Penn Hills, PA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Front yard, I-1
- 35 feet minimum
- Side yard, I-1
- 25 feet, plus height offset
- Rear yard, I-1
- 25 feet, plus height offset
- Height offset
- +1 ft per ft over 20 ft
- Abuts Residential District
- add 50-ft transitional yard
Summary
In Penn Hills' I-1 Industrial District, buildings need a 35-foot front yard, a 25-foot side yard, and a 25-foot rear yard, each growing one extra foot for every foot of height over 20 feet.
A front yard shall be required not less than 35 feet from the property line along the public right-of-way which the lot fronts.
A. A front yard shall be planted with grass or other suitable cover, except for necessary drives and walkways.
B. Lighting necessary to reasonably illuminate a structure may be placed in front yard.
(3) A side yard shall be provided at least 25 feet in depth, plus one foot for each foot by which the building exceeds 20 feet in height.
A. On a corner lot, the side yard adjacent to a street shall be treated as if a front yard.
(4) A rear yard shall be provided which shall be at least 25 feet in depth, plus one foot for each foot by which the building exceeds 20 feet in height.
(5) Where an I-1 District abuts a Residential District or use, a transitional yard of at least 50 feet shall be required in addition to the yards listed above.
(6) No structure shall exceed 45 feet in height.
(b) I-2 Districts. Uses in an I-2 District shall be governed by the following requirements:
(1) The floor space index shall not exceed 1.0. This index does not include underground or basement storage areas and basement areas devoted to plant maintenance.
(2) The minimum front yard required is 45 feet, measured from the property line.
A. A front yard shall be planted with grass or other suitable cover, except for necessary drives and walk-ways.
B. Lighting necessary to reasonably illuminate a structure may be placed in a front yard.
(3)
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
Chapter 1272 of the Zoning Code sets bulk and area requirements for Industrial Districts in the Municipality of Penn Hills, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. In the I-1 District, § 1272.06 requires a front yard of at least 35 feet from the right-of-way, a side yard of at least 25 feet, and a rear yard of at least 25 feet: each expanding by one additional foot for every foot a building exceeds 20 feet in height. Where an I-1 property abuts a Residential District, an added 50-foot transitional yard applies. Residential-district setbacks are published in a separate Schedule of District Regulations, not in this section.
Violations & Fines
The Department of Code Enforcement will not issue a building permit for construction that violates these bulk and area limits, and existing structures cannot reduce a required yard below the Code's minimum for new construction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum side yard setback in a Penn Hills Industrial District?
Do these setbacks apply to residential lots in Penn Hills?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Penn Hills
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Setback Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Allegheny County handle setback rules.