THE NPU SYSTEM
Atlanta has 25 Neighborhood Planning Units (NPUs), labeled A through Z (excluding U). Each NPU represents a specific area of the city and holds monthly meetings where residents review and vote on various issues, such as rezoning requests, liquor licenses, festival and parade permits, changes to city fees, and updates to Atlanta’s long-term development plans. After an NPU votes on an issue, the decision is submitted to the relevant city body, which takes it into account when making the final decision. This process ensures that residents have a voice in shaping their communities.
Each NPU operates under its own set of bylaws, which are reviewed and voted on annually by residents and business owners. While some NPUs allow all attendees to vote on matters, others use a representative system where only elected members vote. Because Atlanta’s neighborhoods vary in size, demographics, and needs, the NPU system is designed to be flexible, allowing each community to govern itself in a way that best reflects its unique character.
STRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS
Atlanta is divided into twenty-five Neighborhood Planning Units (NPUs), which serve as citizen advisory councils that provide recommendations to the Mayor and City Council on zoning, land use, and other planning matters. Established in 1974 by the late Mayor Maynard Jackson, the NPU system was designed to ensure residents had a voice in shaping the city's Comprehensive Development Plan—a long-term vision guiding growth over five, ten, and fifteen years.
Over time, the NPU system has evolved into the primary platform for residents to voice concerns, contribute to neighborhood planning efforts, and stay informed about City initiatives.
ATLANTA PLANNING AND ADVISORY BOARD
Each NPU sends a representative to the Atlanta Planning Advisory Board, which is a citywide entity that was created contemporaneously with the NPU System. The Board addresses issues of citywide concern and sends its recommendations to the City Council and/or the Mayor depending on the issue being addressed. The Board makes various appointments to City Commissions and Boards on behalf of the citizens.
HISTORY OF THE NPU SYSTEM
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