Coastal Development: Penn Hills vs Pittsburgh
How do coastal development rules compare between Penn Hills, PA and Pittsburgh, PA?
Pittsburgh has fewer restrictions than Penn Hills.
Penn Hills, PA
Allegheny County
Allegheny County is inland and has no ocean coast — Pennsylvania's only coastal-zone counties under the federal Coastal Zone Management Act are Erie (Lake Erie) and the Delaware estuary counties. Allegheny's analogous regulatory regime is floodplain management for the Three Rivers (Allegheny, Monongahela, Ohio). Floodplain ordinances are administered by each of the 130 municipalities under PA Act 166 of 1978 (32 P.S. 679.101) and 12 Pa. Code Chapter 113, and reviewed against the FEMA County-Wide Flood Insurance Study revised September 26, 2014.
View full Penn Hills rules →Pittsburgh, PA
Allegheny County
Pittsburgh is an inland city at the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers with no ocean coastline. Coastal development regulations do not apply. Riverfront development is regulated through the city's floodplain management ordinance, zoning overlays, and riverfront development standards.
View full Pittsburgh rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Penn Hills | Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal Status | Inland — no ocean or Great Lakes coast | - |
| Regulatory Analogue | Three Rivers floodplain (Allegheny/Monongahela/Ohio) | - |
| State Authority | PA Act 166 of 1978 (32 P.S. 679.101) | - |
| State Regs | 12 Pa. Code Chapter 113 | - |
| FEMA FIS Effective Date | September 26, 2014 | - |
| Pittsburgh Overlay | FP-O District, Title 9 Section 906.02 | - |
| Lowest Floor Rule | At or above regulatory flood elevation (AE Zones) | - |
| Levee/Floodwall Communities | Etna, Clairton, Duquesne, Shaler | - |
| County Plan | Act 167 Stormwater Management Plan (May 31, 2018) | - |
| Confirm With | Municipal floodplain administrator + Pittsburgh PLI | - |
| Applicability | - | Not applicable — inland river city |
| Rivers | - | Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio |
| Regulation | - | Floodplain and zoning rules apply |
| Coastal Zone | - | PA has no coastal program for inland cities |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Penn Hills FAQ
Does Allegheny County have a coastal development ordinance?
No. Allegheny County is inland — Pennsylvania's only Coastal Zone Management Act counties are Erie (Lake Erie) and the Delaware estuary counties. The closest equivalent regulation is floodplain management for the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers, which each of the 130 municipalities administers under PA Act 166 of 1978 (32 P.S. 679.101) and 12 Pa. Code Chapter 113.
What flood regulations apply along the Three Rivers in Pittsburgh?
The City of Pittsburgh enforces an FP-O Floodplain Overlay District under Title 9 Zoning Code Section 906.02. In AE Zones along the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers, any new construction or substantial improvement must have its lowest floor (including basement) elevated at or above the regulatory flood elevation, and ASCE 24 building standards apply. Confirm with Pittsburgh Permits, Licenses and Inspections.
Which Allegheny County communities have flood walls or levees?
According to Allegheny County's Act 167 Stormwater Management Plan, Etna Borough, the City of Clairton, the City of Duquesne, and Shaler Township each have levee or floodwall systems within their jurisdictions. The FEMA County-Wide Flood Insurance Study revised September 26, 2014 maps the 1-percent-annual-chance floodplains and floodways for the three rivers and main draining streams.
Pittsburgh FAQ
Does Pittsburgh have coastal development regulations?
No. Pittsburgh is an inland city at the confluence of three rivers. Coastal development regulations do not apply. Riverfront areas are governed by floodplain and zoning regulations.
Are there waterfront development rules in Pittsburgh?
Yes. Development along the three rivers is subject to floodplain regulations, zoning overlay districts, and riverfront development standards in the zoning code.
Compare other topics
See how Penn Hills and Pittsburgh compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool