Environmental Rules in Penn Hills, PA

If you live in Penn Hills or are thinking about moving there, environmental rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Penn Hills has 4 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of environmental rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Stormwater Management

Development in Penn Hills cannot increase peak stormwater discharge rates: post-development runoff for the 1- through 100-year, 24-hour storm events must stay at or below predevelopment rates, per the Municipality's stormwater management ordinance.

Key details: Standard: Post-development discharge ≤ predevelopment discharge. Storm events covered: 1-, 2-, 5-, 10-, 25-, 50-, 100-year. Alternate rule: Act 167 map areas follow the map. Enforced via: Stormwater management site plan approval. Penalty: Up to $500 per violation, per day.

Exceeding the allowed post-development discharge rate is a summary offense under § 1058.36, fined up to $500 per violation per day, and the Municipality may seek injunctive relief to enforce compliance.

Erosion Control

Construction and other earth-disturbing work in the Municipality of Penn Hills must use erosion and sediment control best management practices throughout the project, and no regulated activity can start until the Municipality approves a stormwater management site plan.

Key details: Governing chapter: Code § 1058, Stormwater Management Regulations. Permit required: Written SWM site plan approval before work. Applies to: Landowners and developers disturbing earth. Penalty: Up to $500 per violation, per day. Enacted by: Ordinance No. 2019-2642 (Jan. 21, 2019).

Violating Chapter 1058 is a summary offense carrying a fine up to $500 per violation, plus costs; the Municipality may also seek injunctive relief. Each day of continued violation is a separate offense.

Flood Zones

Penn Hills bars new construction within 50 feet of any watercourse's top-of-bank inside a mapped floodplain unless the state Department of Environmental Protection issues a permit first.

Key details: Watercourse buffer: No new construction within 50 ft. Permit authority: PA DEP Regional Office. Governing chapter: Chapter 1436, Flood Control. State authorization: PA Flood Plain Management Act of 1978.

Building without the required DEP permit or inside the 50-foot watercourse buffer is a code violation the Municipality can order stopped, corrected, or removed under the Flood Control chapter's enforcement provisions.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Penn Hills actively enforces its flood zones requirements.

Flood Elevation Requirements

Penn Hills requires new or substantially improved structures in flood zones to elevate their lowest floor to the base flood elevation plus a mandatory 1.5-foot freeboard safety margin.

Key details: Freeboard: 1.5 feet above base flood elevation. Applies to: New construction & substantial improvements. Flood zones: AE, A1-30, AH Zones. Lowest floor: Includes basement, must be elevated.

Building below the required freeboard elevation violates Section 1436.26 and can block a certificate of occupancy, void flood insurance eligibility, and expose the owner to code enforcement action.

The Bottom Line

Penn Hills's environmental rules rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Penn Hills is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Penn Hills can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.