There is ongoing recognition of the links between human settlements’ design and location and the frequency and consequences of disasters. These links are now acknowledged by governments as core to building resilience.  However, while some practical changes can be made in urban planning practices and systems, and in the emergency services sector, broader principles to guide integration of activities are lacking.  The paper sets out a framework assessing the potential to integrate urban planning and disaster risk reduction. The practice of urban planning seeks favourable influences over spatial and functional features of cities and regions.  It developed from design, health, law social action and economic development challenges and traditions.  Accordingly, planning is supported by a range of legislative, agency, governmental and professional support mechanisms providing legitimacy and processes that support action.  On the other hand, disaster risk reduction (DRR) is a relatively new approach, derived from emergency management traditions based primarily in the development of systems oriented to responding to disaster events, such as flood, earthquakes, fires and storms.  While the professional base of DRR is being re-conceived, the multiple agencies and disciplines involved (including the sciences and research in disasters) now need to integrate their activities, including the response and civil agencies responsible for public order and safety.  It is argued in this paper that appropriate integration of planning and DRR requires understandings of their fundamental qualities.  Six categories are set out as a framework demonstrating key points of intersection between urban planning and DRR.  The paper argues that integration of urban planning can be understood as one indicator of whether overall movements to operationalised DRR is being achieved, and sets key tests.   The paper concludes with an assessment of the challenges and potentials of integrating urban planning and DRR.