About the Section

Making Great Communities Happen

The Northern Section of the California Chapter of the American Planning Association is the largest of the Chapter’s eight sections, and one of the largest in the country. We offer a community for Northern California planning professionals from Monterey to Eureka.

Our Story

California Northern Section

The American Planning Association, California Chapter – Northern Section, was formed in the 1950s as one of the three original sections of APA California. We offer membership to city and regional planners and associated professionals primarily living or working in northern California, from and through Monterey County to the Oregon border, including the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area and Lake and San Benito Counties. Northern Section promotes planning-related continuing education and social functions to provide a forum for communication and exchange of information about urban planning-related activities, increase public awareness of the importance of urban planning, and encourage professionalism and ethical conduct among its 1,700 members.

California Chapter

The American Planning Association California Chapter has a long proud history. It is the professional association that represents California urban planners and related practitioners. Its origin dates back to 1933 with the formation of the California Planners Institute. The present APA California Chapter was formalized as a professional organization in 1947 with the merger of the California Planners Institute and American Institute of Planners. APA California now has over 4,500 members.

Scroll to Top