Urban Agriculture

Urban agriculture is a way of using city land to grow food, which is a great way to help decrease food insecurity and to stabilize local food systems. It is also ecologically friendly and helps increase biodiversity.

Pittsburgh has a wealth of community gardens, school gardens, and farms, and many resources for anyone who wants to start growing! If you're interested in learning how to grow food, get access to land for gardening, or getting permits to raise bees, chicken, ducks, or mini goats, here are some resources to help you get started.

• Adopt A Lot Program
• Lots to Love
• Farm to Table
• Grow Pittsburgh
• Grow Pittsburgh Insurance Policy: Group insurance rates for garden projects
• Grounded Strategies
• Hilltop Alliance Farm Apprenticeship
• Manchester Bidwell Training Center
• Pennsylvania Association of Sustainable Agriculture
• Penn State Extension
• Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens (adult classes)
• Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens (Homewood gardening program)
• Soil Testing
• Urban Agriculture Ordinance(PDF, 40KB)
• Urban Agriculture Support

Sell What You Grow

You can sell what you grow right in your own neighborhood. You will need an Outdoor Retail Sales and Service Accessory Use Permit from the Zoning department. For that, you will need a site plan that includes identifying where the market stand, customer standing area and trash receptacle will be placed to assure it does not encroach on the public right-of-way or adjacent property.

last updated: 12/17/2025