Penn Hills, PA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Dog threshold
- More than 6 dogs
- Zoning status
- Kennels barred in Residential
- Litter exception
- 90 days to rehome
- Governing code
- Penn Hills Zoning Code § 1260.07
Summary
Allegheny County's Municipality of Penn Hills treats any household keeping more than six dogs as a commercial kennel, and kennels are not a permitted use in residential zoning districts.
An establishment in which more than six dogs are housed, groomed, bred, boarded, trained, or sold. A kennel is a commercial business and not a permitted use in a Residential District. Breeding of pets is a commercial business and not permitted in a residential district. Exception: owners whose pets have a litter are permitted 90 days to find appropriate new owners for the dogs. Breeding dogs for financial gain is specifically prohibited in residential districts. LAND DEVELOPMENT
(1) The improvement of one lot, or two or more contiguous lots, tracts or parcels of land for any purpose involving:
A. A group of two or more residential or non-residential buildings, whether proposed initially or cumulatively, or a single non-residential building on a lot or lots regardless of the number of occupants or tenure; or
B. The division or allocation of land or space between or among two or more existing or prospective occupants by means of, or for the purpose of, streets, common areas, leaseholds, condominiums, building groups, or other features.
(2) A subdivision of land.
(3) Development in accordance with the conditions described below which establish provisions for the exclusion of certain land development from the definition of land development contained above only when such land development involves:
A.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4434863; v5 updated 2025-07-21; through 07-21-2025).
Full Breakdown
The Municipality of Penn Hills Zoning Code defines a "kennel" as an establishment housing, grooming, breeding, boarding, training, or selling more than six dogs, and bars kennels as a permitted use in any Residential District. Breeding dogs for financial gain is likewise prohibited in residential districts, though an owner whose pet has a litter gets 90 days to find new homes for the puppies before the restriction applies. Keeping six or fewer dogs at a residence falls outside this definition.
Violations & Fines
Housing more than six dogs, or running a for-profit dog-breeding operation, in a Residential District violates the Zoning Code and can draw a written violation notice and order to reduce the animal count from the Code Enforcement Officer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs can I legally keep at my Penn Hills home?
Can I breed and sell puppies from my house in Penn Hills?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Penn Hills
Compare Penn Hills to another location·View the Pennsylvania animal ordinances overview
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Pet Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Allegheny County handle pet limits.