The Department of City Planning convenes residents, communities, civic organizations, commissions, and public entities to shape a shared vision for Pittsburgh’s future grounded in a Just Transition. Working in partnership, we advance policies and programs at the intersection of climate action, racial justice, and social equity to support healthy, safe, and vibrant neighborhoods for all.
Recognizing the central role of the built environment in daily life, our teams work to promote sustainability, climate resilience, design justice, arts and culture, housing affordability, and economic opportunity through neighborhood planning, land use policies, zoning regulations, development review, and coordination of community development programs and partnerships.
We prioritize neighborhoods that have been harmed by past planning policies and practices that have contributed to racial and economic inequities. This commitment requires authentic community engagement while removing barriers to our services and using more holistic measures to advance the wellbeing of Pittsburgh’s diverse communities.
The Department of City Planning recognizes the power of our residents to transform their neighborhoods and we are committed to supporting that leadership in shaping Pittsburgh’s future.
City Planning Divisions
The Integrated Planning division manages data, develops plans, and informs policies related to food access, vacant land, housing, mobility, and economic opportunity.
The Integrated Planning division leads research, special initiatives, and cross-agency collaborations focused on integrating strategic policy areas that ensure holistic outcomes with a focus on communities who have been historically under-served and marginalized by planning in Pittsburgh. The division produces trends analyses and special “future of cities” reports and convenings for a citywide audience. Integrated Planning also partners with City’s innovation-centric departments and units to establish shared goals for innovation-focused partnerships and pilots.
The Public Realm division proactively engages with and supports communities who face the steepest challenges in accessing civic design opportunities, historic preservation resources, and public art initiatives.
The Public Realm division leads development and implementation of policies, programs, and partnerships that make visible in the City’s public realm the art, cultures, traditions, and histories of Pittsburgh’s diverse communities. The division achieves this by building their awareness and capacity to participate, including their ability to incorporate into neighborhood plans and the City’s Comprehensive Plan strategies that make Pittsburgh a place where every community belongs. The Public Realm division ensures the Comprehensive Plan informs updates to citywide urban design guidelines. The division is responsible for staffing the Historic Review Commission, Public Art and Civic Design Commission, and the Contextual Design Advisory Panel.
Strategic Planning is responsible for supporting residents — particularly historically marginalized communities— in understanding the tools at their disposal to play meaningful roles in the planning and implementation of holistic policies, programs, and partnerships.
The Strategic Planning division leads coordination and development of the City’s Comprehensive Plan –a resource that establishes a shared vision and roadmap among communities, civic organizations, and public entities–to steer the physical, environmental, and economic transformation of Pittsburgh and its neighborhoods towards a sustainable community and inclusive economy.
Sustainability and Resilience advances Pittsburgh’s vision for environmental protection, climate change mitigation, adaptation, and strategies to address the impacts of climate hazards on vulnerable residents and communities.
The Sustainability and Resilience division leads interdepartmental coordination and implementation of the City’s Climate Action Plan. The division oversees relevant compliance with climate and environmental regulation and codes, including developing and maintaining performance standards. Sustainability and Resilience partners with other public entities to incorporate high performance standards for City operations. The division also collaborates with residents to inform about innovative climate investments across energy, waste, storm water, and parks and open space that are incorporated into neighborhood plans and the City’s Comprehensive Plan. Sustainability and Resilience supports the capacity of community-based organizations in Pittsburgh’s environmental justice communities to advance climate goals, access historic federal climate investments, steer the equitable distribution of vital infrastructure improvements, and minimize unwanted burdens in those communities.
Zoning and Development Review is responsible for facilitating an understanding of the land use and regulatory needs of communities that have been historically harmed by past planning actions.
The division leads development and management of land use policies to align with the City’s goals of catalyzing more affordable, inclusive, resilient, and vibrant neighborhoods. Zoning and Development Review is responsible for facilitating an understanding of the land use and regulatory needs of communities that have been historically harmed by past planning actions. The Division promotes high quality, sustainable, and efficient development by coordinating regulatory bodies to oversee a consistent, transparent, and predictable regulatory environment and customer service experience. Zoning and Development Review administers the City’s zoning code and supports development review, including staffing the Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Adjustment.
last updated: 01/28/2026