Benefits of Joining

The Benefits of Joining the NYPF

The New York Planning Federation provides training, educational and informational services to a broad range of members, enabling them to better assist themselves and their municipalities with development and land use decisions.

TRAINING

Legislation passed in 2007 requires local planning and ZBA members to receive at least four hours of annual training. As an approved trainer, your municipality can meet the state requirements for all members of your boards through our live sessions, online webinars, and recorded programs. All online and recorded training is provided free to members as part of your membership dues. We are now offering webinars once or twice per month covering basic, advanced, and current topics with the best speakers on planning and zoning from our wide network of professionals. Live in-person training will resume when it is safe to do so.

PUBLICATIONS

NYPF members receive our newsletter, “Planning News”, as well as our E-Newsletter, technical reports on current issues as well the basics, and are eligible for discounted rates on our most popular books including All You Ever Wanted to Know about Zoning (recently updated) and The Short Course: A Basic Guide for Planning Boards and Zoning Boards of Appeals in New York State.

ONLINE RESOURCE CENTER

Our website will offer a number of new ways to connect with us and serve as your planning and zoning resource center with a members only section with access to our training library, an online library of local laws and articles, and a members only peer-to-peer forum moderated by the NYPF where members can pose questions and ask for examples.

Enrollment is open to:

  • Counties, cities, towns and villages, including planning and zoning boards, elected officials, staff and consultants, and zoning enforcement officers
  • Professional firms, including planners, attorneys, developers and builders, engineers, architects/landscape architects, real estate professionals
  • Economic development and regional and metropolitan planning agencies
  • Universities and educational institutions
  • Non-profit organizations
  • Individuals

Our current membership includes more than 5,000 individuals representing more than 400 municipalities and 100 organizations across New York State.