Pittsburgh Site Plan Requirements & Permit Guide (2025)

By Site Plan Creator Team •

Guide to creating site plans for building permits in Pittsburgh, including PLI requirements and hillside development standards.

Pittsburgh Site Plan Requirements: Complete Guide for Building Permits

Creating a site plan for a building permit in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania requires meeting specific requirements set by the Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections (PLI). Pittsburgh's development is governed by the Pittsburgh Zoning Code (Title 9), with special considerations for the city's challenging hillside topography, landslide-prone slopes, and stormwater management requirements.

What Is a Site Plan and Why Does Pittsburgh Require One?

A site plan is a scaled drawing showing your property boundaries, existing structures, proposed construction, setbacks, and site features. PLI requires a site plan for all building permit applications to verify compliance with Title 9 (Zoning Code) and the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC). Look up your property's zoning through the city's GIS portal at pittsburghpa.gov/pli.

Required Site Plan Elements for PLI

  • Property boundaries with accurate dimensions and total lot area
  • Setbacks from all property lines per Title 9
  • Existing structures with square footage, height, and use
  • Proposed construction clearly distinguished from existing
  • Lot coverage calculation
  • Slope analysis showing topographic contours and slope percentages (critical in Pittsburgh)
  • Stormwater management features per the Pittsburgh Stormwater Manual
  • Parking spaces per Title 9
  • Tree locations per Chapter 980 (urban forest protection)
  • Retaining walls with heights and engineered design if over 4 feet
  • North arrow and scale
  • Allegheny County parcel ID

Pittsburgh Zoning and Setback Requirements

Pittsburgh's Title 9 organizes zoning into these common residential categories:

  • R1D-VH (Single-Family, Very High Density): Front 15 feet, side 3 feet, rear 15 feet. Lot coverage max 60%.
  • R1D-H (Single-Family, High Density): Front 20 feet, side 5 feet, rear 20 feet. Lot coverage max 50%.
  • R1D-M (Single-Family, Medium Density): Front 25 feet, side 8 feet, rear 25 feet. Lot coverage max 40%.
  • R1D-L (Single-Family, Low Density): Front 30 feet, side 10 feet, rear 30 feet. Lot coverage max 35%.
  • R2 (Two-Family): Front 20 feet, side 5 feet, rear 20 feet. Lot coverage max 50%.
  • RM-M (Multi-Family, Moderate Density): Front 20 feet, side 10 feet, rear 20 feet.

Hillside and Slope Development Requirements

Pittsburgh's steep topography creates unique development challenges addressed by Hillside Development standards:

  • Steep slope overlay: Properties with slopes exceeding 25% are subject to additional requirements including geotechnical studies and reduced lot coverage
  • Landslide-prone areas: Pittsburgh has mapped landslide-prone areas; development requires geotechnical investigation by a licensed professional engineer
  • Retaining walls: Common throughout Pittsburgh; walls over 4 feet require engineered design and building permits
  • Cut and fill limitations: Maximum cut of 10 feet and fill of 6 feet without additional engineering review
  • Your site plan must include topographic contours at 2-foot intervals showing existing and proposed grades

Stormwater Management Requirements

Pittsburgh's PWSA (Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority) manages stormwater with strong environmental requirements:

  • Threshold: Projects disturbing 5,000+ sq ft or creating 500+ sq ft of new impervious surface require a stormwater management plan
  • Green First Plan: Pittsburgh prioritizes green infrastructure solutions — bioretention, rain gardens, pervious pavement, green roofs, and rainwater harvesting
  • Combined sewer overflow (CSO): Much of Pittsburgh has a combined sewer system; stormwater reduction helps address CSO issues
  • Stormwater fee: Monthly PWSA fee based on impervious surface area
  • Stormwater credits: Up to 50% reduction in fees for properties with approved green infrastructure

Historic Preservation Requirements

Pittsburgh has designated historic districts reviewed by the Historic Review Commission (HRC):

  • City-designated historic districts: Including Mexican War Streets, Deutschtown, and Manchester; require a Certificate of Appropriateness for exterior work
  • Individual landmarks: Protected structures requiring HRC review
  • National Register districts: Federal tax credits available for qualifying rehabilitation
  • Pennsylvania Historic Tax Credit: State credit for qualified rehabilitation expenses

How to Submit Your Site Plan

Online Portal

Submit through Pittsburgh's PLI online portal at pittsburghpa.gov/pli for electronic plan review. Upload plans in PDF format, pay fees, and track status.

In-Person Submission

Walk-in service at 200 Ross Street, 3rd Floor for permit applications.

Permit Fees and Timeline

  • Plan review fees: Based on project scope per PLI fee schedule
  • Building permit fees: Calculated from construction cost per the UCC
  • No impact fees: Pittsburgh does not charge traditional development impact fees
  • PWSA fees: Connection and tap fees for water and sewer
  • Timeline: Residential plan review 10-15 business days. Commercial 20-30 business days. HRC review adds 30-60 days. Geotechnical review for hillside sites adds 15-30 days.

Creating Your Pittsburgh Site Plan with Site Plan Creator

Site Plan Creator makes it easy to generate a professional, permit-ready site plan for your Pittsburgh property. Simply enter your address, and the tool automatically loads your property boundaries, building footprints, and aerial imagery. You can then add setback lines, label structures, draw proposed construction, and export a scaled PDF ready for PLI submission.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the typical residential setbacks in Pittsburgh?
In R1D-H zones, front setbacks are 20 feet, side setbacks 5 feet, and rear setbacks 20 feet with 50% maximum lot coverage. R1D-VH (very high density) zones have 15-foot front and 3-foot side setbacks. R1D-L (low density) zones require 30-foot front and 10-foot side setbacks. Always verify through the PLI GIS portal.
What are the hillside and slope requirements?
Properties with slopes exceeding 25% have additional requirements including geotechnical studies, reduced lot coverage, and engineered retaining wall designs. Landslide-prone areas require geotechnical investigation. Cut and fill are limited to 10 feet and 6 feet respectively. Site plans must include topographic contours at 2-foot intervals.
What stormwater management is required?
Projects disturbing 5,000+ sq ft or creating 500+ sq ft of impervious surface need a stormwater management plan. Pittsburgh's Green First Plan prioritizes green infrastructure: bioretention, rain gardens, pervious pavement, and green roofs. Monthly PWSA stormwater fees are based on impervious area with up to 50% credit for green infrastructure.
What historic preservation rules apply?
City-designated historic districts (Mexican War Streets, Deutschtown, Manchester, and others) require a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Review Commission for exterior work. State and federal historic tax credits are available for qualifying rehabilitation. HRC review adds 30-60 days to the timeline.
Do retaining walls need permits?
Yes, retaining walls over 4 feet high require a building permit and engineered design by a licensed professional engineer. Due to Pittsburgh's topography, retaining walls are very common. Your site plan must show all existing and proposed retaining walls with heights. Walls on hillside sites may require geotechnical investigation.
How do I submit plans to PLI?
Submit through Pittsburgh's PLI online portal at pittsburghpa.gov/pli for electronic plan review. Upload plans in PDF, pay fees, and track status. Walk-in service is at 200 Ross Street, 3rd Floor. Residential permits typically take 10-15 business days.
What tree protection requirements exist?
Chapter 980 of the Pittsburgh Code establishes urban forest protection requirements. Trees on public property and in the right-of-way are managed by the Department of Public Works. Development sites must show all trees on the site plan. Removed trees may require replacement per the urban forestry regulations.
How long does the Pittsburgh permit process take?
Residential plan review takes 10-15 business days. Commercial permits take 20-30 business days. HRC review for historic properties adds 30-60 days. Geotechnical review for hillside and slope-challenged sites adds 15-30 days. PWSA stormwater review is typically concurrent with PLI review.

How to Create a Site Plan in Pittsburgh

  1. Look Up Your Property Information: Use the PLI GIS portal at pittsburghpa.gov/pli to find your zoning district, historic district status, slope conditions, and flood zone. Note your Allegheny County parcel ID. Check landslide-prone area maps.
  2. Assess Topographic and Environmental Constraints: Determine slope percentage, landslide risk, stormwater requirements, and historic district status. Engage a geotechnical engineer for properties with slopes exceeding 25% or in landslide-prone areas.
  3. Create Your Site Plan: Enter your Pittsburgh address in Site Plan Creator to load property boundaries, building footprints, and aerial imagery. Add setback lines per Title 9 and label structures including retaining walls.
  4. Include All Required Elements: Ensure your site plan includes property boundaries, setbacks, lot coverage, topographic contours at 2-foot intervals, retaining walls, stormwater features, tree locations, and north arrow with scale.
  5. Prepare Supporting Documents: For hillside sites, prepare geotechnical reports and engineered retaining wall designs. Prepare stormwater management plans with green infrastructure. For historic districts, prepare HRC application materials.
  6. Submit Through PLI Portal: Upload plans through the PLI online portal. Pay fees and track status. Submit HRC applications concurrently for historic properties. Submit stormwater plans to PWSA.
  7. Manage Review and Obtain Permit: Respond to PLI reviewer comments. Attend HRC meetings if required. Once all approvals obtained, pay final fees, receive your building permit, and schedule inspections.