SALEM — Thirteen Oregon cities and one county will sue the state government over a climate-focused mandate to overhaul local transportation and land use rules.

The city councils of Cornelius, Forest Grove, Grants Pass, Happy Valley, Hillsboro, Keizer, Medford, Oregon City, Sherwood, Springfield, Troutdale, Tualatin and Wood Village voted to sue the state over its new rules. Marion County also joined the lawsuit, the only county government to do so.

In the lawsuit, filed with the state Court of Appeals, the local governments ask the court to invalidate state rules that next year would eliminate parking requirements for businesses and require cities to improve electric charging infrastructure, identify and pursue climate equity projects, and plan for better public transit, bike and pedestrian infrastructure.

The lawsuit also asks the court to pause the implementation of the rules while that judicial review is pending.

Local officials who have opposed the rules say they are too prescriptive and stepped on the authority of local governments while exceeding the scope of state authority. They said they support changes to reduce climate pollution, and that their cities are already doing so, but that the state-mandated rules weren’t feasible for their communities.

The broad policy changes stem from a 2020 executive order from Gov. Kate Brown that required state agencies to make changes that reduce climate pollution, particularly from transportation. The state’s Land Conservation and Development Commission adopted the rules in July following two years of planning.