Cuyahoga County Planning Commission

What Cuyahoga County Planning Commission does

The Cuyahoga County Planning Commission is a county government agency founded in 1947 and headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, providing professional urban planning services to all 59 municipalities within Cuyahoga County. Its core offerings include Community Planning (master plans, zoning updates, transportation and environmental planning), Regional Partnerships (multi-jurisdictional coordination with agencies such as NOACA, Cleveland Metroparks, and GCRTA), Data & Mapping (GIS-based spatial analysis and interactive web viewers including the parcel-level Urban Tree Canopy Viewer), Technical Assistance (zoning code reviews and development review support), and Grant Programs including the competitive Community Planning Services Program (CPSP). Notable research and policy products include the Urban Tree Canopy Assessment, the Cuyahoga County Parking Analysis across 29 communities, the Climate Change Action Plan co-developed with county departments, Cuyahoga Greenways, and the Transit-Oriented Development Zoning Study.

The Commission operates 11-50 staff including AICP-credentialed planners, and is funded entirely through Cuyahoga County's public budget with supplemental grant funding from regional partners. Services are distributed government-to-government via the CPSP grant mechanism and direct technical assistance requests from municipalities; no commercial revenue is generated beyond nominal public-records cost recovery under Ohio Public Records Law. Pricing for public records includes $0.03 per page for paper copies, up to $1.26 per CD, and $1.00 per GB for USB drives, with email delivery provided at no charge. The Commission was founded in 1947 and reports no private ownership, funding rounds, or M&A activity.

In June 2026, the Commission announced two significant new initiatives: the 2026 CPSP awardees and the development of a Cuyahoga County Unified Zoning Code to modernize and harmonize zoning standards across all 59 jurisdictions.

Name

Cuyahoga County Planning Commission

Legal name

Cuyahoga County Planning Commission

Website

https://countyplanning.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Cuyahoga County Planning Commission is a county government agency, founded in 1947 and based in Cleveland, Ohio, that provides professional urban planning, GIS mapping, and technical assistance services to all 59 municipalities within Cuyahoga County, funded through the county's public budget and regional grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Urban Planning Services

NAICS

Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (92512), Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (925120), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (9251)

akta.pro primary industry

Planning, Zoning, Permitting & Code Enforcement (BPAIACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Urban & Regional Planning (Land Use, Zoning, Master Planning) (BPAIANAD), Urban Planning & Master Planning (BPAHAKAD), Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG, Place-Based Initiatives) (BPAIANAE)

Keywords

• Urban planning services
• Municipal planning
• GIS mapping
• Zoning code updates
• Transportation planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: As a county government agency, the commission is funded through public funding and does not generate commercial revenue. Services are provided to municipalities as part of the county's public planning functions.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

The Cuyahoga County Planning Commission provides professional urban planning services to all 59 municipalities within Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Its core offerings include community/master planning facilitation, regional partnerships coordination, GIS-based data and mapping analysis, direct technical assistance on zoning and development review, and competitive grant funding through the Community Planning Services Program (CPSP). The Commission also delivers countywide research and policy products such as the Parking Analysis, Urban Tree Canopy Assessment, Climate Change Action Plan, Cuyahoga Greenways trail blueprint, Transit-Oriented Development Zoning Study, and Lakefront Public Access Plan.

Product overview

The Cuyahoga County Planning Commission offers a portfolio of professional planning services rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include Community Planning, Regional Partnerships, Data & Mapping, Technical Assistance, and Grant Programs. The Commission's research and analysis products include the Parking Analysis, Climate Change Action Plan, Urban Tree Canopy Assessment, Cuyahoga Greenways trail network planning, Transit-Oriented Development Zoning Study, and Lakefront Public Access Plan. These services support municipalities across the county with master planning, zoning updates, environmental planning, transportation planning, and urban design initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Planning Services
• Regional Partnerships Coordination
• Data and Mapping Services
• Technical Assistance
• Community Planning Services Program (CPSP) Grants
• Cuyahoga County Parking Analysis
• Cuyahoga County Climate Change Action Plan
• Urban Tree Canopy Assessment
• Cuyahoga Greenways
• Transit-Oriented Development Zoning Study
• Lakefront Public Access Plan
• Community Confluence Project
• Cuyahoga County Unified Zoning Code (UZC) Initiative

Quantifiable outcome

• Tree canopy coverage decreased from 37.0% to 34.7% between 2011-2017, representing 6,600 acres of net loss (6.1% decline)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NOACA (Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Regional planning agency providing Transportation for Livable Communities Initiative (TLCI) funding for planning studies including Community Confluence. NOACA funds planning projects and provides regional coordination for transportation and development initiatives across Northeast Ohio.
• Cleveland MetroparkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in active transportation planning connecting communities to Metroparks reservations. Collaboration on projects including Community Confluence to improve pedestrian and bicycle access to Rocky River Reservation and other park facilities.
• Cuyahoga County Department of SustainabilitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint administration of Climate Change Action Plan. Partnership for countywide sustainability initiatives, greenhouse gas emissions inventory, and climate adaptation planning.
• Cuyahoga County Board of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Climate Change Action Plan development and public health planning. Joint initiative for climate resilience and community health outcomes.
• Cuyahoga County Department of Emergency ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in climate change adaptation and emergency preparedness planning. Collaboration on vulnerability assessments and resilience strategies.
• Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransit coordination for active transportation and Transit-Oriented Development planning. GCRTA provides transit data and expertise for corridor studies and TOD zoning analysis.
• City of LakewoodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner for multiple planning initiatives including Community Confluence, Lakewood Public Art Master Plan, and Madison Park Master Plan. Direct engagement on transportation, parks, and urban design projects.
• City of Rocky RivercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner for Community Confluence and Rocky River Master Plan. Collaboration on Clifton Boulevard-Lake Road corridor improvements connecting to Metroparks.
• OHM AdvisorsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting engineering firm providing preliminary engineering and design services for Community Confluence project including corridor improvements and trail connections.
• Toole Design GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTransportation planning and design consultant specializing in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure for Community Confluence active transportation planning.
• Guide StudiominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWayfinding and signage design consultant for Community Confluence project helping develop coordinated gateway and navigation systems.
• Loukas EngineeringminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering services consultant for Community Confluence project providing technical expertise for bridge and infrastructure improvements.
• Cleveland Neighborhood ProgressminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner for Urban Tree Canopy Assessment providing financial support for tree canopy analysis and environmental planning.
• Holden Forests & GardensminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Urban Tree Canopy Assessment providing funding and botanical/forestry expertise for tree canopy analysis.
• Western Reserve Land ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner providing funding and expertise for Urban Tree Canopy Assessment and land preservation initiatives.
• Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn-kind contribution partner for Urban Tree Canopy Assessment providing environmental and water quality expertise.
• Cleveland Metroparks (additional)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn-kind contribution partner for Urban Tree Canopy Assessment providing parks and green infrastructure data and expertise.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA): Regional planning agency coordinating transportation and development across five Northeast Ohio counties. Functions as both partner and adjacent agency handling larger-scale regional planning work that complements county-level planning.

Broad incumbents

• Stantec: International design and engineering consultancy with urban planning, GIS, and community development practices serving municipal clients. Comparable in providing data-driven planning services to local governments.
• Michael Baker International: Engineering, planning, and consulting firm delivering community planning, transportation planning, and GIS services to counties and municipalities. Competes directly for county-level planning and corridor study work.
• AECOM: Global professional services firm offering municipal planning, urban design, transportation, and environmental planning to public agencies. Competes for higher-budget master plans and corridor studies that smaller county commissions cannot execute internally.
• WSP USA: Major engineering and planning consultancy providing comprehensive planning, transportation planning, and zoning services to municipalities. Represents a broad incumbent competing for outsourced planning engagements.

Others

• American Planning Association (APA): National professional organization for urban and regional planners. Provides industry standards, certifications (AICP), and advocacy that shape the operating environment for county planning commissions like Cuyahoga.

Emerging players

• Toole Design Group: Specialized planning and engineering firm focused on bicycle, pedestrian, and multimodal transportation planning. Comparable through active transportation and trail planning work delivered to Cuyahoga municipalities.

Direct peers

• Hamilton County Planning and Development Department: Ohio county planning department serving Hamilton County municipalities. Direct peer offering similar comprehensive planning, zoning assistance, and regional coordination services within the same state regulatory environment.
• Summit County Planning Commission: Adjacent Northeast Ohio county planning commission serving Akron-area municipalities. Directly comparable in scale, mandate, and service mix, providing regional benchmarking for planning services delivery.
• Franklin County Planning Commission: Ohio county planning commission serving Franklin County municipalities with comparable master planning, zoning, and data services. Direct structural peer operating under the same Ohio public administration framework.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/countyplanning
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@countyplanning
• Facebookfacebook.com/countyplanning
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/countyplanning
• Instagraminstagram.com/cuyahogaplanning

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cuyahoga County Planning Commission