The Planning Commission is an appointed body of citizen volunteers, authorized under Article 3, Chapter 160D of the North Carolina General Statutes, and established to serve as an advisory board on land use matters and other duties as assigned by the Town Council. The Planning Department provides staff support for the Commission.

The commission has a total of seven members; five members must reside inside the Garner town limits, and two members must reside outside of the town limits in the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ).