Background
The federal Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 effectively prohibits placing additional zoning requirements on a community residence for people with disabilities that otherwise meets the zoning code requirements for other residential uses.
The Department of City Planning (DCP) is working with City Council to ensure the City’s Zoning Code complies with the federal Fair Housing Act to better align with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania regulatory standards, to provide additional flexibility and opportunity for development of housing, and to make it easier for applicants and communities to understand the Zoning Regulations around group living uses.
DCP created a working group with City Councilmembers, Planning Commission Members, Allegheny County Department of Human Services, and housing and service providers to help inform these changes.
These fair housing amendments are intended to give group housing and service providers greater clarity and flexibility to provide these much-needed services without altering the look and feel of neighborhoods. Compliance with existing zoning regulations such as setback and height requirements, as well as state licensing requirements for providers are still needed.
Process
DCP created a working group with City Councilmembers, Planning Commission Members, Allegheny County Department of Human Services, and housing and service providers to help inform these changes. Discussions with the working group helped shape the draft Fair Housing Amendments to the Zoning Code.
View the draft legislation and summary memo in the Document Library section.
These proposed amendments will be introduced at Planning Commission to be recommended to City Council.
Councilmembers will then have the opportunity to adopt or amend the proposed legislation from its current draft form. The public will also have the opportunity in both Planning Commission and City Council sessions to provide public feedback.
Please use the “Share your Questions” form below to ask questions or provide initial feedback prior to this legislation going to the Planning Commission and City Council.
