The article deals with the legal and social aspects of sustainable development of rural areas in the Russian Federation. The materials and recommendations of the parliamentary hearings of the state Duma Committee on agrarian issues were used in the preparation. Rural areas have extensive natural, demographic, economic, historical and cultural potential. There is a need to ensure that the objectives of state support for agricultural development and sustainable rural development are in line with the expected results of the implementation of the relevant measures and the mechanisms for their implementation, including the provision of the necessary level of funding.