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Find a Planner

Your trusted source for planning expertise in Ontario.

Finding the right planning professional is essential for shaping successful, sustainable communities. Registered Professional Planners (RPPs) provide the guidance and expertise to bring your vision to life – while serving the public interest.

The Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI) offers several tools to help you connect with qualified, ethical, and experienced planners across the province.

Who can use these tools to find a planner:

  • Municipalities: For official plan updates, growth strategies, policy reviews, and development approvals
  • Developers & Landowners: To prepare and guide planning applications, zoning changes, and site plans
  • Consultants & Allied Professionals: To support multi-disciplinary projects with planning expertise
  • Lawyers & Legal Teams: For expert witness services and planning rationale reports
  • Community Organizations: For input on local planning issues or land use advocacy
  • Citizens & Neighbourhood Groups: For guidance on how to engage in planning processes

Use the OPPI Member Registry

Looking for a specific planner? Verifying a designation? The OPPI Member Registry is your go-to resource for confirming whether someone is a Registered Professional Planner (RPP) or an OPPI member in good standing.

Search the registry to:

  • Verify RPP status and membership type
  • Confirm credentials and eligibility to practice
  • Ensure you are hiring or working with a qualified planning professional
Visit the OPPI Member Register

Explore the Consultants Directory

Need professional planning support for a project or proposal? The OPPI Consultants Directory features independent consulting firms that offer services across a wide range of specialties, including:

  • Land use and development planning
  • Policy and official plan reviews
  • Environmental and heritage planning
  • Community consultation and engagement
  • Site plan and subdivision approvals

You can filter by location, service area, or specialty to find the right planning expert for your needs.

Visit the OPPI Consultants Directory

Visit the OPPI Job Board

Hiring a planner? Looking to join a planning team? The OPPI Job Board is the go-to platform for careers in planning. Employers across the public, private, academic, and nonprofit sectors post opportunities for:

  • Full-time, part-time, and contract positions
  • Student internships and entry-level roles
  • Senior leadership and RPP-required positions

It’s also a valuable resource for organizations seeking to attract qualified planning professionals with the right skills and credentials.

Visit the OPPI Job Board

Why Hire An RPP?

When it comes to shaping communities, whether through development, infrastructure, environmental planning, or policy work, Registered Professional Planners (RPPs) are the trusted experts you want on your team.

RPPs are certified members of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI) and have met rigorous educational, ethical, and professional standards. They are committed to planning in the public interest, helping clients and communities make informed, equitable, and forward-thinking decisions.

The RPP Advantage

1. Verified Professional Credentials

All RPPs have completed accredited post-secondary education, passed national competency-based exams, and accumulated supervised practical experience. When you hire an RPP, you can be confident you’re working with someone who is trained, tested, and qualified.

2. Bound by a Professional Code of Practice

RPPs must adhere to OPPI’s Code of Practice, which emphasizes integrity, objectivity, and accountability. They are obligated to put the public interest first, making ethical decisions even in complex or politically sensitive environments.

3. Expert Knowledge of Planning Systems

RPPs understand the technical, legal, and procedural aspects of Ontario’s planning system. Whether you’re navigating zoning bylaws, submitting a development application, conducting environmental assessments, or engaging with municipal councils, RPPs ensure compliance and streamline the process.

4. Strategic Thinking & Long-Term Vision

Planning isn’t just about permits – it’s about shaping the places people call home. RPPs take a big-picture approach, integrating land use, housing, mobility, climate resilience, and economic development to create sustainable and livable communities.

5. Strong Communication & Facilitation Skills

RPPs are trained to lead and participate in meaningful public engagement. They help bring stakeholders together, bridge diverse interests, and build consensus through clear, inclusive, and respectful communication.

6. A Commitment to Ongoing Learning

To maintain their designation, RPPs must complete Continuous Professional Learning (CPL) annually. This ensures their skills stay current and reflect emerging trends, legislation, technologies, and best practices.

When you hire a Registered Professional Planner, you’re not just hiring a consultant; you’re partnering with someone who is trained to see the full picture, ask the right questions, and ensure your planning decisions are sound, lawful, and community-minded.