Long-range and short-range planning activities relating to physical development in the metropolitan area are handled by the Metropolitan Planning Section.

Comprehensive Development Master Plan (CDMP)
The CDMP expresses the County’s general objectives and policies addressing where and how it intends that development or conservation of land and natural resources will occur during the next ten to twenty years, and the delivery of County services to accomplish the Plan’s objectives.  A major review and update of the CDMP is done every five to ten years. Applications to amend the CDMP are accepted every April and every other October. The October filing period is optional during even-numbered years. For more details about the CDMP, click here.

Countywide Studies
Countywide studies addressing specific issues relating to land use, public services, environmental, and related planning issues, and preparation of "functional" plans addressing such issues are conducted by the Long Range Planning Unit. Examples of such activities include the South Miami-Dade Watershed Planning Project, and administration of the activities of the County’s Agricultural Practices Study Advisory Board, Agriculture and Rural Area Study, which were established by the Board of County Commissioners.

Concurrency
The Concurrency Information Center monitors the available capacity of certain important public facilities and systems required to accommodate projected development, and provides service concurrency information to the public and development industry. This information includes tabulations of committed development demands on remaining facility capacity, analyses of existing and forecast levels of service, and service concurrency status letters issued upon request and fee payment to officially certify service conditions and availability of capacity to serve additional development.