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Erie's Codified Ordinances Article 505 (Animals and Fowl) prohibits dogs from running at large within the City of Erie — dogs off the owner's property must be on a leash and under control. State-level licensing is administered by the Erie County Treasurer under the Pennsylvania Dog Law at 3 P.S. Section 459-101 et seq., which requires every dog three months or older to be licensed annually. Erie's contracted animal-control authority responds to off-leash and at-large complaints.
Erie's Codified Ordinances Article 505 addresses dangerous and wild animals through general nuisance and restraint provisions, and the Zoning Ordinance does not list exotic species as a customary residential accessory use. Statewide, the Pennsylvania Game and Wildlife Code at 34 Pa.C.S. Section 2961 et seq. and the Pennsylvania Game Commission's permit regulations at 58 Pa. Code Chapter 147 separately require an Exotic Wildlife Possession Permit for big cats, primates, bears, wolves, and venomous reptiles native to non-PA jurisdictions.
On-street parking in Erie is governed by Title Five of the City Traffic Code (Stopping, Standing and Parking) and the underlying Pennsylvania Vehicle Code (75 Pa.C.S.), notably §3353 (Restrictions on parking). Article 521 (Parking Generally) requires vehicles to be parked within 12 inches of the curb, Article 523 covers parking meters, and Article 525 administers disabled person parking privileges. The Erie Parking Authority operates metered parking, kiosks and residential permit zones.
Driveway construction and curb cuts in Erie are governed by Article 907 (Curb Cuts and Driveways) of the City of Erie Codified Ordinances, which requires a written permit from the City Engineer before constructing, reconstructing or altering any driveway apron, driveway or curb across a public sidewalk. Driveway widths and curb-cut counts vary by lot width, and design must also comply with the PA Uniform Construction Code (34 Pa. Code §§401-405).
Erie does not impose a blanket citywide overnight parking ban on passenger vehicles, but on-street overnight parking is subject to posted block restrictions, residential permit zones administered by the Erie Parking Authority, and snow emergency parking prohibitions activated under Article 512 (Snow Emergency) of the Traffic Code. Commercial vehicles over 3,000 pounds chassis weight remain capped at two hours at any time under Article 521.
Commercial vehicle operation and parking in Erie are governed by Article 511 (Commercial Vehicles) of the City of Erie Traffic Code and the commercial-vehicle parking limit in Article 521. Commercial vehicles in the City must operate only on designated truck routes, and no commercial vehicle with a chassis weight in excess of 3,000 pounds may stand or park on any street for more than two hours, except service vehicles actively engaged in work nearby.
Pennsylvania has not adopted a statewide EV-ready building mandate, and the City of Erie's Zoning Ordinance (Article 1303 / Ord. 80-2005) does not impose a city-specific EV-ready percentage on new construction. EV charging equipment in Erie is evaluated under existing zoning categories and requires an electrical permit issued under the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (34 Pa. Code §§401-405), which adopts the NEC, IBC and IRC.
Abandoned and inoperable vehicles in Erie are handled under Article 529 (Abandoned Vehicles on Private Property) of the City Codified Ordinances, together with the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code abandoned-vehicle provisions at 75 Pa.C.S. §7311 et seq. Erie's Article 529 prohibits leaving any wrecked, junked, stripped or abandoned motor vehicle where it constitutes a hazard, and authorizes the Director of Public Safety to order removal.
RV, trailer and boat parking in Erie is governed by the City of Erie Codified Ordinances Traffic Code (Title Five - Stopping, Standing and Parking), particularly Article 521 (Parking Generally) and the abandoned/inoperable-vehicle provisions of Article 529. Storage of RVs and trailers as living quarters is prohibited outside properly zoned RV/mobile home parks under the City's adopted 2018 International Property Maintenance Code.
Consumer fireworks in Erie, PA are governed by Pennsylvania Act 74 of 2022 (codified at 3 Pa. C.S.A. Chapter 24, which repealed Act 43 of 2017), and locally enforced by the Erie Bureau of Fire under the IFC adopted at Part Fifteen of the Codified Ordinances. Fireworks may not be discharged within 150 feet of an occupied structure or vehicle. Use is restricted to 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m., extended to 1:00 a.m. on July 2, 3, 4 and December 31.
Erie restricts open burning through the International Fire Code adopted at Part Fifteen (Article 1503) of the Codified Ordinances and statewide air-quality rules at 25 Pa. Code Section 129.14. Burning of leaves, yard waste, household garbage, treated wood, plastic, and tires is prohibited. Only IFC-307-compliant recreational fires (seasoned wood, 25-foot setback, attended, approved containers) and approved cooking fires are allowed.
Erie, PA (Erie County, population approximately 95,000) regulates residential fire pits through Part Fifteen of the Codified Ordinances (Article 1503), which adopts the International Fire Code as the city's Fire Prevention Code under the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (34 Pa. Code Chapters 401-405). Under IFC Section 307, recreational fires must be at least 25 feet from any structure or combustible material and portable outdoor fireplaces must be at least 15 feet from a structure.
Erie has no California-style defensible-space program because Erie County is rated low overall wildfire risk. The city controls fire-fuel vegetation through Article 1129 (Quality of Life Ticketing Program) of the Codified Ordinances and the 2018 International Property Maintenance Code adopted under Part Fifteen. All premises must be kept free of weeds or plant growth exceeding 10 inches in height.
Erie, PA does not have a city-designated Wildfire Hazard Severity Zone. Pennsylvania has not adopted IFC Chapter 49 (Requirements for Wildland-Urban Interface Areas) statewide, and Erie has not adopted it locally through Article 1503. Erie County is rated low overall wildfire risk by the USDA Forest Service, though approximately 60 percent of Pennsylvania homes statewide sit within the wildland-urban interface boundary mapped by DCNR.
Propane (LP-gas) storage in Erie is regulated through the International Fire Code Chapter 61 (Liquefied Petroleum Gases) adopted at Part Fifteen Article 1503 of the Codified Ordinances and the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code at 34 Pa. Code Chapters 401-405. IFC 6101.2 references NFPA 58 (Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code) for tank setbacks, and IFC 6109.13 caps residential aggregate LP-gas storage on R-3 lots at 500 pounds water capacity (about 125 gallons of propane).
The City of Erie's Codified Ordinances do not contain a dedicated construction-hours ordinance. Construction noise is regulated indirectly through Article 705 (Disorderly Conduct) and, for hospital-adjacent sites, Article 732 (Quiet Zones). There are no specific morning start times or evening cutoffs codified in city law.
The City of Erie has no industrial-noise chapter with property-line decibel limits. Industrial and commercial sound is regulated indirectly through Article 705 (Disorderly Conduct), Article 732 (Quiet Zones near hospitals), and the city zoning ordinance, which separates manufacturing districts from residential ones. PA DEP does not regulate ambient industrial noise.
The City of Erie does not set decibel-based quiet hours. Instead, nighttime noise is regulated under Article 705 of the Codified Ordinances (Disorderly Conduct), which makes it an offense to disturb the good order and quiet of the City by clamor or noise, with a specific nighttime carve-out for shouting or noise made outside or inside a building to the annoyance of any number of persons.
Article 729 of the Codified Ordinances (Animals) prohibits any animal from disturbing the peace, quiet, rest, or sleep of any person in the City by barking, howling, or making loud or harsh noises. The ordinance contains an objective 15-minute, two-day rule: continuous barking or howling for more than any 15-minute period on two or more consecutive days or nights is deemed a violation.
The City of Erie has not adopted a dedicated leaf-blower ordinance and there is no seasonal ban, decibel cap, or time-of-day restriction targeting blowers specifically. Leaf-blower noise is reachable only through the general Article 705 disorderly-conduct provisions and Article 732 (Quiet Zones) for hospital-adjacent properties.
Amplified music in the City of Erie is regulated by Article 705 (Disorderly Conduct) with a bright-line 50-foot audibility test: any radio, television, phonograph, drum, musical instrument, sound amplifier, car stereo, or similar device is a violation if the sound is audible from 50 feet in any public area, street, or sidewalk when the source is in public.
Aircraft noise at and around Erie International / Tom Ridge Field (KERI / ERI) is governed by federal law. Local noise ordinances cannot regulate the operation, altitude, or routing of aircraft in flight. The airport has an FAA-approved Part 150 Noise Compatibility Plan, and the Erie Regional Airport Authority accepts noise complaints for land-use planning purposes only.
Vehicle noise in the City of Erie is regulated primarily through state law - 75 Pa.C.S. Section 4523 requires every motor vehicle to have a muffler in good working order and prohibits cutouts, bypasses, and straight pipes. Erie supplements this through Article 705 (50-foot audible-stereo rule), Article 732 (hospital quiet-zone horn ban), and Article 736 (recreational motor vehicles).
Erie does not impose STR-specific parking minimums, but short-term rentals are bound by the off-street parking requirements in the Erie Zoning Ordinance for the use district where the dwelling sits, and by the on-street residential parking system administered through the Erie Parking Authority. Hosts must inform guests that posted time limits and snow-emergency rules apply.
Short-term rental hosts in Erie are responsible for guest noise under the city's general noise and nuisance provisions in the Erie City Code (eCode360 ER3969). Loud music, parties, and amplified sound that disturb neighbors trigger citations, and repeat violations can jeopardize a host's rental registration and Business Privilege License under city enforcement practice.
Erie PA does not require short-term rental hosts to carry a specific insurance policy or post a liability minimum, and Pennsylvania has no statewide STR insurance mandate. However, hosts using Airbnb or VRBO rely on platform-provided host protection (AirCover up to $1M, VRBO Liability Insurance up to $1M), and a personal homeowner's policy almost always excludes commercial transient rental.
Short-term rental operators in Erie must collect the Erie County 7% hotel room rental tax administered by the Erie County Department of Finance and the Pennsylvania 6% state hotel occupancy tax under 72 P.S. §7210 for any stay under 30 consecutive days. The combined rate is 13%. Erie does not impose a separate municipal STR tax. Erie County requires monthly remittance.
Erie, PA does not have a standalone short-term rental ordinance. Hosts who rent dwellings for stays under 30 days are regulated through the city's rental registration and Business Privilege License, applicable zoning, and the Erie County 7% hotel room tax. Pennsylvania has no statewide STR preemption, so Erie may regulate STRs.
Erie does not set an STR-specific occupancy cap, but every dwelling must meet the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) minimum-area standards as adopted by Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code. IPMC Section 404 sets minimum sleeping-room area (70 sq ft for one occupant, 50 sq ft per additional). Erie's Bureau of Code Enforcement inspects rental units under these standards.
The City of Erie does not mandate native-plant landscaping on residential property. The Erie Environmental Advisory Council (codified at eCode360 https://ecode360.com/43570009) is established under the Pennsylvania Environmental Advisory Council Act (53 P.S. §11304) and promotes sustainability education. The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Erie County and PA DCNR provide free native-plant guidance. Pennsylvania's Right to Farm Act (3 P.S. §951-957) protects qualifying agricultural operations from nuisance suits raised more than one year after operations begin.
Weed control in the City of Erie combines local Article 1129 (Quality of Life Ticketing Program) high-grass-and-weeds enforcement with Pennsylvania's statewide noxious-plant framework under 3 Pa.C.S. §255 (the Controlled Plant and Noxious Weed Act administered by the PA Department of Agriculture's Controlled Plant and Noxious Weed Committee). Locally, Erie Code Enforcement issues notice-and-abate tickets for rank vegetation; statewide, the PA Department of Agriculture maintains a tiered controlled-plant list including Japanese knotweed and Tree-of-Heaven.
Trimming a wholly private tree on a property in the City of Erie generally does not require a City permit. Trees on streets and municipal property fall under Article 165 of the Erie Codified Ordinances (Urban Forest Committee), and no person may plant, maintain, remove, or disturb a tree or shrub on a street or municipal property without first filing an application and obtaining a permit from the City Arborist. Pennsylvania common-law self-help allows trimming a neighbor's overhanging branches up to the property line.
Tree removal in the City of Erie is governed by Article 165 (Urban Forest Committee). No person may remove a tree or shrub on a street or municipal property without filing an application and procuring a permit from the City Arborist, and Article 165.07(c) imposes a $50 administrative fee for tree-removal applications (waivable for City-confirmed hazard removals). Routine removal of dead, diseased, or hazardous trees on private property is generally exempt from City permitting.
Erie Water Works, the regulated water utility serving the City of Erie, draws from Lake Erie and historically reports no shortages even during regional PA Drought Watch declarations. Outdoor watering restrictions are tied to declarations under the Pennsylvania Drought Emergency Act (3 P.S. §1701+) issued by PA DEP and the Commonwealth Drought Task Force; during a Drought Emergency, mandatory restrictions apply statewide. Erie Water Works is a Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) regulated utility under 66 Pa.C.S.
Grass and weed height in the City of Erie is regulated under Article 1129 (Quality of Life Ticketing Program), adopted by Ordinance 39-2018 on October 17, 2018, and codified at codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/erie/. Article 1129 defines weeds as all grasses, annual plants, and vegetation (excluding cultivated flowers, gardens, trees, and shrubs) and authorizes any public officer to issue a quality-of-life ticket for high grass and weeds. Erie code enforcement issues notice and may abate at the owner's cost, recovered via municipal lien.
Backyard composting in the City of Erie is permitted and encouraged. The City operates a curbside compost-collection program that picks up grass clippings, leaves, hedge and shrub trimmings, and garden clippings in approved compostable bags (ASTM D6400) or hard containers (50-lb limit) on regular trash days. PA Act 101 (53 P.S. §4000.101+) requires Pennsylvania municipalities over 5,000 population to provide yard-waste collection. Open burning of leaves is prohibited under 25 Pa. Code §129.14.
Pennsylvania law permits rainwater harvesting statewide with no state-level prohibition, while plumbing code universally governs any potable connection to home systems.
Sheds and similar accessory structures in Erie are regulated through two layers: (1) the Erie Zoning Ordinance, which sets dimensional standards (size, height, setbacks, lot coverage, location relative to the principal dwelling) by district; and (2) the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code at 34 Pa Code §403.1, which exempts non-residential utility sheds under 1,000 square feet from UCC permitting but does not exempt them from local zoning compliance. Erie property owners typically need a zoning permit from the Department of Planning and Neighborhood Resources even when no building permit is required, especially on Erie's older narrow lots near the bayfront and east-side where rear-yard space is constrained.
Erie is a Home Rule city in Erie County (population approximately 95,000) operating under a Home Rule Charter adopted in 1960 pursuant to the Pennsylvania Home Rule Charter and Optional Plans Law. The Erie Zoning Ordinance is a separate document from the Erie City Code on American Legal Publishing at https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/erie/. Pennsylvania has no statewide accessory dwelling unit preemption statute, so ADU permissibility, density, owner-occupancy requirements, and design standards in Erie are determined entirely by the Erie Zoning Ordinance under the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (53 P.S. §10101 et seq.). Property owners must consult the Zoning Ordinance and Erie Department of Planning and Neighborhood Resources for whether ADUs (variously called accessory apartments, in-law suites, or second dwelling units) are permitted by right, by special exception, or by conditional use in the applicable residential district.
Pennsylvania municipalities have limited statutory authority to impose impact fees on new development. Under the Municipalities Planning Code Article V-A (53 P.S. §§10502-A through 10503-A), the only authorized impact fee is a transportation impact fee, and even that requires a multi-year traffic study, an adopted impact fee ordinance, and impact-fee districts. Erie has not adopted a transportation impact fee ordinance under Article V-A as of mid-2024. Other typical "impact" charges (water/sewer connection fees, school district contributions, recreation fees) operate under separate authorities. ADU applicants in Erie generally face only standard zoning and building permit fees, water/sewer tap-in charges through Erie Water Works and the Erie Sewer Authority, and any school district enrollment-related charges if dwelling-unit count increases.
An accessory dwelling unit in Erie requires permits from two municipal offices: a zoning permit from the Erie Department of Planning and Neighborhood Resources (confirming the ADU is permitted in the district under the Erie Zoning Ordinance, either by right or by special exception/variance through the Erie Zoning Hearing Board) and a building permit from the Erie Building Code Official under the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code at 34 Pa Code §401.7 for the construction itself. Pennsylvania has no statewide ADU preemption like California's SB 9 or Oregon's HB 2001, so timelines, fees, and approval criteria are set by Erie and the PA UCC.
Converting an Erie garage into habitable space (a bedroom, in-law suite, home office, or ADU) requires both (1) zoning approval under the Erie Zoning Ordinance for the change of use (because the converted space is no longer accessory parking and may count toward floor area or trigger an ADU classification) and (2) a building permit under the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code at 34 Pa Code §401.7. Conversions must meet the 2018 International Residential Code for habitable spaces (egress windows under IRC R310, ceiling height under IRC R305, ventilation, smoke and CO alarms under IRC R314/R315), and Erie's local off-street parking minimums in the Zoning Ordinance must still be satisfied.
Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code applies the IRC Appendix Q tiny house standards universally, governing minimum safety requirements for permanent tiny homes statewide.
Signage for home occupations in Erie is governed by the Erie Zoning Ordinance sign regulations. Typical home-occupation rules in Pennsylvania municipalities limit on-premises signs to one non-illuminated wall sign of small area (commonly 1 to 2 square feet) identifying the business. The PA no-impact home-based business statute (53 P.S. §10107) explicitly precludes external evidence of the business, including signs visible from outside, so the no-impact tier typically allows no sign at all. Major home occupations approved by special exception may allow modest signage subject to the Zoning Ordinance's sign schedule. All sign regulations must be content-neutral under Reed v. Town of Gilbert, 576 U.S. 155 (2015).
Erie limits customer traffic to home occupations to preserve residential character. Typical Pennsylvania home-occupation rules cap daily customer visits (commonly 4 to 8 per day for customary home occupations), restrict client hours (often 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.), require off-street parking for clients, and prohibit deliveries by tractor-trailer or other commercial vehicles inconsistent with residential use. The PA no-impact home-based business definition at 53 P.S. §10107 itself contains a customer-traffic floor: such businesses must have no clients visiting the premises. Major home occupations with significant customer traffic require special-exception approval from the Erie Zoning Hearing Board.
Erie regulates home occupations through the Erie Zoning Ordinance under authority of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (53 P.S. §10603) and the city's Home Rule Charter (adopted 1960). Home occupations are typically permitted as accessory uses in residential districts subject to limits on floor area devoted to the business, exterior changes to the dwelling, non-resident employees, customer traffic, signage, outdoor storage, and noise. Pennsylvania has no statewide home occupation preemption, so the precise standards (often categorized as "no-impact" home occupations, "minor" home occupations, or "major" home occupations requiring special exception) are entirely set by Erie.
Pennsylvania regulates home-based cottage food producers as Limited Food Establishments under the PA Department of Agriculture, requiring registration, inspection, and labeling for non-potentially hazardous foods sold direct to consumers.
Pennsylvania requires Department of Human Services certification for family child day care homes serving four to six unrelated children, with statewide background checks, training, and ratio standards that apply regardless of municipal zoning labels.
Under Erie's Zoning Ordinance Section 204.19, fences, hedges, and enclosures within required yard space may not exceed 6 feet 6 inches in residential districts or 8 feet 6 inches in non-residential districts. Height is measured from the maximum grade level on either side of the property.
The City of Erie requires a fence permit issued by the Bureau of Code Enforcement before installing or replacing a fence. Applications are submitted at Room 407 of the Municipal Building under the Erie Zoning Ordinance Section 204.19.
Erie's Zoning Ordinance regulates fence height, location, and visibility but does not prescribe a list of allowed materials for residential fences. Specialized rules apply to security fencing and utility-protection chain-link fences under Section 204.19.
Erie's Zoning Ordinance Section 204.19 allows a fence to be placed up to but not over the property line, and does not require neighbor consent. Boundary disputes between adjoining owners are handled under Pennsylvania common law, not the City Code.
Swimming pools in Erie must comply with IRC Chapter 42 Appendix G and IBC Section 3109.4 as adopted by the PA UCC (34 Pa. Code 401-405). Barriers must be at least 48 inches high with self-closing, self-latching gates around pools over 24 inches deep.
Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code sets the statewide permit threshold and engineering standards for retaining walls regardless of municipality.
Erie requires a building permit for every swimming pool, hot tub, or spa deeper than 24 inches under Article 1503.2 and the PA Uniform Construction Code. Permits are issued by the Bureau of Code Enforcement in Room 407 of the Municipal Building.
Every pool, hot tub, or spa deeper than 24 inches in Erie must be enclosed by a barrier at least 48 inches high with self-closing, self-latching gates opening outward, under Erie Code Article 1503.2 and the PA UCC adoption of IRC Appendix G and the 2018 ISPSC.
Pools in Erie must comply with the federal Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act (15 USC 8003) requiring anti-entrapment drain covers, plus the PA UCC adoption of the 2018 ISPSC for circulation, electrical bonding, alarms, and barriers. Public pools also need a PADEP Bathing Place permit.
Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code applies the same permit and barrier requirements to above-ground pools deeper than 24 inches as in-ground pools.
Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code requires permits for hot tubs and spas, with locking covers acceptable as a barrier alternative under the ISPSC.
Erie's residential refuse-container rules are codified at Article 951 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Erie. Each receptacle must be a rigid container of rust-resistant metal or plastic, watertight, with outside handles and a tight-fitting cover, holding not less than 3 and not more than 35 gallons. On the designated weekly collection night, householders deposit either the receptacles containing securely bagged refuse, or securely bagged refuse itself, at the curbside; nothing may be set out more than 24 hours before the collection day.
Erie addresses blight through three layered tools: (1) Article 1503 of the Codified Ordinances (Property Maintenance Code, based on the 2018 International Property Maintenance Code) adopted under the PA Uniform Construction Code; (2) the Erie Land Bank established under Article 941 (PA Land Bank Act, 68 Pa.C.S. §2101) to acquire and dispose of tax-delinquent and blighted parcels; and (3) the state-law backstop of PA Act 90 of 2010 (Neighborhood Blight Reclamation and Revitalization Act, 53 P.S. §6111) under which Erie may deny permits and approvals to property owners with serious code violations anywhere in the Commonwealth.
Erie's Vacant and Foreclosure Property Registration ordinance (codified at Part 13 of the Codified Ordinances, Vacant and Foreclosure Property) requires every owner of any building or structure on real property that has been vacant for more than 180 consecutive days to register with the Office of Code Enforcement on forms or website access provided by the City. A nonrefundable $300 registration fee accompanies the form and is repeated every six months until the property is no longer subject to registration. Foreclosure-property registrations additionally name the lender, mortgage servicer, 24-hour contact, and local property management company.
Erie's sidewalk snow ordinance (Codified Ordinances Article 521, Snow and Ice Removal) requires the occupant of any home, apartment, store, storehouse, shop, garage, factory, church, schoolhouse, or other building to remove or hire someone to remove all snow, ice, or sleet from the sidewalk in front of the premises within three hours after snowfall ceases. Owners of corner buildings must clear the side sidewalks for the full distance their occupancy extends; owners of vacant lots and vacant buildings are responsible for the abutting sidewalk. If ice is so hardened it cannot be removed without damaging the sidewalk, sand or sawdust must be applied until it can be removed.
Erie operates city-run residential refuse collection through the Bureau of Refuse and Recycling (Department of Public Works) under the Third Class City Code (53 P.S. §35101 et seq.) and Article 951 of the Codified Ordinances. Pickup is weekly and occurs at night on a route map maintained by the Bureau. All compliant receptacles and securely bagged refuse must be at the curbside or edge of the street on the designated collection night, and nothing may be placed out more than 24 hours before the collection day. Service is limited to residential properties of four units or fewer.
Erie's Bureau of Refuse and Recycling operates a citywide yard-waste composting program covering grass clippings, lawn and leaf waste, and hedge trimmings. Yard waste must be placed in open rigid containers, compost-friendly plastic bags, or brown paper bags at curbside; no item may be set out more than 24 hours before the collection day per Article 951. Leaf collection runs each fall (typically early October through early December). Raking leaves into the street and bagging pet waste or cat litter with leaves are both prohibited. PA Act 101 (53 P.S. §4000.101 et seq.) authorizes the program at the state level.
Article 951 of the Codified Ordinances directs householders to deposit compliant receptacles, or securely bagged refuse, at the curbside or edge of the street on the designated weekly collection night - not in the cartway, not blocking sidewalks, and not against fire hydrants or signs. The City's Bureau of Refuse and Recycling additionally instructs residents to keep set-outs away from parked vehicles and obstructions so collection trucks can access the material, and to remove containers promptly after pickup. Set-out cannot precede pickup by more than 24 hours.
Illegal dumping in Erie is enforced under three layered authorities: (1) 18 Pa.C.S. §6501 (Scattering Rubbish), the Pennsylvania criminal statute making it a summary offense to deposit waste paper, ashes, household waste, glass, metal, refuse, or rubbish onto roads, streets, alleys, railroad rights-of-way, the land of another, or waters of the Commonwealth ($50-$300 fine plus 5-30 mandatory cleanup hours for first offense, third-degree misdemeanor with $300-$1,000 for subsequent offenses); (2) Article 1129's Quality of Life Ticketing Program at $100 per ticket; and (3) the PA Solid Waste Management Act (35 P.S. §6018.101) for larger-scale dumping referred to PA DEP.
Erie's mandatory recycling program is codified at Article 958 of the Codified Ordinances (Separation of Recyclables), enacted under the Third Class City Code (53 P.S. §35101 et seq.) and the Pennsylvania Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act of 1988 (Act 101, 53 P.S. §4000.101 et seq.) which mandates curbside recycling for every municipality with population over 10,000. Residents must separate newspapers, office paper, magazines, #1 and #2 plastic bottles/jugs/jars with screw-top lids, flattened corrugated cardboard and paperboard, and metal food and beverage cans. Curbside set-out is in clear plastic bags or blue bins (blue bags no longer accepted) on the regular refuse night.
Erie offers free curbside bulk pickup to its residential refuse customers through the Bureau of Refuse and Recycling. Residents may schedule 1-3 large items per regular refuse night by calling 814-870-1550 (weekdays 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) at least 72 hours in advance, or by scheduling online; a 6-digit confirmation number is required and pickups may be scheduled up to two weeks ahead. Furniture (couches, chairs, mattresses) is accepted; large appliances, automotive parts, electronics, hazardous materials, and construction debris are not. Carpet must be cut into 4-foot sections and rolled (max 4 rolls); glass must be boxed and labeled.
Erie's rental inspection program is run by the Bureau of Code Enforcement under the Department of Permitting and Inspection. Inspectors apply the International Property Maintenance Code as adopted by the City to confirm habitable conditions, on a rotation cycle and on tenant complaint.
Security deposits in Erie follow Pennsylvania statute. Under 68 P.S. §250.511a a landlord may collect at most two months' rent in the first year. Under §250.511b only one month may be held after year one. Under §250.512 the deposit must be returned with itemization within 30 days of vacancy.
The City of Erie requires owners of residential rental units to register with the Bureau of Code Enforcement under the Department of Permitting and Inspection, identify a local agent, pay the annual fee, and submit to periodic IPMC inspection.
The City of Erie has no rent-control ordinance. Residential rent is governed by the Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 (68 P.S. §250.101 et seq.), which sets no cap on rent amounts or increases for third-class cities like Erie.
Erie has no local just-cause eviction ordinance. Evictions are governed by Pennsylvania's Landlord and Tenant Act (68 P.S. §250.501), which allows termination at lease end or for breach with proper written notice. Filings go to Erie County Magisterial District Court.
Recreational drones in Erie are regulated mostly by federal law. The FAA requires registration for drones over 0.55 lb, TRUST test passage, and flight under 49 U.S.C. §44809. Presque Isle State Park bans drone launch without a DCNR permit. PA Act 78 of 2018 limits municipal drone rules.
Commercial drone operators in Pennsylvania must comply with FAA Part 107 certification and any state offenses under Act 78 of 2018, which preempts local commercial drone ordinances and centralizes regulation at state and federal levels.
Lot coverage in Erie is regulated by the City of Erie Zoning Ordinance (Article 1303 / Ord. 80-2005) and is set district-by-district in Article 2 (District Regulations). The Industrial Park district caps coverage by main and accessory structures at no more than 60% of the lot area. Section 205 sets R-1 lot coverage with ground floor roofless decks, swimming pools and roofless walkways excluded from the calculation. Stormwater impacts are reviewed under 25 Pa. Code Chapter 102.
Building setbacks in Erie are set by the City of Erie Zoning Ordinance (Article 1303 of the Codified Ordinances / Ordinance Number 80-2005) and vary by zoning district. In the R-1 Low Density Residential district, Section 205 of the Zoning Ordinance sets a minimum total side-yard width of 15 feet (with the least side at 5 feet minimum), and Section 205.11 sets the front-yard setback within five feet of the average depth of adjacent block structures.
Building height in Erie is regulated by the City of Erie Zoning Ordinance (Article 1303 / Ord. 80-2005) and is set district-by-district in the bulk standards for each zoning district. Industrial Park district building height is capped at 50 feet under the Zoning Ordinance, with R-1, R-2 and R-3 residential districts subject to lower limits set in Article 2 (District Regulations). The Pennsylvania UCC IBC height/area limits apply on top.
Loud parties in Erie are handled through Article 705 (Disorderly Conduct) of the Codified Ordinances and, where minors are involved, through Article 711 (Furnishing Liquor to Minors) and 18 Pa.C.S. Section 6310.1 (state social-host liability). The City has not adopted a separate 'unruly gathering' or 'loud party' chapter, but the disorderly-conduct framework supplies the operative penalty.
Smoking in Erie is governed mostly by the Pennsylvania Clean Indoor Air Act (35 P.S. §637.1 et seq.), which restricts indoor public smoking and preempts most stricter local rules outside Philadelphia and Allegheny County. PA school grounds and designated Presque Isle State Park areas are smoke-free.
Erie tobacco retailers are licensed primarily at the state level. Pennsylvania Act 112 of 2020 (codified at 18 Pa.C.S. §6305) raised the minimum sales age to 21 for all tobacco products including e-cigarettes and vapes, and the PA Department of Revenue issues the Cigarette Dealer License. Erie retailers must also hold a city Business Privilege License from the Erie City Treasurer; Erie has not enacted a separate municipal tobacco license.
Erie secondhand dealers and pawnbrokers are regulated primarily under Pennsylvania state law - the Pawnbrokers License Act (63 P.S. §281-1 et seq.) and the Precious Metals Sales Act (73 P.S. §1932 et seq.) - and must hold an Erie Business Privilege License. PA requires precious-metals dealers to register with the Pennsylvania State Police, keep transaction records for 4 years, and hold purchased items for at least 7 days before resale.
Food truck operators in Erie need a Mobile Food Facility permit from the Erie County Department of Health (one of only six county/municipal health departments in PA), an Erie city Business Privilege License from the City Treasurer, a current food-safety certification for the person in charge, and zoning compliance for each operating location. Erie County health inspectors, not the PA Department of Agriculture, conduct inspections.
Erie regulates mobile food vending through the Codified Ordinances licensing chapter and zoning rules, paired with Erie County Department of Health licensing for mobile food facilities. Vendors need a City peddler or mobile-vendor license and must avoid posted no-vending zones and sidewalk obstructions.
Pennsylvania repealed the statewide mandate for sprinklers in new one- and two-family dwellings effective retroactively to January 1, 2011 (Act 1 of 2011, HB 377). Erie does not impose a local residential sprinkler mandate. New townhouses, commercial buildings, and existing buildings undergoing significant renovation remain subject to the sprinkler triggers in the IBC and IFC adopted at Article 1503 of the Erie Codified Ordinances, including the IFC Section 903 thresholds.
The City of Erie does not have a stand-alone municipal lead ordinance equivalent to Reading Chapter 328. Lead hazards in Erie are addressed through the federal Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act (42 U.S.C. Section 4851), EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR Part 745), Pennsylvania's Lead Certification Act (35 P.S. Section 5901), and the Erie County Department of Health LeadSAFE program enforced under the Erie County Sanitary Code.
Erie regulates rodent and insect infestation through the 2018 International Property Maintenance Code (enforced by the Bureau of Code Enforcement) and Article 1129 (Quality of Life Ticketing Program). IPMC Section 309 requires extermination of pests by the owner of structures and shared infestations in multifamily buildings; Sections 304.5 and 308 require rodent-proofing of exterior openings and approved garbage containers.
Erie does not maintain a dedicated public heritage-tree registry in its Codified Ordinances, but Article 165 (Urban Forest Committee) uniformly protects all trees and shrubs on streets and municipal property — no removal or disturbance without a City Arborist permit. Specimen trees on private property may be designated for protection through conditions on approved land-development plans under the Erie Zoning Ordinance. Notable mature-tree resources include Frontier Park, Glenwood Park, and the Presque Isle State Park system (PA DCNR-managed).
Tree replacement in the City of Erie is administered by the City Arborist under Article 165 (Urban Forest Committee) for street and municipal-tree removals and by the Erie Zoning Ordinance for development-site removals. Article 165 expressly contemplates 'Removal and Replacement Permit' procedures at Article 165.07(c), with the $50 administrative fee covering the combined removal-and-replacement application. Replacement species are typically drawn from the City's approved street-tree list — predominantly native or proven non-invasive species suited to northwestern PA.
Tree-removal permitting in the City of Erie is administered by the City Arborist under Article 165 (Urban Forest Committee). No person may plant, maintain, remove, or disturb a tree or shrub on a street or municipal property without filing an application and procuring a permit from the City Arborist. Article 165.07(c) imposes a $50 administrative fee for each tree-removal application, waivable for City-confirmed hazardous removals. Maximum fine for violation is $300, with default of payment up to 30 days' imprisonment.
Erie's Codified Ordinances do not contain a dedicated garage-sale or yard-sale permit chapter, and no garage-sale permit is required from the City of Erie for occasional residential sales of household items on private property. Sales that grow in frequency, volume, or commercial character can be reviewed as unlicensed business activity under Erie's business privilege license framework. Occasional residential sales remain exempt from Pennsylvania sales-tax licensing under 61 Pa. Code Section 32.1 (isolated sale exception).
Erie does not cap the number of garage or yard sales a household may hold per year. The Codified Ordinances contain no dedicated garage-sale chapter, so there is no frequency limit and no permit requirement for occasional residential sales inside the City of Erie. Sales that become recurring or commercial in character may be treated as unlicensed business activity requiring a business privilege license. Pennsylvania state law retains the 'isolated sale' sales-tax exemption under 61 Pa. Code Section 32.1.
Erie's Floodplain Management Regulations (Article 945, Ord. 12-2017) govern development in FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas shown on the June 7, 2017 FIRMs. The ordinance implements PA's Floodplain Management Act of 1978 and is required for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program.
Erie's Stormwater Quality Management Ordinance (Article 946, Ord. 20-2004) governs runoff, infiltration, and BMP maintenance under PA Act 167 and the PADEP NPDES MS4 permit. A separate Article 948 stormwater utility fee, enacted in fall 2022, funds the aging system.
Pennsylvania's federally approved Coastal Zone Management Program covers the Lake Erie shoreline and Delaware Estuary, requiring DEP review and consistency determinations for development affecting state coastal resources.
Under the Clean Streams Law and 25 Pa. Code Chapter 102, anyone conducting earth disturbance in Pennsylvania must implement written erosion and sediment control plans, with permits required for projects disturbing one acre or more.
The Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act establishes statewide siting rules for dispensaries, including a 1,000-foot setback from schools and daycares, while allowing reasonable local zoning that does not effectively prohibit permitted facilities.
Pennsylvania prohibits home cultivation of cannabis by patients, caregivers, and recreational users. The Medical Marijuana Act limits production to state-permitted growers, and unauthorized cultivation remains a criminal offense under state drug law.
Pennsylvania's minimum wage remains $7.25 per hour, matching the federal floor under the PA Minimum Wage Act (43 P.S. §333.101 et seq.). State law preempts local minimum wage ordinances — Philadelphia attempted a $10.88 city wage in 2014 that was struck down by Commonwealth Court. The tipped minimum is $2.83. Pennsylvania has not raised the state wage since 2009.
Pennsylvania does not have a statewide paid sick or family leave mandate, and state courts have largely permitted home-rule cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh to adopt local paid sick leave laws.
Pennsylvania has no statewide predictive scheduling law and has not preempted municipal action, allowing Philadelphia's Fair Workweek Ordinance to require advance schedules and predictability pay for certain employers.
Pennsylvania is a shall-issue state requiring a License to Carry Firearms (LTCF) issued by the county sheriff for concealed carry or carry in a vehicle, with statewide rules under 18 Pa.C.S. Section 6109.
Pennsylvania law comprehensively preempts local regulation of firearms under 18 Pa.C.S. §6120. Cities and counties cannot regulate lawful ownership, possession, transfer, or transportation of firearms or ammunition. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Allentown have all attempted local gun ordinances and lost in PA appellate courts.
Open carry of firearms is generally legal in Pennsylvania for adults 18 or older without a permit outside Philadelphia, but a License to Carry Firearms is required statewide for vehicle and concealed carry.
Under 18 Pa.C.S. Section 6106, carrying a firearm in a vehicle anywhere in Pennsylvania generally requires a valid License to Carry Firearms, with limited exceptions for unloaded transport between specified lawful locations.
Pennsylvania protects agricultural land through Agricultural Security Areas under Act 43 of 1981 and the Agricultural Area Security Law, working alongside municipal zoning to limit development pressure on working farms.
Pennsylvania's Right to Farm Act (Act 133 of 1982, 3 P.S. §951 et seq.) protects established agricultural operations from local nuisance lawsuits and overly restrictive municipal ordinances. Operations in existence for at least one year and following normal agricultural practices are presumed not to be a nuisance. Municipalities cannot enact ordinances that restrict normal ag activities.
Act 87 of 2024 ended Pennsylvania's multi-year moratorium preempting local plastic bag and single-use plastic ordinances, restoring municipal authority to regulate or ban single-use carryout bags.
Pennsylvania has no statewide ban on expanded polystyrene foam food containers, and after Act 87 of 2024 ended single-use plastic preemption local governments may regulate foam packaging.
Pennsylvania has no statewide ban or upon-request rule for plastic straws, and following the lapse of single-use plastic preemption in 2024 cities may again adopt straw-on-request or ban policies.
Pennsylvania Act 112 of 2019 raised the minimum age to purchase tobacco and e-cigarettes to 21, aligning with the federal Tobacco 21 law (Dec 2019). The state law covers all tobacco products including vapes, hookah, and nicotine pouches. Cities cannot lower the age, and flavored vape regulation is handled at the state retail license level.
Pennsylvania does not currently impose a statewide ban on flavored tobacco or menthol cigarettes, though federal FDA marketing rules restrict which flavored vape products and cigarettes can be lawfully sold.
Pennsylvania regulates electronic cigarettes and vape products under Act 84 of 2016, imposing a 40 percent wholesale tax on e-liquids and devices and requiring tobacco product retailers to comply with state Department of Revenue licensing.