Background
In 2021, the City of Pittsburgh engaged HR&A Consultants to conduct a comprehensive Housing Needs Assessment to gain a deeper understanding of the city's current and future housing demands. The assessment involved evaluating the existing housing stock and analyzing demographic trends to identify key areas for improvement and growth. The findings, published in January 2022, highlighted critical opportunities to guide future policy decisions focused on both the creation of new housing and the preservation of existing units.
In 2024, the Department of City Planning proposed a series of zoning updates designed to reduce barriers to new housing development, lower housing costs, and expand affordable housing options. The main topics addressed in this round of zoning text updates included Accessory Dwelling Units; City-wide Inclusionary Zoning; Parking Requirements; and Minimum Lot Size requirements.
The legislation was initially briefed to the Planning Commission at the September 17, 2024, October 1, 2024, and November 26, 2024 meetings. Then the first hearing was held on December 10, 2024, continued to January 28, 2025. The Planning Commission made a positive recommendation to City Council with multiple conditions. Please see attached Planning Commission decision.
On March 4, 2025, Council Bill 2025-1579 was introduced at City Council that took the provisions of the minimum lot size reform of 2025-1545 (Housing Needs Assessment Legislation). Because the provisions were heard at a Public Hearing at Planning Commission as part of the Housing Needs Assessment package, it did not need to be sent to Planning Commission for report and recommendation. It was held for Public Hearing at City Council on April 23rd, 2025. Then it was approved at City Council on May 5, 2025, and signed by the Mayor on May 7, 2025.
On September 10, 2025, City Council held a Public Hearing on the Housing Needs Assessment Bill Council Bill 2025-1545. Then October 15, 2025, the bill was heard at City Council Standing Committee and was Amended by Substitute. The bill was then referred back to the Planning Commission, because it was substantively different than the version the Commission had originally acted on. The amended version kept the provisions for Accessory Dwelling Units and Parking Reform but replaced the City-wide Inclusionary Zoning provisions with an Affordable Housing Bonus program.
Learn About the Policies
An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is a residential dwelling unit that is accessory or secondary to another primary use. It may be like a smaller apartment within a home, detached from the primary structure in a separate building, or constructed within an existing accessory structure (like a garage or basement).
ADUs provide new housing options that may offer relief to communities where existing residents are concerned about being priced out of their own neighborhoods.
They also help create housing options that are more economically and environmentally sustainable. The smaller building footprint also means fewer materials are used in construction, and less energy is required to heat or cool the house.
In 2018, the city enacted an ADU Overlay District for the single-family zoned portions of the Garfield neighborhood, set to expire after two years.
Since then, other cites have sought to implement policies approving the implementation of ADUs to address low housing stock and affordability.
Read more about ADUs in our subpage, linked here.
The Affordable Housing Bonus Program replaced the proposed City-wide Inclusionary Zoning provisions through an amendment by substitution at Council. The Affordable Housing Bonus Program proposal removes the requirement for affordability but allows residential projects extra density if affordable housing is provided, except in areas in the existing Inclusionary Zoning Overlay (IZ-O).
The Department of City Planning is proposing a version to be Amended by Substitute that utilizes an existing bonus system.
The 1958 Zoning Code implemented off-street parking requirements for the first time. Most of the City was built prior to this requirement. Over the years, zoning code was amended to reduce or remove entirely off-street parking minimums in some geographical parts of the city. Many cities in recent years including Buffalo, Minneapolis, Austin, Raleigh, and others have completely removed minimum off-street parking requirements. The removal of minimum parking requirements has led to the development of more walkable, mixed-use development, lower housing costs, and adaptive reuse of existing buildings. DCP staff analyzed best practices of other cities and examined development trends in Pittsburgh regarding the amount of off-street parking provided. This work was undertaken originally at the request of Councilmember Strassburger and her staff.
Visit our Parking Reform subpage, linked here.
Minimum lot size is the smallest lot area permitted for a development in a residential zoning district. Minimum lot size per unit is the minimum lot area needed for the development of a residential unit and determines the level of density permitted. Minimum lot size requirements have historically been a tool of exclusionary zoning intended to prevent lower-income households from being able to live in certain neighborhoods.
DCP is proposing to remove minimum lot size per unit and reduce the minimum lot size requirements in all residential subdistricts.
Visit our Minimum Lot Size Reform subpage, linked here.
