Community engagement is practised in various forms to advance municipal sustainability and climate action policies and projects. Governments and institutions engage with communities to develop community-supported policies and place-based solutions, while community-led grassroots movements organize and advocate for shared interests. Although well-intentioned, these forms of engagements often involve inherent power imbalances and yield uncertain sustainability outcomes. Engagement driven by institutional agendas—such as emissions reductions—risks exacerbating existing inequalities if vulnerable communities are excluded and may erode public trust if input is ignored or local priorities are overlooked. Place-based research risks being extractive, using participants’ time towards academic outputs rather than delivering local benefits. On the other hand, grassroots movements led by shared values may lack the diverse perspectives needed for effective solutions to complex sustainability challenges. This paper proposes a typology of approaches to urban community engagement that begins by identifying key actors: municipal governments, academic institutions, and grassroots groups. It then identifies key characteristics - relating to purpose, power dynamics, and social learning - that distinguish the various approaches used by these actors. This work contributes to a deeper understanding of the various forms of community engagement, offering insights into how these efforts shape the implementation of urban sustainability and climate policies and projects.