SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - Applications are now open for the city’s 2026 Planning Academy, a program designed to educate and engage Sacramento residents, business owners and community leaders in the city’s planning process.

The free, 11-week course, beginning March 2, 2026, provides participants with a background in the fundamentals of city planning and covers a broad spectrum of relevant planning and community development-related topics and issues.

“Planning Academy equips Sacramentans to become strong advocates for a well-planned community,” said Laura Tuller, associate planner and one of the leads for the program. “Some of our graduates have gone on to serve on city commissions and even city council.”

Topics covered during the course include housing, transportation planning, historic preservation, climate action planning and more.

More than 500 Sacramento residents, business owners and community leaders have graduated from the Planning Academy since its inception in 2002.

Classes will take place on Monday evenings and be a mix of in-person and virtual sessions, plus two Saturday field trips. The class concludes with a ceremonial graduation and a special presentation at a city council meeting.

Applications are due online by 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. For a link to the application and more information about the academy, please visit the Planning Academy webpage at cityofsacramento.gov.

If you have questions about the City of Sacramento Planning Academy, email [email protected].