The Pittsburgh City Code is the city’s complete set of local laws, organized into numbered Titles that cover taxes, zoning, building standards, property maintenance, rental registration, business licensing, public conduct, and waste collection. It is hosted online at eCode360, where you can browse by Title or search for a specific rule.1eCode360. City of Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances The code applies to every resident, property owner, visitor, and business inside city limits, and it draws its authority from the Home Rule Charter Pittsburgh voters adopted in 1974.
How the Code Is Organized
The code moves from broad to specific: Titles at the top, then Articles, Chapters, and individual Sections. Title One handles administrative structure.2City of Pittsburgh, PA. City of Pittsburgh Code 111 – Departments Generally Title Two covers fiscal matters and taxes.3eCode360. City of Pittsburgh Code – Title 2 Fiscal Title Six governs public conduct, Title Seven business licensing, Title Nine zoning, and Title Ten building construction. When you need a specific rule, trace from the Title down to the Section so you see both the provision and the context around it.
One caveat about the online version: eCode360 is updated through periodic supplements, and there is often a gap between when City Council passes a new ordinance and when it appears in the codified text. Check the supplement date on the site. If it is several months old, cross-check against the city’s legislative information system for any recent changes. For fee schedules and inspection details, the Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections publishes current documents on pittsburghpa.gov that tend to be fresher than the codified text.
Property Maintenance Rules Owners Trip Over Most
Pittsburgh enforces the International Property Maintenance Code locally, and the Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections (PLI) treats each day a violation continues as a separate offense.4City of Pittsburgh, PA. Chapter 1004 – International Property Maintenance Code Adoption That single rule is why ignoring a notice gets expensive fast.
A few of the most common obligations:
- Grass and weeds must be kept under 10 inches. The code defines weeds as grasses, annual plants, and other vegetation, not counting trees, shrubs, and cultivated gardens. Environmental Services began enforcing overgrowth and debris violations starting March 13, 2026.5City of Pittsburgh, PA. Top 10 Code Violations6City of Pittsburgh, PA. Permits, Licenses, and Inspections
- Sidewalk snow and ice must be cleared within 24 hours after the weather event ends by whoever owns or has charge of the fronting property, under Section 419.03. The sidewalk is yours to shovel even though the city technically owns it.
- Trash and recyclables must be stored in durable, watertight containers with close-fitting lids.
Property maintenance violations are prosecuted as summary offenses, which can carry fines and, for serious cases, up to 90 days of imprisonment.7City of Pittsburgh, PA. Chapter 601 – Public Order In practice, first-time violations typically end in a fine and a compliance order.
Rental Property Registration
Every rental unit in the city has to be registered with PLI under Chapter 781. The initial registration requires the property address, unit count, owner contact information, government-issued photo ID, and a current occupancy permit.8City of Pittsburgh, PA. Chapter 781 – Residential Housing Rental Permit Program Owners must also name a contact person who can schedule inspections and give city officials access.
Timing matters. When a property changes hands, the new owner has 60 days to re-register. Existing registrations must be renewed at least 30 days before they expire. Fees are set annually by City Council under Chapter 170. Short-term rental hosts, including those listing on platforms like Airbnb, are covered by the same registration system and must also comply with applicable building, fire, and zoning rules.
Zoning and Building Permits
Title Nine is the zoning code, enacted in 1998 and updated regularly.9City of Pittsburgh, PA. Title 9 Zoning Code It controls what can be built where and how land can be used. The Use Table in Chapter 911 identifies which activities are permitted by right in each district and which require special approval.10City of Pittsburgh, PA. Pittsburgh Code – Chapter 911 Primary Uses Signage is governed separately by Chapter 919, and the limits differ sharply between neighborhood business districts and advertising sign overlay districts.11City of Pittsburgh, PA. Chapter 919 – Signs
Title Ten governs construction, renovation, and occupancy. Pittsburgh adopted the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code as its building and fire code, and PLI issues building permits, certificates of occupancy, and related approvals.12City of Pittsburgh, PA. Pittsburgh Code – Chapter 1001 Scope, Intent and Application The code enforcement arm exists “to protect the health, safety, and welfare in existing buildings and structures.”13Code of the City of Pittsburgh. Title 10 Building
Residential building permit fees are calculated on construction value: $6 per $1,000, with a minimum of $130 and a maximum of $8,000. Per-permit surcharges add a $4.50 state education and training fund fee, a $5 digital record retention fee, and a technology fee of $2 to $25 depending on the base cost. Accelerated plan review is available at 1 percent of construction value, with a $500 minimum.
Public Conduct, Noise, and Recycling
Title Six covers day-to-day conduct. The noise ordinance under Section 601.04 sets a day-night schedule with nighttime quiet hours from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM, when lower decibel limits apply in residential areas. Complaints generally go through the city’s 311 system. Dogs must be licensed with the city at three months of age, kept under control in public, and their waste cleaned up immediately. Fire safety sits in Title Eight, covering open burning, hazardous material storage, and evacuation standards.
Recycling is mandatory under Chapter 619, which implements Pennsylvania Act 101. Recyclables must be separated from regular trash and free of solid and liquid residue before going in a blue container. Putting regular trash in a blue recycling container is itself a violation.14City of Pittsburgh, PA. Chapter 619 – Municipal Waste and Recycling In leased buildings the owner provides the containers, but owner and tenant share compliance responsibility. Properties not on the city’s collection route must hire a private hauler and file an annual recycling tonnage report by February 28. Leaf waste must be separated and either held for collection or composted on-site.
Violations of Title Six are generally summary offenses, with a possible fine and up to 90 days of imprisonment.7City of Pittsburgh, PA. Chapter 601 – Public Order Most first-time conduct violations result in a fine and an order to stop the behavior.
Business Licensing
Title Seven sets up the licensing framework for businesses in the city, covering sales businesses, trade occupations, service businesses, amusement operations, and residential rental activity.15eCode360. Pittsburgh Code – Title 7 Business Licensing Vendors and peddlers need a specific license from PLI before operating on public or private property.16City of Pittsburgh, PA. Pittsburgh Code – Chapter 719 Vendors and Peddlers
All city business licenses expire 365 days from the date of issuance. Letting one lapse triggers a late fee on top of the renewal cost, and operating without a required license can lead to enforcement action, including orders to cease operations. Fees vary by trade category and are set by the schedules referenced in the code.
How to Appeal a Code Violation
If you get a code violation notice, you have 30 days from the date of the first compliance request to file a written appeal. The city provides a Code Enforcement Appeal Form that goes to the relevant department. If you are convicted at the magistrate level, a separate summary appeal process is available, also with a 30-day filing deadline.17City of Pittsburgh, PA. ROW 311 and Code Enforcement
Broader legal challenges to an ordinance itself, arguing that the city exceeded its delegated authority or that a rule fails on due process or equal protection grounds, exist as an option but are rare for routine code cases. The everyday path is the administrative appeal within the 30-day window.