In 2001 the Board of Park County Commissioners adopted the Park County Strategic Master Plan as a blueprint for new Land Use Regulations that were subsequently refined and adopted in 2003.
Recommendations and policies contained in the Master Plan largely reflect the results of a community survey that was mailed to all 7,588 households. In addition, several community workshops were held in every area in the county where hundreds of residents participated in crafting "preferred development scenarios" for their communities and areas. From the survey, workshops, interviews and other public forums, several guiding principles emerged for Park County government:

1. Ensure that growth is sustainable (i.e. consistent with existing resources and carrying capacities).
2. Encourage new commercial development that will add value to each community (i.e. grocery stores).
3. Protect the rights of private property owners.
4. Ensure the rate of development allows the county and others to provide adequate levels of service.
5. Protect surface water and groundwater resources.
6. Preserve and enhance critical natural areas.
7. Mitigate existing and potential man-made hazards.
8. Preserve and protect cultural resources & structures.
9. Target high density residential and commercial uses to areas around towns and rural population centers.
10. Maintain the rural character of the county and rural areas through preservation of open space.
11. Encourage heritage tourism and entrepreneurial business development to diversify the economy.
12. Encourage site planning that minimizes the fragmentation of undeveloped lands, habitat, etc.
13. Protect and preserve access routes to public lands.
14. Promote new recreation opportunities for residents.
15. Require new development to pay its fair share of the cost of providing services to such development.