JPBD Pulau Pinang was established in 1959, being the fourth state after Perak, Johor, and Selangor. Its primary role at the time was to carry out the main duties of a Town Planner, including aspects of layout control and town planning through the preparation of long-term master plans.
Initially named the Northern Region Town Planner's Office, its first office was located at Fort Cornwallis, George Town. On 5 May 1962, it was renamed the 'State Planning Office' and began operations/moved to larger operational offices at the Tunku Syed Putra Building, Downing Street.
The department's comprehensive duties began in June 1982, when the state adopted the Town and Country Planning Act 1976 (Act 172), which granted planning and control authority through the State Planning Committee, Development Control, and the preparation of Development Plans as planning control instruments.
Currently, the Department of Town and Country Planning of Penang has been located in the Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak (KOMTAR) building since 1984 until now.
