Here's How To Join Your Local Community Board

NEW YORK CITY — If you care about your neighborhood and have been looking for a way to get involved in local government, you're in luck.

Manhattan's 12 community boards — the groups that represent their neighborhood's interests in local government — are now accepting applications for the 2026 cohort of board members.

Every community board has up to 50 members, all of whom serve two-year terms. So each year, 25 seats are up for grabs.

But wait, what is a community board?

For the uninitiated, community boards are the most grassroots form of government in New York City, entirely comprised of volunteers who care about their neighborhoods.

The boards meet monthly to vote on things like changes to local streets, buildings and parks, city budget items, liquor licenses for new businesses, and so much more. This may sound mundane, but these meetings can actually get pretty heated, depending on the topic of the debate.

Then, the board's official opinions get shared with the city's relevant government agencies, which then factor the board's stances into decisions.

All board members are selected by Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Manhattan's borough president.

"As we open this application cycle, I want to ensure these boards reflect the lived experiences of the communities they serve," Hoylman-Sigal said. "I encourage anyone who lives, works, or goes to school in Manhattan and wants to strengthen their neighborhood to apply."

The application to join a community board is live from now until Feb. 27 at 5 p.m. Applicants must be 16 years or older to apply. To learn more about community boards, click here.

For questions and tips, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.