City Planning Commission
City Planning Frequently Asked Questions
Use our zoning map viewer to learn more about the property you're interested in developing.
Learn more about Cleveland's new digital permitting system, and submit your plans to the permit portal.
If you'd like to schedule a pre-development meeting with a city planner, email cityplanning@clevelandohio.gov with the address/location and any relevant project information, and a member of our staff will reach out to coordinate a meeting time.
If you have noticed any issues in the city, please let us know by using the 311 Service!
311 is a City of Cleveland program for reporting complaints and submitting service requests for non-emergency issues, such as potholes or problems with trash pickups.
City Planning Commission meetings are generally held on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month in person at City Hall in room 514 and virtually via Webex. Meetings are open to the public are are also livestreamed on our YouTube Channel.
Individuals that wish to comment during the meeting should contact the City Planning office and request access to the WebEx meeting. Please call 216-664-2210 or email (preferred) cityplanning@clevelandohio.gov including the meeting date and "CPC Webex request" in the subject line.
If you are unable to attend in person, other channels for submitting public comments are:
- Joining the virtual Webex meeting (request link by sending an email to cityplanning@clevelandohio.gov, including the meeting date and "CPC Webex request" in the subject line)
- Emailing cityplanning@clevelandohio.gov address with a comment or a letter
- Calling and/or leaving a message at 216-664-2210
- Sending a letter or dropping off comments at City Hall (601 Lakeside Avenue, Suite 501, Cleveland, OH 44114)
Any comments received by the Wednesday 12:00 pm deadline are collected by City Planning staff and disseminated to the Commission members prior to any scheduled meeting.
You can find all the live streams from past Board and Commission meetings on our YouTube Channel
Meeting agendas from this year are also saved on our website:
Board of Zoning Appeals Meetings
Board of Building Standards Meetings
If the records you are looking for are not published to our website, please submit a public records request.
Overview
The City Planning Commission, established in 1915 (as the "City Plan Commission"), is a body of seven members, six are appointed by the Mayor and one is a member of City Council. The Commission is supported by a staff of professional planners and architects. The City Charter gives the Commission responsibility for preparing plans to guide "development and improvement" of the city and its neighborhoods, and for reviewing all legislation and other matters that concern the "use or development of land.”
The City Planning Commission is charged with planning for a future where the City of Cleveland is a thriving urban community, resilient in the face of changing regional, national, and global conditions.
Our mission is to advocate for the preservation and establishment of prosperous communities that are authentic and diverse, providing equitable access to the resources necessary for both current and future generations of residents to thrive.
We accomplish this by:
- Enhancing both physical development and the built environment
- Preserving the City’s history through districts that are architecturally and culturally significant
- Creating places for people that are healthy, sustainable, and vibrant
What We Do
- Neighborhood & District Plans
- Comprehensive Citywide & Downtown Plans
- Zoning Map & Code Amendments, Zoning Variance Review
- Architectural Design Review
- Streetscape and Other Public Improvement Planning
- Transportation Planning
- Subdivisions, Lot Splits & Consolidations
City Planning Commission Members
Erika Anthony
Chair
August Fluker
Vice Chair
Andrew Sargeant
Dr. Denise McCray-Scott
Anthony Whitfield
Charles Slife
Council Representative
Vacancy
Design Review Approval Process
Design Review is an approval process intended to protect and enhance the neighborhoods within each of Cleveland’s six Regions. Each region has a Design Review Advisory Committee (DRAC) to review local projects and make design recommendations. Some projects also require review and approval from the City Planning Commission (CPC) before project implementation.
A Neighborhood City Planner is assigned to each Region to advise project applicants on design guidelines and requirements and administer DRAC meetings. The six DRACs and CPC each have 6-12 design professionals and community representatives.
In designated Cleveland Historic Districts and properties designated as Cleveland Landmarks, exterior changes to buildings, homes, and sites are reviewed instead by the Cleveland Landmarks Commission, which has its own separate and distinct design review process. Use GIS Maps to see if your property is located in a City Planning Design Review District or in a Cleveland local Historic District or Landmark property.
Boards & Commissions
In addition to the City Planning Commission, the City is served by three (3) other boards and commissions:
- Board of Building Standards and Building Appeals
- Responsible for hearing appeals regarding building requirements, including orders made by City officials
- Board of Zoning Appeals
- Responsible for hearing appeals regarding land use, including orders made by City officials
- Landmarks Commission
- Responsible for the designation of and architectural design review for Cleveland's designated historic districts and individual landmarks