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Language Access
Information found on this page as well as additional information about the Department of City Planning, the City Planning Commission, zoning generally, and how to make a land use application can be found here in the following languages:
All languages listed are in 
pdf format.
With more than 3 million foreign-born residents from more than 200 different countries, New York is home to one of the most diverse populations in the world. New Yorkers come from every corner of the globe and speak over 200 different languages.
Nearly one-half of all New Yorkers speak a language other than English at home, and almost 25%, or 1.8 million persons, are not English Proficient.
For these New Yorkers, interacting with City Government can often be a challenge. In response, in February 2017 City Council passed Local Law No. 30, which required all City agencies to provide opportunities for Limited English speakers to communicate and receive services. In compliance with Local Law No. 30, the Department of City Planning developed a Language Access Plan that seeks to ensure meaningful access to our most vital services.
View the NYC Department Of City Planning Language Access Plan.
Information on Limited English Proficiency NYers is available through American Community Survey Data.
Public participation is an important aspect of land use decisions in New York, and the Department of City planning seeks to ensure that language not be a barrier to participation. Below find information on the processes and services of the Department of City Planning, and the services available specific to limited English speakers. Please note that all sections of the Department of City Planning website are available by selecting “Translate” at the top of the Department’s website.
The City Planning Commission will accept testimony from LEP persons in the ten “designated citywide languages” defined by the Mayor’s Office (Spanish, Chinese (including Mandarin, Cantonese and Taiwanese), Russian, Bengali, Haitian Creole, Korean, Arabic, Urdu, French, & Polish) for all applications. Special instructions for foreign language testimony are available at the speaker sign-in desk at every public hearing. If you are requesting interpretation services, Commission staff will attempt to identify an interpreter for you. Speakers using an interpreter will be given an additional 2 minutes to testify. Should no interpreter be available, your testimony will be recorded and a translation will be provided to the Commissioners in writing at a future date.
The Commission relies on volunteer interpreter services, and we request that you be patient as we look to accommodate your interpretation needs. To provide the Commission with advance notice of a request for interpretation services at an upcoming hearing, please contact DCP’s Language Access Coordinator Sok (Soki) Ng, Senior Commissions Operations Specialist, at 212-720-3508, sng@planning.nyc.gov.
The Department of City Planning provides planning and land use information to the public by providing direct assistance through our borough offices and the Zoning Help Desk. Additional information is provided to the public through the website.
All public assistance desks at City Planning are equipped to assist Limited English Speakers, with the use of in-house staff volunteer interpreters or telephonic interpreters.
A list of contact information for City Planning Offices is here. Please be patient as our staff identifies an appropriate interpreter to assist you.
If you have any questions or would like to deliver a compliant at any time, please contact DCP’s Language Access Coordinator Sok (Soki) Ng, Senior Commissions Operations Specialist, at 212-720-3508, sng@planning.nyc.gov.
or dial 311.