The Office of the Commissioner oversees the administration of HPD. The Commissioner, except as otherwise provided by law, plans, initiates, conducts, supervises, coordinates, reviews and evaluates City programs relating to urban renewal, publicly-aided housing, neighborhood conservation, the enforcement of all laws relating to the rehabilitation or maintenance of housing, and the management of property acquired by the City, for or devoted to housing or urban renewal purposes. The Commissioner is also the ex officio chairman of the Housing Development Corporation.

• The agency's Chief of Staff, Special Counsel, and most of the Deputy Commissioners report directly to the Commissioner.

• The Supervising Inspector General also has a joint reporting relationship to the Commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the Commissioner of the Department of Investigation