In Toronto, the City Planning Division helps to guide the way the city looks and grows. City Planning works with the community and other City divisions to set goals and policies for development, while keeping important social, economic and environmental concerns in mind.

The Toronto City Planning Division is set up by district - Etobicoke York, North York, Toronto & East York and Scarborough - in five functional sections:
1.    Community Planners - offer advice to Council on development projects after consulting with members of the public and City Services, and after reviewing and analyzing all parts of a development project.
2.    Policy and Research - develops planning policy based on extensive research in land use, housing, community services and the environment. Administers and promotes heritage preservation projects and programs.
3.    Urban Design - promotes a high quality design for streets, parks and open spaces. It guides how buildings are located, organized and shaped on a particular piece of land.
4.    Transportation - deals with improving transit, discouraging automobile dependence and encouraging alternative forms of transportation such as walking, cycling, subways and streetcars.
5.    Zoning Bylaw and Environmental Planning - creating and maintaining a comprehensive zoning bylaw for the City, and formulates and implements environmental policy from the perspective of City Planning.