How Pittsburgh Handles Animal Ordinances: A Practical Guide
Pittsburgh maintains 160 local ordinances across all categories, and 11 of those deal specifically with animal ordinances. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Pittsburgh falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.
Wildlife Rescue Permits
Pittsburgh law limits who may capture or trap a wild or non-domesticated bird, including pigeons, to the city's Animal Care and Control Bureau, licensed vets, licensed wildlife rehabilitators, permitted wildlife handlers, and the PA Game Commission, with a narrow rescue exception for the public.
Key details: Governing law: Pittsburgh Code § 636.06. Who may capture birds: Bureau, vets, rehabbers, PA Game Commission only. Public rescue allowed: Only to transport injured bird to approved entity. First-offense fine: $100 plus costs, per § 636.05. Covers: Any wild bird, pigeons included.
Under § 636.05, violating this chapter draws a $100 fine plus costs for a first offense and $300 plus costs for each repeat offense; unauthorized capture of a wild bird can also be charged as harming it under § 636.06(a).
This is one of the stricter rules in Pittsburgh's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.
Cat Rules
Pittsburgh doesn't license cats, but any cat allowed to roam freely must wear a collar or tag with the owner's name, address and phone number under City Code § 633.03.
Key details: Rule: ID collar/tag required if roaming. Citation: Pittsburgh Code § 633.03. Cat license: not required, unlike dogs (§ 633.02). First-offense fine: $100 plus costs (§ 633.19(c)). Enforcer: Bureau of Animal Care and Control.
Failing to collar or tag a free-roaming cat with owner ID violates § 633.03; the Chapter 633 catch-all penalty in § 633.19(c) is $100 plus costs for a first offense, $500 for repeat violations.
Pet Store Rules
Pittsburgh pet shops and other commercial establishments may sell dogs, cats, or rabbits only if the animal came from an animal care facility or rescue organization: sourcing from commercial breeders for retail resale is prohibited citywide.
Key details: Effective date: June 18, 2016. Allowed source: Shelter or rescue only. Breeder exemption: Sales at breeding premises OK. Compliance record: Certificate of source required. Max penalty: $1,000 fine, 30 days jail.
Each violation is a separate offense punishable by a fine up to $1,000 and/or up to 30 days imprisonment, with every distinct sale or day of noncompliance charged separately under Chapter 638.
Compared to other cities, Pittsburgh takes a harder line on pet store rules. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.
Bird Protection
Pittsburgh bars anyone from harming a wild or non-domesticated bird, including pigeons, and limits capture or trapping to trained Bureau staff, vets, and permitted wildlife rehabilitators.
Key details: Harming wild birds: prohibited outright. Capture/trapping: restricted to authorized entities. Native bird sales: banned. First-offense fine: $100 plus costs.
Chapter 636's general penalty applies: a $100 fine plus costs for a first offense, $300 plus costs for repeat violations.
This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Pittsburgh actively enforces its bird protection requirements.
Coyote Management
City parks ban hunting, molesting, or feeding wild animals and birds, but Pittsburgh runs an official Deer Management Program letting Public Safety-authorized bow hunters cull overpopulated deer under Pennsylvania Game Commission and USDA oversight.
Key details: Governing section: Pittsburgh Code § 473.01(c). Cull mechanism: Deer Management Program bow hunters only. Feeding ban scope: Tobacco, alcohol, noxious substances only. Bow-discharge cross-reference: § 695.04(A)(3)(c) weapons chapter. Enforcement: Park rangers, Public Safety citations.
Enforceable by citation under City Code § 101.09; Parks Department rangers and Public Safety officers may eject violators and confiscate bows or other devices used in violation of the chapter.
Compared to other cities, Pittsburgh takes a harder line on coyote management. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.
Pet Limits
Pittsburgh caps households at five dogs and cats combined under City Code Section 633.12, though licensed kennels and catteries can exceed that limit with a permit from the Bureau of Animal Care and Control.
Key details: Pet limit: 5 dogs/cats combined per household. First offense fine: $350 plus costs. Repeat offense fine: $600 plus costs. Kennel exception: Permitted kennels/catteries are exempt. Enforcing agency: Bureau of Animal Care and Control.
First offense: $350 fine plus costs. Second and later offenses: $600 fine plus costs. Unpaid fines can bring up to 72 hours imprisonment, per City Code Section 633.19(b).
Chickens & Livestock
Pittsburgh allows chickens, ducks, goats, and honeybees by right in any residential yard, but caps counts by lot size, bans roosters outright, and requires coops sized six square feet plus two per bird.
Key details: Roosters: Not permitted anywhere in city. Chickens/ducks: 5 per 2,000 sf, +1 per 1,000 sf. Coop size: 6 sf min, +2 sf per bird. Goats: 2 max on lots under 10,000 sf.
Pittsburgh's Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections enforces zoning by inspection; a rooster, over-limit flock, or unscreened, unsanitary coop is a zoning violation carrying a notice to remedy, fines, and required removal of the animals.
Beekeeping
Pittsburgh allows residents to keep honeybees by right as an accessory use, with hive counts tied to lot size and a mandatory flyway barrier near property lines.
Key details: Permit needed: No: permitted by right. Base hive limit: 2 hives per 2,000 sq ft. Additional hives: +2 hives per extra 2,000 sq ft. Minimum hive setback: 10 ft from any property line. Flyway barrier: 6 ft tall, within 20 ft of hive.
The Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections (PLI) enforces zoning-code accessory-use standards; a non-compliant apiary (missing flyway barrier, undersized setback, or hive count over the lot-size formula) is a zoning violation subject to a correction notice and code-enforcement citation.
Dog Leash Laws
Pittsburgh bans dogs running at large on streets, sidewalks, or private property; owners must restrain dogs with a leash or a chain no longer than six feet in all public places.
Key details: Rule: Leash or chain, max 6 ft. Citation: Pittsburgh Code § 633.08. Enforcement: Bureau of Animal Care and Control. Penalty: $100 first offense, $500 repeat. Exception: Designated Off-Leash Exercise Areas only.
First offense: $100 fine plus costs. Repeat offenses: $500 fine plus costs. Unpaid fines can mean up to 72 hours in jail under § 633.19(c).
Breed Restrictions
Pittsburgh has no breed ban. Under Code § 633.20, a dog is declared dangerous individually under Pennsylvania's Dangerous Dog Law, then the City Treasurer issues a registration certificate and required warning sign.
Key details: Basis: Behavior-based, not breed. Governing law: State Dangerous Dog Law, 3 P.S. § 459-501. Local role: City Treasurer issues registration, sign. OLEA access: Barred from off-leash exercise areas.
No local citation for breed alone. After a dangerous-dog determination, failure to register, pay fees, or post the required warning sign is enforced by the City Treasurer under § 633.20 and the state Dangerous Dog Law.
Compared to other cities, Pittsburgh takes a harder line on breed restrictions. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.
Exotic Pets
Pittsburgh outlaws purchasing, displaying, selling, or possessing wildlife anywhere in the city unless a Pennsylvania Game Law permit authorizes it, which bars ordinary residents from keeping wild or exotic animals as pets.
Key details: Governing law: Pittsburgh Code § 636.04. First offense fine: $100 plus costs. Repeat offense fine: $300 plus costs. Exception: PA Game Law permit only.
A first violation of Chapter 636 draws a $100 fine plus costs under § 636.05; each subsequent violation is fined $300 plus costs, and each day of continued possession can count as a separate offense.
This is one of the stricter rules in Pittsburgh's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.
The Bottom Line
Pittsburgh is tougher than many cities when it comes to animal ordinances. Out of the 11 rules covered here, 6 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Pittsburgh, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.
All of the above reflects Pittsburgh's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.