APA CALIFORNIA AWARDS
The Award Policy was updated and adopted by APA CA Chapter Board in January 2024, with the changes taking effect in the 2025 award season. This major amendment consolidates the award categories to create a more consistent and streamlined process, while aligning with the national award categories. Please see the Awards Program Policies for complete guidance and the updated criteria for each of the award categories.

Call For Jury
Each year, around April or May, APA California issues a Call for Jury which requests members to serve as volunteers for the APA CA Chapter Award Jury. Jurors review and evaluate some of the finest planning work in California and have an important role in the APA California Awards Program. The 2024 Call for Jury has concluded. Please visit this page in early 2025 for more information on next year’s award program.
Award Nominations
The Chapter Awards Nomination process opens April 16, 2024 and closes May 16, 2024. The nomination period for 2024 has concluded. Chapter award applicants must first apply at the Section level where the project, plan, or work occurred in order to be eligible for a Chapter award, unless the project is of significance in multiple sections or of statewide significance. The Section Awards application process, typically from January to March of each year, has concluded for 2024. Please visit the Awards page of APA California’s Sections for more information on nominating plans and projects, distinguished APA members, and lay contributors to planning and achievements of APA California sections.

Award Categories
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Opportunity and Empowerment Award
Comprehensive Plan Award
Implementation Award
Resilience and Sustainability Award
Economic Planning and Development Award
Transportation Planning Award
Best Practices Award
Grassroots Initiative Award
Public Outreach Award
Urban Design Award
Planning Advocate Award
Planning Firm Award
Planning Agency Award
Emerging Planning and Design Firm Award
Advancing Diversity and Social Change in Honor of Paul Davidoff Award
Academic Award
Communications Initiative Award
Hard-Won Victories Award
Planning Landmark and Pioneer Awards
Nominations for Planning Landmark and Pioneer Awards must be submitted to the Chapter for review by the Chapter Historian and the Chapter Board. Special criteria have been established for these two award categories. If the Chapter Historian determines that a nomination does not meet the criteria for either a Planning Landmark or Planning Pioneer Award, the Awards Coordinator shall have the option to submit the nomination for a different Award category.
Special Chapter Awards
Any person including a member of the APA California Board, or the Sections can make nominations for these awards. Self-nominations are allowed for these award categories. Nominations for these categories will be submitted through the awards application portal, then provided to the Chapter President for review and selection of the winner. If no nominations are received, the Chapter President may, at their discretion, select a winner.
Section Activity Awards
The APA California Section Activity Award recognizes the outstanding work of a Section that has established or implemented an activity or program of unusually high merit within the past two years. Section Activity Award winners are only eligible to receive the award once every three years. Any person including a member of the APA California Board or the Sections can make nominations for this award. Self-nominations are allowed for this award category.
Planner Emeritus (PEN) Awards
The PEN Honor Awards are presented to persons for their outstanding contribution to the planning profession or for a significant accomplishment which enhanced the recognition of planning. PEN represents a body of long-tenured members of APA who are available to provide to the APA California Board and to other APA California groups substantial knowledge of the profession as it has matured in California, in particular. Nominations must be submitted to the PEN President or a member of the PEN Board of Directors.
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