Land Use Planner Jobs
Land Use Planner jobs are open across local government, consulting firms, and nonprofit organizations, with specializations in zoning, environmental planning, and community development, at every level from entry-level associate to senior planner and planning director. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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The Department of Planning Services is a joint Fort Wayne and Allen County land use department that provides permitting, enforcement, long range planning and staffs the Board of Zoning Appeals and Plan Commissions for unincorporated Allen County and 5 community jurisdictions.
Vision
Planning Leadership, Community Collaboration, Service Excellence
Mission
We are dedicated to superior economic development and land planning services through:
Proactive Approach to Responsible development and growth
Empowered and knowledgeable employees
Supporting Communities
Providing accurate, consistent information
Offering technological resources
Timely and responsive service
Service Commitment
DPS is committed to delivering accurate, understandable information and consistent service in a friendly and respectful manner
For more information on the Department of Planning Services please visit our website at www.allencounty.in.gov/dps
Allen County Department of Planning Services
Principal Planner – Permits, Administration and Compliance
The Department of Planning Services is a joint Fort Wayne and Allen County land use department that provides permitting, enforcement, long range planning and staffs the Board of Zoning Appeals and Plan Commissions for unincorporated Allen County and 5 community jurisdictions.
Our Vision: Planning Leadership Community Collaboration Service Excellence
Our Mission: Dedication to superior economic development and Land planning services through:
Proactive approach to development and growth Empowered and knowledgeable employees Supporting Communities Providing accurate, consistent information Offering technological resources Timely and responsive service
Our Service Commitment: Committed to delivering accurate, understandable information and consistent service in a friendly and respectful manner
For more information on the Department of Planning Services please visit our website at www.allencounty.in.gov/dps
Under the direction of the Senior Land Use Planner- Permits and Enforcement, the Principal Land Use Planner- Permits and Enforcement is responsible for providing professional guidance, technical assistance, and zoning ordinance interpretation for community land use projects. This position is covered as defined by The Board of Commissioners of the County of Allen Employee Handbook.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Assists staff and general public with interpretation of policy and procedural requirements of Allen County and City of Fort Wayne zoning ordinances.
- Prepares zoning opinions, policy interpretations, and methods of implementation for land use projects, problems, and questions.
- Assists incorporated cities and towns of Allen County, provides technical planning assistance for rezoning development, utility issues, ordinance, and development/monitoring of community plans.
- Coordinates with reviewing agencies applicants, including architects, engineers, and contractors through the review process.
- Develops process workflows and manuals for departmental operating procedures.
- Provides assistance to incorporated cities and towns in Allen County by assisting with technical planning for land use change applications, Zoning ordinance regulations and interpretations.
- Responsible for administering floodplain review of all permits and public hearing projects by coordinating with applicants, staff, other governmental agencies, and interested parties.
- Serves as principal staff person in the updating, maintenance, and development of Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping.
- Administers permit review process by coordinating with applicants, staff, other government agencies, and interested parties in reviewing, distributing, approving, and accurately conveying requirements for land use applications, site plans, and landscape plans.
- Assists with the coordination of zoning ordinance enforcement for the City of Fort Wayne and Allen County from the initiation of a complaint to compliance or preparation in court documents with department attorney.
- Assists with the preparation of court documents and provide expert testimony in legal proceedings.
- Documents and conveys ordinance requirements in a comprehensible and concise fashion on any deficient ordinance standards and reviews any revisions for compliance.
- Communicates by telephone, emails, letters, and face-to-face with the general public including, but not limited to, applicants, potential applicants, and general land use inquiries.
- Fulfills research requests for information and guidance on zoning ordinances and department policies and procedures.
- Coordinates with professionals associated with planning applications and projects including, but not limited to, surveyors, lawyers, engineers, architects, elected officials, and other government agencies.
- Processes and approves commercial and industrial permits.
- Compiles and researches information through the Department of Planning Services’ database, other government databases, paper files, and the Internet.
- Maintains and organizes data from projects and correspondences.
- Provides analytical and statistical information, builds and utilizes reports, and creates presentations to analyze office processes, trends, and community views for use in updating departmental generated reports, rules, and procedures.
- Assists applicants with permits and zoning ordinances land use change applications.
- Processes and reviews zoning ordinance land use change applications.
- Reviews and approves lighting, buffering, signage, and site plans for compliance with the zoning ordinance and conditions of approval.
- Provides assistance to incorporated cities and towns in Allen County by assisting with technical planning for land use change applications, Zoning ordinance regulations, and interpretations.
- Administers the City of Fort Wayne and Allen County sign ordinance by reviewing and approving sign permit applications.
- Assists staff and general public with interpretation of policy and procedural requirements of Allen County and the City of Fort Wayne zoning ordinances.
- Performs all other duties as assigned, including overtime as required.
- Bachelor’s Degree in Planning, Public Administration, Community Development, or related field with three year of experience in land use management or zoning ordinance administration
- Valid Driver’s License to operate a county vehicle
- Certified Floodplain Manager (CPM) credential desirable or the ability to be obtained within the first 24 months of employment
- Demonstrated knowledge of Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping
- Zoning ordinance enforcement experience from initial complaint through preparation and testimony in Court
- Experience in processing, reviewing and management of commercial and industrial projects
- Knowledge of planning principles and practices to review plans and the ability to apply ordinance standards to determine compliance
- Experience in using Accela permitting software desired
- Demonstrated written and oral communication skills, including public speaking to effectively communicate complicated information to coworkers, the general public, and other government bodies
- Knowledge of research practices and principles to apply to write reports and answer applicant questions
- Strong customer service skills with the interest and willingness to work with others
- Strong computer skills with the ability to use Microsoft Office and other job-related software
The Principal Land Use Planner- Permits and Enforcement performs work that is broad in scope and involves significant consideration when administering permit review process by coordinating with applicants, staff and other government agencies. Judgement is used when processing and approving commercial and industrial permits.
RESPONSIBILITY:
The Principal Land Use Planner – Permits and Enforcement provides substantial contributions when fulfilling research requests for information and guidance on zoning ordinances and department policies and procedures. Purpose and desire results are indicated when communicating by telephone, emails, letters and face-to-face with the general public including applicants, potential applicants and general land use inquires.
PERSONAL WORK RELATIONSHIPS:
The Principal Land Use Planner – Permits and Enforcement maintains frequent contact with other county employees, other government officials and the general public when coordinating the Fort Wayne and Allen County permitting process.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
The Principal Land Use Planner – Permits and Enforcement works in a standard office environment with the ability to move about freely frequently sitting and transcribing/proofreading and very frequent mental/visual effort, typing and attention to detail. Some lifting of up to twenty pounds, bending, pushing/pulling loads, monitoring equipment and detailed inspection are to be expected.
SUPERVISION:
None
LICENSING:
Valid Driver’s License to operate a county vehicle
Certified Floodplain Manager (CPM) credential desirable or the ability to obtain within the first 24 months of employment
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR:
Senior Land Use Planner – Permits and Enforcement
HOURS:
40 hours/week; including overtime as required
EEO CATEGORY:
1002
WORKER’S COMP CODE:
8601
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Find Land Use Planner JobsLand Use Planner Job Market
Who's Hiring
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in land use planner jobs.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in urban planning, geography, or a related field
- Experience interpreting and applying local zoning codes and general plan policies
- Proficiency in GIS software such as ArcGIS for spatial analysis and mapping
- Ability to prepare and present staff reports to planning commissions and boards
- Knowledge of CEQA, NEPA, or state-specific environmental review processes
- AICP certification or active eligibility preferred for mid-level and senior positions
Tips for Your Land Use Planner Job Search
Tailor your resume to zoning specifics
Generic planning resumes get passed over. Call out the zoning codes, overlay districts, or specific land use ordinances you've worked with. Hiring managers scan for direct experience with their municipality's regulatory framework, so naming the actual tools and codes matters.
Highlight your public hearing experience
Many planners undersell their public engagement work. If you've presented variance requests, general plan amendments, or environmental reviews before a planning commission or city council, list those explicitly. Employers want planners who can handle adversarial public meetings, not just desk work.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists land use planner openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Get your AICP certification moving
Many mid-level and senior postings list AICP certification as preferred or required. If you're eligible, start your application before you need it on a resume. Candidates who are AICP-eligible and actively testing stand out from those who aren't pursuing it at all.
Build a portfolio of entitlement work
Bring writing samples to interviews: a staff report, a conditions-of-approval memo, or a CEQA initial study you authored. Planners who can show polished, decision-ready documents get offers faster than those who describe their experience in vague terms during the interview.
Ask about caseload and software in interviews
Ask directly how many active entitlement cases the planner will carry and which GIS or permitting platforms the department uses. This signals professional maturity, helps you evaluate the role honestly, and opens a natural conversation about where your skills fit their workflow.
Land Use Planner Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most land use planners?
AKS Engineering & Forestry, Tamarack Resort, and McGuireWoods LLP are hiring the most land use planners right now, with openings concentrated in Oregon, Virginia, and Idaho, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Municipal governments and regional planning agencies consistently represent the largest share of active openings.
How many land use planner jobs are remote?
About 100% of land use planner openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the in-person demands of site visits, public hearings, and commission meetings. Policy-focused roles, long-range planning positions, and consulting work for private firms tend to offer the most schedule flexibility compared to current planning or permit-review positions.
How do you become a land use planner?
Start with a bachelor's degree in urban planning, geography, or a related field, then pursue a master's in urban or regional planning to qualify for mid-level roles faster. Gain experience through internships with a city planning department or a consulting firm. Build GIS skills and study local zoning ordinances. Once you have enough qualifying experience, pursue AICP certification through the American Institute of Certified Planners to advance your career.
Can you get a land use planner job with little experience?
Entry-level land use planner roles are realistic with a planning degree and internship experience, even without full-time professional history. Focus applications on planning technician, assistant planner, or planning aide titles at smaller municipalities, which are more likely to train new graduates. Demonstrating GIS competency, writing a clean staff report sample, and showing familiarity with local zoning codes will carry more weight than years of experience at this level.
What does the land use planner interview process look like?
Most interviews start with a phone screen from HR focused on your background and availability. A panel interview with planning staff and a supervisor typically follows, covering technical questions about zoning interpretation, environmental review, and public engagement scenarios. Some employers ask you to complete a written exercise, such as reviewing a project application and drafting a brief staff report or list of conditions of approval before or during the final round.
Where can I find and apply to land use planner jobs?
You can find and apply to land use planner jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience, specialization, and preferred location, then apply directly to each one that fits.
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