Penn Hills Zoning Ordinance 2420 permits no-impact home occupations by right in all residential zones under PA Act 43 of 2002. A Certificate of Use, Occupancy and Compliance is required before starting any home business. Higher-impact occupations require special zoning approval.
Pennsylvania Act 43 of 2002 (amending the Municipalities Planning Code) requires municipalities to permit no-impact home-based businesses by right in all residential zones. Penn Hills Zoning Ordinance 2420 implements this standard. To qualify as no-impact, the business must be conducted entirely within the dwelling, involve no employees other than family members residing in the home, produce no noise, odors, vibration, glare, or electrical interference detectable off-site, generate no customer or delivery traffic beyond typical residential levels, use no equipment or process other than that customarily found in a home, and occupy no more than 25 percent of the dwelling floor area. Before beginning operations, owners must file for administrative review with the Chief Zoning Officer and obtain a Certificate of Use, Occupancy and Compliance. Home occupations that exceed no-impact criteria require a special exception from the Zoning Hearing Board. Signs, exterior storage, and on-premises customer meetings are generally not allowed without special approval.
Operating without a Certificate of Use, Occupancy and Compliance is a zoning violation subject to fines up to $1,000 per occurrence plus enforcement costs.
See how other cities in Allegheny County handle home occupation permits.
See how Penn Hills's home occupation permits rules stack up against other locations.
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