Pittsburgh Zoning Districts - P Density
By Carolyn Ristau
Density and Height Standards
Zoning districts regulate the height of primary uses and the density. In the non-residential zoning districts (meaning all but the “R” districts), density is regulated through minimum lot sizes, floor area ratios (FARs), setbacks (the distance between the property line and the building, structure, or use), and height. If there is a site-specific hardship that prevents a project from meeting these standards, a dimensional variance may be sought from the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
Note: accessory uses may have more restrictive height standards and more permissive setback regulations. We will discuss this more in a later post.
Note: The zoning code standards listed in this post were those available in the online zoning code as of June 2021. Whenever there is a code amendment it often takes months for the online version to be updated. Zoning staff have access to the most recent code amendments, which can also be found on the city’s online legislation center.
Standards
Minimum lot size: 3,200 sq ft
Maximum floor area ratio: 1:1
Minimum front setback: 30 ft
Minimum rear setback: 20 ft
Minimum exterior/street side setback: 20 ft
Minimum interior side setback: 5 ft
Maximum height: 40 ft, not to exceed 3 stories - Yes, the proposal must comply with both the height in feet and the height in stories or else seek a dimensional variance from the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
For Additional Information:
See our overview of the P for more about this district and our Introduction to Pittsburgh’s Zoning Districts for the complete list of base zoning districts in the city.
