Want a say on what gets built on your block? Brooklyn community board applications are open until Feb. 8

If you have opinions about a rezoning, a bike lane or a new bar's liquor license, Brooklyn wants you at the table. Borough President Antonio Reynoso opened applications on Oct. 19 for seats on the borough's 18 community boards, and they are due by Feb. 8, 2027, at 11:59 p.m., according to his office and the Brooklyn Paper.

What community boards do

Community boards are the most local level of city government. They are advisory, but they weigh in on land-use applications, liquor licenses, transportation projects, the city budget and services such as sanitation, and agencies and elected officials hear their votes. Brooklyn has more boards than any other borough, each with up to 50 volunteer members.

Who can apply

• Any New York City resident 16 or older who lives, works or has a significant interest in a Brooklyn community district.
• Not sure which district you're in? Look up your address on the city's community district profiles.

The time commitment

Boards meet once a month from September through June at a location in the district. Members must attend the full-board meeting in person, join a committee and go to its meetings. The Borough President's office estimates 6 to 8 hours a month.

How to apply

1. Fill out the application on the Borough President's community boards page.
2. Schedule a brief virtual conversation with a member of the Borough President's team.
3. Wait for a decision; applicants are notified once board selections are made.

"The people who know our communities best are those who live, work, and raise their families in them," Reynoso said, adding that he wants boards to reflect the borough's diversity. Each borough president runs a separate appointment process, so residents of other boroughs should check with their own borough president's office.