About
The City of Boston’s Planning Cabinet is led by the Chief of Planning and includes the Planning Department as well as the various boards and commissions supported by Planning Department staff, including the Zoning Commission, Boston Civic Design Commission, and BPDA Board. The Chief of Planning also serves as the BPDA’s Director. Together, these bodies form one comprehensive cabinet within the City of Boston focused on guiding the inclusive growth of our city.
Boston’s Planning Department was established by Mayor Wu in 2024 to restore planning as a core function of City government and to shape growth that serves Boston’s residents and centers their needs. Our mission is to address our City’s greatest challenges: resilience, affordability, and equity; we take real estate actions and prioritize planning, development, and urban design solutions that further these priorities. We seek to build trust with communities through transparent processes that embrace predictable growth.
We are professionals who serve the City in a variety of ways—from architects who review the smallest details of a historic building to city planners who envision the future of neighborhoods with community members. We work hand-in-hand with other City departments and community groups to make our City better.
The Planning Department’s purpose is to: develop comprehensive short and long term plans for Boston’s built environment, establish a consistent and predictable zoning code for the city, advance exceptional and inclusive design standards, provide predictability to guide development that is responsive to community needs, and plan for the effective use of public real estate.
