Which agency governs land-use regulations in most local areas?

The correct choice is the local zoning board because it is primarily responsible for overseeing land-use regulations within a specific locality. This includes determining how land in a given area can be used, including residential, commercial, and industrial zoning. Local zoning boards establish guidelines and approve plans that align with the community's development goals, ensuring that land use complies with local laws and ordinances.

While the Environmental Protection Agency focuses on national environmental standards and regulations, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development deals with policies related to housing and urban development at a federal level, their scope does not directly regulate land use in local areas. Similarly, state land offices manage public land and resources at the state level but do not engage in the detailed land-use decisions affecting individual municipalities. Thus, the local zoning board is the most relevant authority for governing land-use regulations in most local areas.