The Planning Division of the Land Services Department provides a variety of services to the citizens of unincorporated Stevens County, including processing of land use applications (current planning), and the implementation and maintenance of the Stevens County Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations (long range planning). The Planning Division also provides professional support to the Stevens County Planning Commission, Hearing Examiner, various Citizen Advisory Committees, and the Board of County Commissioners.

Current planning duties include the reviewing and processing of land use development proposals for conformance with the County's Comprehensive Plan, development regulations (i.e. zoning, subdivisions, critical areas, shorelines, forest practices, frequently flooded areas), and various other County, State, and Federal policies and regulations.

The Planning Division is also responsible for the administration of a variety of long range planning issues affecting Stevens County. This includes the implementation and maintenance of the County's Comprehensive Plan that provides a long-term vision and consistency for local Development, as well as the development regulations which implement that vision.