A Planning District Commission is a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia, chartered under the Regional Cooperation Act by the local governments of each planning district. The Planning District Commission is made up of elected officials and citizens that are appointed to the Commission by its member governments. This Commission appoints an Executive Director whom oversees the day to day operations of the staff.

The primary role of the Commission is to encourage and assist member governments in economic development activities. The Commission executes this role at both the local and regional level by fostering intergovernmental cooperation, providing comprehensive planning services, and by making available needed technical assistance in developing and administering community improvement projects and programs. In addition to the Commission's advisory capacity to local government, it also performs the functions necessary to implement its plans and programs on behalf of its member jurisdictions when such action is deemed appropriate or requested.

The Planning Commission provides essential technical assitance to local governments, coordinates state and federal efforts to assist communities, reviews and coordinates local development proposals, and helps to achieve a realistic development strategy to utilize in shaping a long range development plan for the District. The primary objectives are to reduce the waste, overlap, and inefficiencies that frequently result from unplanned or uncoordinated governmental and private activities.