Rules differ between the City of Pittsburgh and the boroughs and townships around it. Each municipality in Allegheny County runs its own permit office. The points below are the city's unless we say otherwise, and we check the rule for your address before work starts.
Do I need a permit for a driveway or patio in Pittsburgh?
In the City of Pittsburgh, often you do not need a building permit, but other approvals can apply. The city's list of work that does not require a building permit includes sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above the adjacent grade and not over a basement or story below. The same list warns that concrete work may still need approval from Zoning and Public Works. A new parking area in a front yard is a zoning matter. Anything touching the public sidewalk or curb goes through the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI).
Do I need a permit to widen my driveway or add a curb cut?
Yes, if the opening at the street changes. In the city, a new curb cut or a change to an existing one starts with a Building and Development Application, and DOMI reviews the location and design. A curb cut permit is then issued through OneStopPGH before construction. DOMI's published limits are a maximum width of 8 feet for a residential curb cut, or 16 feet where the lot has enough frontage. If you widen only the part on your own lot, ask Zoning whether the extra paving is allowed.
Who owns the driveway apron: me or the city?
The apron sits in the public right-of-way, but the abutting owner is the one who pays to build and keep it up. Work on it is permitted and inspected by DOMI in the city. On a state road, the state highway department also has a say over the driveway entrance. In the suburbs, the borough or township office sets the rule.
Who is responsible for the sidewalk in front of my house?
You are. Chapter 417 of the City of Pittsburgh Code makes the owner of the property abutting the right-of-way responsible for the care, maintenance, repair and replacement of the sidewalk and curb. The owner must also get a permit for sidewalk repair or construction. Most boroughs around the city follow the same owner-pays approach, but each has its own ordinance.
The city sent me a notice to fix my sidewalk. What do I do, and can I hire my own contractor?
Read the notice for its deadline and act inside it, because the code lets the city follow up when an owner does nothing. If the city sent a notice, call the number on it to confirm which panels are included. You can hire your own contractor. The work needs a DOMI permit and must meet the city's sidewalk specifications. Send us the notice and we will measure the marked panels and quote them.
How close to the property line can I pour concrete, and do I need a survey?
Flat paving can often run close to a property line, but the exact setback comes from your municipality's zoning code, and water from your slab must not be sent onto the neighbor. You need a survey when the line is unclear or the work is tight to it, which describes a great many narrow Pittsburgh lots. Some offices require one. Mt. Lebanon, for example, asks for a sealed property survey with a retaining wall application.
Do I need HOA approval?
If your home is in an association, yes, get the approval before work begins. HOA rules are private and separate from the municipal permit. They are uncommon in the older city neighborhoods and common in newer plans in the North Hills and South Hills. Associations often control patio size, stamped finishes, walls and driveway widening.
How much of my lot can I cover with concrete?
That depends on your zoning district. Municipalities limit lot coverage or impervious surface so that rain can soak in instead of overloading the sewers, which is a known problem in this region's combined sewer system. We could not confirm one figure that applies across the city, so we check the limit for your address with the zoning office before a large patio or parking pad is designed.
When does a retaining wall need an engineer or a permit?
In the City of Pittsburgh a retaining wall needs a building permit when it is over 4 feet tall, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, or when it supports a surcharge such as a driveway or a slope above it. Walls of that kind are designed by an engineer. Mt. Lebanon likewise requires a permit and drawings sealed by a Pennsylvania registered engineer for walls over 4 feet. On a hillside we recommend an engineer even for a shorter wall that holds up anything important.
How do I find underground utility lines before digging?
Contact Pennsylvania One Call by dialing 811. State law, the Underground Utility Line Protection Law, requires notice at least 3 business days and not more than 10 business days before digging starts. The utilities then mark the lines they own. Private lines, such as a gas line to a grill, yard lighting or an old drain, are not marked, so tell us about any you know of. When we do the digging, we place the notice.
Can you build a wheelchair ramp and a wider walkway?
Yes. A ramp for a home is built to suit the person using it, with a gentle slope, level landings, edge protection and a surface that grips when wet or icy. Many Pittsburgh houses sit well above the sidewalk, so a ramp can need a long run or a switchback. Ramps for a business must meet accessibility standards. Ask the permit office whether a ramp at your address needs a permit. No published price exists for ramps, so we price them on site.
My house is in a historic district. Can I replace old or decorative concrete?
Usually yes, but ask first. Exterior work visible from the street in a city-designated historic district is reviewed by Pittsburgh's Historic Review Commission, and suburbs such as Mt. Lebanon have historic areas too. Reviewers tend to care about keeping stone curbs, brick or sandstone walks and the look of the street. We can match scoring patterns and color on new concrete where that is what the review asks for.
For a real number, we need to see the site. Call (412) 725-2024 or text a few photos, and we will set up a free on-site estimate with a written quote.