Boards and Commissions

Last updated or reviewed on July 2, 2026

Announcements:

Advisory Board and Commission Meeting Suspension Update

NOTICE: All regular meetings of the following 13 advisory boards will remain meeting as-needed until June 30, 2027, unless noticed otherwise. 

  • Affordable Housing Advisory Committee
  • African American Heritage Committee
  • Asheville-Buncombe Riverfront Commission
  • Asheville Downtown Commission
  • Audit Committee
  • Community Entertainment Facilities Commission
  • Human Relations Commission
  • Multimodal Transportation Commission
  • Neighborhood Advisory Committee
  • Noise Advisory Board
  • Public Art & Culture Commission
  • Sustainability Advisory Committee
  • Urban Forestry Commission

These boards shall meet when tasks are assigned by the Asheville City Council, a Council Committee, or a department director.  Members of boards that are meeting on an as-needed basis have the following pathways to propose new tasks that have not been directed by City Council:

  • Ask their board’s representative on the Helene Recovery Boards to present the idea to their respective Recovery Board.

  • Communicate the idea to a Council Committee.

  • Communicate the idea to City Council.

  • Ask their board chair to present the idea to the department director who provides support to their board (e.g., Urban Forestry Master Plan, Arts & Culture Plan, Home Repair, Resilience Hubs, etc.).

Your Voice Matters

Have you ever wanted to make a difference? Have you wondered, “Could our city government benefit from my experience and knowledge?” Do you want to have a voice in Asheville’s growth and future? If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, then it’s time to take that first step forward and put your perspective, leadership and knowledge to task by applying to serve on one of the City of Asheville’s many boards and commissions. Through a variety of boards and commissions established by the Asheville City Council, members of the public may provide input on the policies that shape their government and their city.

Board members and commissioners generally serve as unpaid volunteers, but the rewards can be gratifying: members meet other residents with similar interests, they learn about the city, and they help shape the future of Asheville. Being on a board or commission requires a significant personal commitment, so applicants should consider their ability to commit their time and personal energy before applying.

Board and Commission Vacancies

Below is a list of current and upcoming board and commission vacancies. Please visit each board’s webpage for more information about its scope of work. The deadline for applications is Sunday, August 30, 2026. City Council will review applications and consider appointments at the September 22, 2026, City Council meeting.

Board and Commission Application

Application Process

Prospective Applicants

First, determine which board or commission interests you. Board and commission meetings are open to the public, so potential applicants are encouraged to attend monthly meetings or watch recordings of previous meetings. Meeting dates, times, and locations vary and are available on individual board and commission web pages and the Board and Commission Meeting Information webpage.  You may apply for up to three boards at a time. Please review our FAQ document for more information. Note: Complete application forms are subject to NC public records laws and are posted online for the City Council and public review. 

Application

Applications are accepted for all boards and commissions year-round, regardless of whether or not there is a current vacancy. After your application is received, you will receive a confirmation e-mail from the City Clerk’s Office. If you do not receive an email within a day after submittal, please contact boards@ashevillenc.gov to make sure that your application has reached the City Clerk’s Office. Once an application is received, the city will place your name on the resource list for that particular board. Applications are kept on file for consideration for one year. If you are not appointed within a year, you will need to submit a new application for further consideration. 

Qualifications

City residents are given preference. However, Council may appoint a non-City resident to some hard-to-fill seats, seats requiring special skills or expertise, or unless otherwise specified or provided for by law or Council action. Some board seats have specific eligibility requirements. All requirements will be listed above in the “board and commission vacancies” section. Please carefully review the requirements prior to submitting your application.

Interview

When vacancies occur, the City Council will review the resource list and may schedule interviews. You will be contacted directly if it is necessary for you to interview for an appointment.

ADA Accommodations

The City prohibits discrimination on the basis of a disability with respect to all terms and conditions of access to its activities, programs, and services. If you need any reasonable accommodation to make your board service more effective, please email the City’s ADA Coordinator, Brad Stein, at bstein@ashevillenc.gov, to discuss your accommodation request. The City will consider whether your request can be reasonably accommodated. This will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. For more information about the City of Asheville’s ADA policy and contact information for the ADA coordinator, please visit the Americans with Disabilities Act webpage.

Board and Commission Resources

City Managed Boards and Commissions 2026 Meeting Information

The Board and Commission Meeting Information webpage lists the 2026 regular meeting and staff contact information for City Managed Boards. For meeting information on Boards/Commissions not managed by the City, but to which City Council appoints members, please visit the Non City-managed Boards webpage.

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