Westchester County Department of Planning

The Planning Department works on projects that guide how Westchester County grows and develops. Their goal is to make the county a better place to live while protecting the environment, creating communities that are both livable and sustainable.

The department has six main parts. Four of these—Land Use, Community Development, Housing, and Environmental Planning—focus on the main projects that help achieve this goal. The other two parts—Design and Administration—support them by providing technical skills and managing resources efficiently, so the county gets the best results at the lowest cost.

Each part of the department looks at how the county is built and developed, how the natural environment is cared for, and how buildings, transportation, and open spaces can be designed or used smartly. The department works closely with other county departments, government officials, local towns and cities, and private or non-profit groups.

Some of their work is required by law. This includes reviewing plans for land use and zoning proposed by local towns, reviewing county capital projects, and conducting environmental reviews for county projects and laws to make sure they follow state and federal rules.