Township Planning Association (TPA)

About Township Planning Association (TPA)

Township Planning Association (TPA) was formed to help townships pool their resources while keeping grassroots government at the forefront of how planning and zoning are administered.

Township government has long been recognized as the most direct form of local governance. Township Boards of Supervisors, Planning Commissions, and Boards of Adjustment are composed of residents from that township alone, ensuring that land-use decisions reflect local values, conditions, and priorities.

TPA operates as a cooperative of townships. Through a joint powers agreement, member townships retain full local authority over their planning and zoning ordinances while sharing professional staff and administrative resources. This structure allows townships to administer their own locally adopted ordinances efficiently, without surrendering decision-making authority to a county-wide system.

• Residents maintain greater control over what land uses are allowed within their own township.
• Member townships benefit from collaboration, gaining insight into what is working — and what is not — in neighboring jurisdictions.

TPA staff manages the day-to-day administration of township ordinances, including, but not limited to zoning applications, conditional use permits, variances, subdivision and platting of agricultural and development land, and the issuance of building and septic permits.

How Is TPA Different from County-Administered Zoning?

Townships that participate in TPA do so because they want a greater voice in shaping development within their boundaries and greater control over allowable land uses.

Each TPA member township adopts and maintains its own zoning ordinance. While individual township ordinances may differ to reflect local priorities, each ordinance must be at least as restrictive as the applicable county zoning ordinance.