Mayor O’Connor Announces Plans for City Permitting Process Reform

“Today, we’re announcing transformative changes to the City’s permitting and development operations so that the system works for our residents and small business owners,” said Mayor O’Connor. “Right now, things like simple home projects and business renovations are a headache for applicants. If we want to encourage growth, we have to make it easy to grow, so we’re excited to announce the steps we’re taking to modernize and simplify the system.”  

The review process incorporated feedback and analysis from multiple groups who have experience with the current system including city staff, independent analysts and external community stakeholders. The review confirmed consistent challenges like lack of clear guidance, repetitive review cycles due to incomplete or unclear submissions, unreliable timelines, fragmented communications between departments and technology limitations. 

The people-centered overhaul will modernize the system so that it’s transparent, predictable and easy for applicants to use. Changes will be made over three phases, with the first phase including over 20 actions that can be implemented, such as: 

• Launching a “fast lane” service for quicker permit approvals, offering more over-the-counter permits, reducing turnaround time for common permits and speeding up permit approvals for minor work  

• Providing guided workflows and visuals, consolidated checklists, fee guides and other resources to applicants 

• Optimizing pre-application meetings so that more applicants meet with all relevant departments at one time early in the review process 

• Triaging projects by size so that the time it takes to review is proportional to the scope – smaller projects should take less time to review 

• Investigating AI technologies to review applications for missing information before they are submitted 

• Piloting virtual inspections on the OneStopPGH online portal 

• Managing the public review process from the City, who will schedule meetings and hearings for Registered Community Organizations (RCOs) for development activities in their neighborhood 

Additional action items for all phases can be found in the City of Pittsburgh Permitting Process Reform Executive Summary. Phase I actions will be implemented over the next couple of months, followed by second and third phases.  

The Zoning Code will be updated to be a tool to encourage affordability, growth and responsible, equitable development citywide. As the current code is overly complex, the City will begin the long overdue process of updating the code to meet the current needs of the community.  

“For too long, our Zoning Code has been a way for the City to say ‘No’ to projects, and that’s led to lost opportunities in our neighborhoods,” said Mayor O’Connor. “For the first time in decades, we’ll be doing a comprehensive rewrite of the code so that it meets the modern needs of Pittsburgh.” 

In the first phase, obsolete sections and language, redundant dimensional standards and height requirements in some districts will be amended and compatibility standards will be simplified. Additional planned changes to the code are included in the City of Pittsburgh Permitting Process Reform Executive Summary. 

“It’s time to put in a new system designed for the people using it,” Mayor O’Connor remarked. “This is about saying ‘Yes’ to new growth for small businesses, communities, individuals and families and for the city.”