"Serving the citizen planner since 1983"

The Maryland Planning Commissioners Association (MPCA) is a statewide, non-profit educational organization of municipal, county and regional planning commissioners and boards of zoning appeals members. MPCA members work to improve the quality of life for all Marylanders through planning, environmental protection, historic preservation, and growth management.

MPCA promotes better planning and plan implementation by:

• Fostering communication and sharing information to improve planning practices and procedures;
• Promoting public interest in municipal, county, regional, and State planning issues;
• Encouraging increased planning coordination and cooperation within Maryland; and
• Providing regional and statewide workshops on planning and zoning issues of mutual interest and concern.

Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Baltimore, the Maryland Planning Commissioners Association (MPCA) is dedicated to the continuing education and professionalism of the state's citizen planners who serve as members of planning commissions, planning boards and boards of appeals. Most of these citizen planners serve as volunteers.

MPCA changed its name in 2007 from the Maryland Citizen Planners Association (MCPA) to better identify its mission of professionalism.

MPCA is governed by a Board, made up of associates from each county in Maryland and led by elected officers. The board meets quarterly. An annual conference, held each year in the fall, is the highlight of the MPCA calendar. The 27th conference was just held in Cumberland, MD on October 28th and 29th, 2010. MPCA conferences provide education in planning practice by profession speakers.