STAR Communities is a nonprofit organization that works to evaluate, improve, and certify sustainable communities. We administer the STAR Community Rating System (STAR), the nation’s leading framework and certification program for local sustainability. Cities and counties use STAR to measure their progress across social, economic, and environmental performance areas. Built by and for local governments, STAR is a catalyst for local action and is transforming the way that communities address sustainability progress. One of the top reasons that U.S. cities and counties come to STAR Communities is because they are looking for ways to strengthen and support local planning efforts. This document is designed for local government staff and planners and provides guidance on how to use the STAR Community Rating System to integrate sustainability into comprehensive, strategic, and sustainability plans. This report was published in May 2016 and was written by Lacey Shaver and David Abell.