Licenses

The Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections issues licenses for the following activities:

• Contractor Licenses
  • General Contractors
  • Sign Contractors
  • Customers applying for a new or renewal General Contractor license must provide their firm's EPA Lead, Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) certification. The RRP certification is valid for 5 years. For more information about the RRP certification and how to obtain one, please visit the EPA's website.
• Trade Licenses
  • Electrical Trade
  • HVAC Trade
  • Stationary Power Engineer
  • Fire Suppression Trade
  • Trade License holders are required to obtain eight (8) continuing education units (CEUs) annually to be eligible for renewal. Review a list of accepted Continuing Education Units for Trade License Holders(PDF, 57KB) and when they must be completed.
• Business Licenses
  • Bed & Breakfast
  • Antique or Secondhand Dealers (includes Junk Dealer & Pawnbroker licenses)
  • Parking Lot
  • Towing
  • Vending License (Active starting March 13th, 2026)
  • Mobile Vehicle Vendors*
  • Mobile Peddler*
  • Stationary Vendors*
  • One-Day Solicitation (Tag Day)
  • Ticket Reselling
• * This license type will be replaced by the Vending License after the March 13th, 2026 rollout of the City's new Vending Program. All existing licenses of this type will be reissued as Vending Licenses at that time. Please refer to the Vending Program License Transition document for guidance on that process.

Wondering how much your License will cost? All Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections fees change annually. Please consult the Current Fee Schedule below.

Fee Schedule

Current Fee Schedule

Note once a permit or license has been issued, refunds are not provided.

Helpful Reminders

• Effective November 15th, 2018, PLI adopted the Licensing Rules & Regulations(PDF, 626KB). (Updated May 29th, 2022)
• Effective March 12, 2026, the Licensing Rules and Regulations will reflect changes to Pittsburgh City Code Chapter 719: Vendors and Peddlers. Additional Vending Program Rules and Regulations are available here. Click here to learn more about the process that led to these changes.
• All licenses expire 365 days from the date of issuance. License holders who allow their license to expire will be charged a late fee after the date of expiration. Late fee grace periods are provided for all trade and contractor licenses. Please see the links above for more information on your license type and late fees.
• The format of all required Certificates of Insurance documents should be the following. COIs not formatted in this way will not be accepted:
  • The name insured should be the owner’s name and the business/operating name should be shown under “DBA,” if applicable.
  • Tax compliance and COI should have exactly the same owner’s name and DBA operating/business name.
  • The address in the Certificate Holder field should read:
    • City of Pittsburgh
    • 412 Blvd of the Allies
    • PLI, Floor 3
    • Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Contact Us

Have a question for us? You can reach the Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections at pliapptech@pittsburghpa.gov or 412-255-2175. PLI staff are also available via live chat on the OneStopPGH website from 9:00AM-3:00PM, Monday through Friday.

last updated: 03/12/2026