Accessory Structures in Pittsburgh, PA (2026)
4 verified accessory structures rules for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Pittsburgh caps accessory dwelling units at 800 square feet and allows only one per lot inside the mapped ADU Overlay District, requiring owner-occupancy and a 30-day minimum lease term.
Pittsburgh Accessory Dwelling Unit Rules
Significant RestrictionsPittsburgh Code § 912.08
Accessory Dwelling Unit means a dwelling unit smaller than 800 square feet in area, which is accessory to a structure with a legally established single dwelling unit... No Accessory Dwelling Unit may be leased for a period shorter than thirty (30) days; No more than one (1) Accessory Dwelling Unit may be located on a zoning lot; The owner of a property with an Accessory Dwelling Unit must resid...
ADU Owner Occupancy
Pittsburgh's Accessory Dwelling Unit Overlay District requires the property owner to live on-site whenever an ADU is present on the lot, per Zoning Code Section 912.08.E.4, alongside an 800-square-foot size cap and other standards.
Pittsburgh ADU Owner-Occupancy Rule
Some RestrictionsPittsburgh Code § 912.08.E.4
The owner of a property with an Accessory Dwelling Unit must reside on-site; 5. Accessory Dwelling Unit shall not exceed two (2) stories, or thirty (30) feet in height; 6. Accessory Dwelling Unit shall be exempt from the minimum lot size and minimum lot size per unit requirements of the underlying zoning district; 7. Aside from the provisions of Section 912.08.E.5 and Section 912.08.E....
ADU Rental Restrictions
Accessory Dwelling Units built under Pittsburgh's ADU Overlay District can't be leased for stays shorter than 30 days, which rules out nightly or weekly short-term rentals like Airbnb for these units.
Pittsburgh ADU 30-Day Rental Minimum
Significant RestrictionsPittsburgh Code § 912.08.E.2
No Accessory Dwelling Unit may be leased for a period shorter than thirty (30) days; 3. No more than one (1) Accessory Dwelling Unit may be located on a zoning lot; 4. The owner of a property with an Accessory Dwelling Unit must reside on-site; 5. Accessory Dwelling Unit shall not exceed two (2) stories, or thirty (30) feet in height; 6. Accessory Dwelling Unit shall be exempt from ...
Shed & Carport Rules
Carports are permitted by-right as residential accessory structures in Pittsburgh, but must meet the same front and side setbacks as the main house, keep at least 5 feet off the rear lot line, and stay under 15 feet or one story tall.
Pittsburgh Carport Setback and Height Rules
Some RestrictionsPittsburgh Code Section 912.04(A),(B),(E)
Front Setback. Accessory structures shall comply with the front setback and front yard standards that apply to primary uses, except as allowed in Section 925.06.A or as an Administrator's Exception in Section 925.06.G. (See Section 925.06) B. Rear Setback. Accessory structures and uses shall not be required to comply with the rear setback standard that applies to principal uses, except as al...
Looking for Allegheny County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Pittsburgh city rules.
Accessory Structures in Allegheny County →