-2021