Monroe County and the City of Rochester are located on the south shore of Lake Ontario, in the Finger Lakes Region of Upstate New York. The area (657.21 square miles) is accessible through the Greater Rochester International Airport, Amtrak and Conrail, the New York State Thruway, and the New York State Erie Canal.  Visit the Greater Rochester Enterprise or VisitRochester for more information about the Greater Rochester Region.

The Monroe County Division of Planning provides a diverse set of services related to land use and development including: technical and mapping support in the development and implementation of various land use plans and regulations; guidance on project permitting and compliance with environmental review; preparation of the annual Land Use Report on major projects proposed, approved, and constructed; coordination of the Capital Improvement Program; training opportunities through the Spring and Fall Land Use Decision-Making Training Program.  

Development Review Notice - DRC is now online!

• Please visit Monroe County's Development Review Guide to learn more about the Development Review Process (GML 239).

2020 Census 

• The 2020 Census has finished collecting responses
• Stay in the Know by visiting: https://2020census.gov/
• 2020 Response Rate in Monroe County

Overall Timeline:

2020

• By December 31: The Census Bureau will deliver apportionment counts to the President as required by law.

2021

• April 1: By this date, the Census Bureau will send redistricting counts to the states. This information is used to redraw legislative districts based on population changes.

Other Surveys

The Census Bureau is currently conducting multiple surveys, including the Household Pulse Survey, the American Community Survey, and a survey to measure the accuracy of the 2020 Census. Visit Are You In A Survey? to learn more about these other surveys and how they work.

 

Why is the Census Important?

• The Federal Census occurs every 10 years and determines many aspects of life for Americans. This includes:
  • United States Congressional Apportionment throughout the United States;
  • The size of representation in the U.S. Electoral College;
  • Redistricting of Congressional seats; and 
  • Over 132 programs use Census Bureau data to distribute more than $675 Billion dollars in funds in 2015.
    • Some of these programs include Head Start, Pell Grants, school lunches, rural education, adult education, and grants for preschool special education.

United States Census Data for Monroe County

• Rochester Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) population - 1,054,323 (2010)
• Monroe County population - 744,344 (2010)
  • Monroe County, NY Census Data - Direct Link to Census.gov
• City of Rochester population - 210,565 (2010)

Online Census Information Services

• Census Data - Link to Census.gov
• U.S. Census Bureau

Monroe County Census 2010 Documents

• Monroe County Total Population and Population Change 2000-2010
• Monroe County Total Population and Housing Unit Counts, Land Area and Population Density
• Monroe County Total Populations by Race and Hispanic Origin
• Monroe County Total Populations by Hispanic Origin and Race for Non-Hispanics

Capital Improvement Programs

The process for preparing the annual Capital Improvement Program begins In the Fall when departments are asked to submit proposed projects for inclusion in the program.  These projects are reviewed by a committee of County Department representatives which makes a recommendation to the County Executive regarding the scheduling and financing of the projects for inclusion in the program.  Under the Charter, the Director of Planning and Development is charged with preparing the Capital Improvement Program and submitting it to the County Executive.  The County Executive is required to submit the recommended program to the Monroe County Planning Board in January of each year for their review and recommendation.  The County Executive is then required to submit a recommended Capital Improvement Program to the County Legislature in May.  The County Legislature is required to hold a public hearing before adopting the Capital Improvement Program at their July meeting.  The first year of the Capital Improvement Program becomes the Capital Budget which is part of the annual Operating Budget which is submitted to the County Legislature in the Fall.  Adoption of the Capital Budget by the Legislature is accompanied by the adoption of bond resolutions for the financing of projects contained in the first year of the Capital Improvement Program.  The process is repeated each year according to the above schedule.

Links are provided below to the most current version of the Capital Improvement Program as well as recently adopted programs.

• Proposed 2022 - 2027 Capital Improvement Program
• Adopted 2021 - 2026 Capital Improvement Program
• Adopted 2020 - 2025 Capital Improvement Program
• Adopted 2019 - 2024 Capital Improvement Program
• Adopted 2018 - 2023 Capital Improvement Program
• Adopted 2017 - 2022 Capital Improvement Program
• Adopted 2016 - 2021 Capital Improvement Program
• Capital Improvement Plan Archive

View Monroe Charter and Administrative Codes:

• Monroe County Charter - Capital Improvement Program
• County Administrative Code Article VII - Capital Improvement Program and Capital Budget Procedures

Monroe County Planning Board

The Monroe County Planning Board consists of 15 members: eight citizens appointed by the County Executive, County Legislature and Environmental Management Council, five members of the County Administration, and two County Legislative Representatives.

The Board is charged with reviewing and recommending a six-year capital improvement program which outlines the major improvements slated for County facilities (parks, roads, buildings, etc.). The Board also reviews and recommends amendments to the Adopted Capital Improvement Program that involve new projects or significant changes in scope. 

• Click here to learn more about the County Planning Board
• View Monroe County Charter

Municipal Land Use Report

Funds from the Genesee Transportation Council (GTC) Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) were provided as a grant to continue a system for annually reporting changes in land use within Monroe County. Up-to-date land use data is important for transportation modeling and analysis and will be used by GTC as input into their traffic simulation model. This land use information will be used to assess changes in land use, identify trends, guide capital project investments and help pinpoint "hot spots" of traffic congestion that may become candidates for possible traffic management solutions such as Transportation Development Districts (T. D. D.) or Transportation Management Associations (T. M. A.).

In response to the need to monitor proposed development, the Genesee Transportation Council and the Monroe County Department of Planning and Development initiated a process to identify all proposed projects and approved major projects within a computerized database that can be updated on an annual basis. The updated data is then compiled into an annual Municipal Land Use (MLU) Report.

• 2019 Municipal Land Use (MLU) Report
• 2018 Municipal Land Use (MLU) Report (Large File Size)
• 2017 Municipal Land use (MLU) Report
• Municipal Land Use (MLU) Report Archive

Irondequoit Bay

Irondequoit Bay is an area of historical, archeological, ecological, and geological significance.  The Bay is classified by New York State as a "Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat."

Human use in the Irondequoit Bay area threatens the Bay’s beauty, ecosystems, and recreational opportunities. Balancing the protection of natural resources with recreation and development is necessary for continued use of the Bay area. To this end, an inter-municipal group - the Irondequoit Bay Coordinating Committee - was formed. Subcommittees of this group work together to review development plans on properties in the Bay area and to implement a Harbor Management Plan.

• Irondequoit Bay Harbor Management Plan
• Irondequoit Biological Study

Irondequoit Bay Coordinating Committee (IBCC)

The Irondequoit Bay Coordinating Committee (IBCC) was established in 1985 as an advisory committee through an inter-municipal agreement between the towns of Irondequoit, Penfield and Webster and the County of Monroe to coordinate among various levels of government with an interest in the Irondequoit Bay, all levels of public and private use of the area, and to develop, recommend and monitor, related policies.

Irondequoit Bay Technical Staff (IBTS)

The Irondequoit Bay Technical Staff (IBTS) is a subcommittee of the IBCC. Membership is made up of representatives from the towns of Irondequoit, Penfield and Webster, Monroe County Planning and Development, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Monroe County Soil and Water Conservation District, New York State Department of State, Environmental Management Council, and the Monroe County Water Quality Coordinating Committee. The IBTS was created to review proposed projects located around the Bay and offer comments and recommendations to the permit-issuing agency for their consideration.

Click here for the 2021 IBTS Meeting Schedule

2021 IBTS Meeting Agendas and Notes

January 2021 Agenda	February 2021	March 2021	April 2021
May 2021	June 2021	July 2021	August 2021
September 2021	October 2021	November 2021	December 2021

 

2020 IBTS Meeting Agendas and Notes

January 2020 Agenda & Notes	February 2020 Agenda & Notes	March 2020 (Cancelled)	April 2020 Agenda & Notes
May 2020 Agenda & Notes	June 2020 Agenda & Notes	July 2020 Agenda & Notes	August 2020 Boat Tour
September 2020 Agenda & Notes	October 2020 Agenda & Notes	November 2020 Agenda & Notes	December 2020 (Cancelled)

 

Land Use Planning Resources

SEQR - The State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) requires that government agencies consider the potential adverse environmental impacts of an action before a decision is made to undertake a project. State, county, and municipal agencies are subject to the review procedures outlined in SEQR.

The Division of Planning maintains up to date information on the SEQR regulations and is available to assist and answer questions on this complex process.

• SEQR Regulations
• Environmental Notice Bulletin, NYSDEC
• NYSDEC – General SEQR Information

Parking Study - The Statistical Analyses of Parking by Land Use in Monroe County provides a basis for determining parking standards for 27 land uses ranging from banks to supermarkets. 

Related Agencies:

• Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council
• Genesee Transportation Council
• American Planning Association (APA)
• New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC)
• NYS Dept. of Agriculture and Markets
• NYS Department of State Local Government Services
• GIS/Special Interest Group, Genesee/Finger Lakes Region

Land Use Decision-Making Training Program

The Monroe County Department of Planning and Development has offered a series of trainings related to land use decision-making every spring and fall since 1985! This program is designed for new board members to learn the basics of land use decision-making, for returning municipal board members to go deeper into specific areas of land use, and most classes also offer something new for municipal officials and staff, agency personnel, planners, attorneys, architects, developers, engineers, landscape architects, surveyors, and citizens.

Spring 2021 Schedule - Please check back soon!

The Monroe County Land Use Decision-Making Training Program is proud to be endorsed by the following organizations:
American Society of Civil Engineers--Local Chapter, Genesee Valley Branch of the American Public Works Association, American Society of Civil Engineers--Local Chapter Institute of Transportation Engineers, Monroe County Environmental Management Council, Monroe County Supervisors Association, Monroe County Village Mayors Association, New York Bar Association & Upstate New York Chapter of the Municipal Law Section New York Planning Federation, New York Upstate Chapter of the American Planning Association, Rochester Home Builders Association, Community Design Center of Rochester, Upstate New York Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

 

Monroe County Fishery Advisory Board

The Monroe County Fishery Advisory Board (MCFAB) is appointed by the County Legislature to advise the Legislature, as well as other government agencies, organizations, and residents on matters affecting the fishery resource in Monroe County.

The Board meets the second Monday of every month, except in October, which is the third Monday, at 7:00 P.M.. at the Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office, 740 East Henrietta Road, Rochester, New York.

• Click here for a PDF of the 2021 Meeting Schedule

January 11, 2021	Agenda & Minutes
February 8, 2021	Agenda & Minutes
March 8, 2021	Agenda & Minutes
April 12, 2021	Agenda & Minutes

 

• 2020 MCFAB Meetings:

  January 13	Agenda & Minutes
  February 10	Agenda & Minutes
  March 9	Agenda & Minutes
  April 13	Cancellation Notice
  May 11	Agenda & Minutes
  June 8	Agenda & Minutes
  July 13	Agenda & Minutes
  August 10	Agenda & Minutes
  September 14	Agenda & Minutes
  October 19	Agenda & Minutes
  November 9	Agenda & Minutes
  December 14	Agenda & Minutes

heck out fishingmonroecounty.com to request a Monroe County Fishing Brochure and Map.

For information on the Lake Ontario Counties Fishing Derby:

• Lake Ontario Sport Fishing Promotion Council

For information on visiting Rochester to fish:

• Greater Rochester Visitor's Association

For information on Fish and Wildlife Regulations and fishing hotspots:

• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

For information on Great Lakes Programs:

• New York Sea Grant
• International Joint Commission
• Great Lakes Fishery Commission
• Great Lakes Information

For specific water and weather conditions on Lake Ontario:

• NOAA Coastwatch for Lake Ontario surface temps
• US Army Corps of Engineers/Hydrology & Lake Levels
• Ninth District (Great Lakes) Coast Guard (Links to Notice to Mariners, etc.) 
• National Weather Service / Buffalo