Pop. 41,305 · Allegheny County
Feeding deer and bears prohibited statewide under PA Game and Wildlife Code 34 Pa.C.S. 2102. Penn Hills enforces via township nuisance rules when feeding attracts wildlife and creates hazards.
Penn Hills limits the number of dogs per household; kennel licenses required for 26 or more dogs per PA Dog Law. Local ordinance typically caps at 3-4 dogs per single-family dwelling.
Backyard chickens allowed on larger residential lots in Penn Hills with setbacks. Roosters generally prohibited or restricted due to noise. Coops must meet accessory-structure rules.
Amplified music audible beyond the property line after 10 PM is a nuisance violation in Penn Hills. Commercial venues may need a special events permit for outdoor amplification.
Modified exhaust, loud stereos, and engine racing prohibited under PA Vehicle Code Title 75 Section 4525. Penn Hills Police enforce vehicle noise via citation and the state straight-pipe prohibition.
Commercial properties in Penn Hills must not produce noise exceeding residential limits at any adjoining residential property line. Loading dock and HVAC noise regulated through zoning performance standards.
Penn Hills has no leaf-blower-specific ordinance. Gas and electric blowers are allowed during normal landscaping hours and remain subject to the general nuisance noise ordinance.
Penn Hills Code of Ordinances Chapter 9 Part 2 prohibits unreasonable noise disturbing neighbors between 10 PM and 7 AM. Violations enforced by Penn Hills Police under PA Crimes Code Section 5503 disorderly conduct.
Construction noise in Penn Hills generally permitted 7 AM to 8 PM weekdays and 8 AM to 6 PM Saturdays. Sunday and holiday construction prohibited except for emergency repairs.
Penn Hills prohibits habitual barking that disturbs neighbors. Enforced through local nuisance ordinance and PA Dog Law (3 P.S. 459-305). Owners must confine or control dogs at all times.
Aircraft noise is federally preempted under FAA regulations (14 CFR Part 91). Penn Hills sits under approach paths for Pittsburgh International and Allegheny County Airport. Complaints go to FAA or the airport noise office.
Penn Hills requires a zoning/building permit for fences regardless of height. Applications filed with Planning and Code Enforcement Department. Survey or plot plan typically required.
Pennsylvania has no Good Neighbor fence cost-sharing statute. Each Penn Hills owner pays for their own fence. Finished/good side faces the adjoining property by custom and zoning direction.
Penn Hills requires a clear sight triangle at street intersections. Fences, hedges, and walls over 30 inches prohibited within the triangle measured 25 ft along each curb line.
Most standard fencing materials permitted in Penn Hills: wood, vinyl, chain-link, aluminum, wrought iron. Barbed wire and electric fences prohibited in residential districts.
Pool barriers required per IRC Section R326 adopted through PA UCC: minimum 48 inches high with self-closing, self-latching gates. Penn Hills enforces at building permit inspection.
Penn Hills Zoning Ordinance limits fences to 6 ft in rear and side yards and 4 ft in front yards. Corner lots have visibility triangle restrictions at intersections.
Allegheny County does not issue retaining wall permits — building authority rests with each of the 130 municipalities under the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (Act 45 of 1999, 35 P.S. 7210.101). UCC at 34 Pa. Code Section 403.62 exempts retaining walls 4 feet or less in height (measured from the lowest grade to the top of the wall) unless the wall supports a surcharge or impounds Class I, II, or III-A liquids. Walls over 4 feet, walls supporting a driveway, building, or steep slope, and any earth disturbance over 5,000 sq ft also trigger Allegheny County Conservation District (ACCD) review under 25 Pa. Code Chapter 102.
EV charging stations on private property follow the PA Uniform Construction Code and National Electrical Code; a Penn Hills electrical permit is required for Level 2 and DC fast charger installation. No standalone EV ordinance.
Overnight on-street parking is generally permitted in Penn Hills except on posted snow emergency routes and streets signed with time restrictions. No blanket overnight ban exists municipality-wide.
Residential driveways in Penn Hills require a driveway permit and curb cut approval from the Public Works Department. Minimum widths and setbacks set in the Zoning Ordinance; impervious surface counts toward lot coverage limits.
Recreational vehicles, boats, and trailers may be stored on residential property in side or rear yards only, per Penn Hills Zoning Ordinance performance standards. Front-yard and on-street long-term RV storage is prohibited.
Commercial vehicles over 1 ton or with commercial markings cannot be parked overnight in residential districts per the Penn Hills Zoning Ordinance. One service vehicle per dwelling is typically permitted if it is the residents primary transport.
On-street parking in Penn Hills is governed by the Traffic Code (Chapter 202 codified ordinances). Parking is generally permitted unless signed otherwise; standard PA Vehicle Code rules apply (no parking within 15 feet of a hydrant, 20 feet of a crosswalk, 30 feet of a stop sign).
Vehicles left on public streets or visible on private property for more than 48 to 72 hours in an inoperable condition may be tagged and towed under Penn Hills Chapter 202 and 75 Pa.C.S. §7301. Unregistered and wrecked vehicles on private property also violate the Zoning Ordinance.
Penn Hills pool fencing must comply with PA UCC and IRC Section R326: minimum 48-inch barrier, self-closing and self-latching gates, and barrier design preventing unsupervised access by small children. Pool enclosure inspection is part of the building permit process.
Hot tubs and spas in Penn Hills require a building permit if permanently installed. Spas with safety covers meeting ASTM F1346 may be exempt from the standard pool barrier requirement. Electrical permits are required for installation of spa circuits and GFCI protection.
Penn Hills residential pool safety follows PA UCC requirements including barrier standards, anti-entrapment drain covers per the federal Virginia Graeme Baker Act, electrical bonding per NEC Article 680, and GFCI protection. No separate local safety inspections beyond permit process.
Penn Hills requires building permits for above-ground pools deeper than 24 inches or holding more than 5,000 gallons. Barrier requirements apply. Smaller inflatable or temporary pools are generally exempt from permit but must still be supervised for child safety.
Penn Hills requires a building permit for in-ground and most above-ground swimming pools. Pools must comply with the PA Uniform Construction Code and IRC Section R326. Above-ground pools less than 24 inches deep and under 5,000 gallons are typically exempt from permit.
Penn Hills does not have a dedicated short-term rental permit ordinance. Operators must obtain a Certificate of Use, Occupancy and Compliance for any rental use and comply with zoning. No dedicated STR license exists, unlike the Pittsburgh Chapter 781 program.
Penn Hills does not impose annual night caps or maximum rental day limits on short-term rental properties. Operators may rent year-round without a cap on the number of nights per year, unlike some municipalities that limit STRs to 90 or 120 nights annually.
STR guests in Penn Hills must comply with the municipal noise ordinance. Excessive noise that disturbs the quiet, comfort, or repose of a reasonable person is prohibited, with quiet hours beginning at 10 PM. Fines reach up to $1,000 for repeat violations.
Penn Hills has no parking rules specific to short-term rentals. STR guests follow standard municipal parking rules. Most Penn Hills residential streets allow on-street parking, but vehicles cannot be left abandoned more than 48 hours under PA Vehicle Code.
Penn Hills does not require STR operators to carry liability insurance by ordinance. Operators should obtain dedicated short-term rental liability coverage, as standard homeowner policies often exclude claims arising from commercial rental activity.
Penn Hills has no STR-specific occupancy limits. Maximum occupancy follows the International Property Maintenance Code based on habitable room sizes and egress. No per-bedroom guest caps or annual caps exist in Penn Hills.
Penn Hills has no dedicated short-term rental registration ordinance. Operators must obtain a Certificate of Use, Occupancy and Compliance for the rental use and register with the PA Department of Revenue and Allegheny County Treasurer for hotel occupancy taxes.
Penn Hills STR operators must collect and remit the 6 percent Pennsylvania Hotel Occupancy Tax (72 P.S. Section 7209) and the 7 percent Allegheny County Hotel Room Rental Tax. Airbnb and VRBO remit the PA state tax automatically as booking agents.
Penn Hills has no dedicated tiny home ordinance. A site-built tiny house on a permanent foundation must meet single-family dwelling standards under the Codified Ordinances Ch. 1268 (Residential Districts) and the PA Uniform Construction Code, which adopts the IRC. Pennsylvania has not adopted IRC Appendix Q statewide, so habitable rooms generally must meet the IRC's 70 sq ft and 7 ft ceiling minimums. Tiny houses on wheels are treated as RVs and not allowed as permanent dwellings. Confirm with Code Enforcement at 412-342-1192.
Penn Hills regulates carports as accessory structures under the Codified Ordinances Planning and Zoning chapters (Ch. 1268 Residential Districts, Ch. 1280 Conditional Uses). They must sit on the same lot as the principal dwelling, share a minimum building separation (50 ft principal-to-principal, 35 ft principal-to-accessory), and require a Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC) building permit. Confirm exact district setbacks with Code Enforcement at 412-342-1192.
Pennsylvania has no statewide ADU mandate. Penn Hills does not appear to have a specific ADU-enabling ordinance. Accessory dwelling units in Penn Hills would require a zoning variance or special exception. PA UCC permits and inspections required for any new dwelling unit construction.
Garage conversions to living space in Penn Hills require a building permit and PA UCC compliance. Zoning approval may be required if the conversion changes the use or reduces required parking. Penn Hills requires Certificate of Use, Occupancy and Compliance before occupying converted space.
Penn Hills requires a building permit for accessory structures larger than 100 square feet. Sheds must generally be located in the rear yard. PA UCC governs construction standards. Check zoning ordinance for setback requirements from property lines.
Penn Hills follows Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) Article XXI air quality rules, which generally prohibit open burning. Recreational fires must use only clean wood, propane, natural gas, or commercial fire logs, stay no larger than 3 ft x 3 ft x 2 ft, and sit at least 15 ft from any neighboring dwelling, property line, road, or sidewalk. All wood burning is banned on Air Quality Action days. Report violations to ACHD's 24-hour line at 412-687-2243.
Fire pits using clean wood, propane, or natural gas may be used in Penn Hills subject to Allegheny County Health Department air quality rules. Burn barrels and earthen pit fires are not permitted. No materials other than clean wood or approved fuels may be burned. Fires should not create a smoke nuisance.
Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) regulations prohibit most open burning within the county, including Penn Hills. Only clean wood, propane, or natural gas may be burned with negligible air contaminant contribution. Burning permits are generally not issued for residential open burning.
PA Act 74 of 2022 allows consumer fireworks (up to 50 mg explosive) for PA residents 18+. Must be used at least 150 feet from any occupied structure. Municipalities may restrict hours to no use between 10 PM and 10 AM (except July 4 and Dec 31, when use is allowed until 1 AM). Penn Hills' noise ordinance independently restricts disruptive noise after 10 PM.
Smoke detectors in Allegheny County are required under the PA Uniform Construction Code adopted statewide. New construction and substantial renovations must include interconnected hardwired alarms with battery backup in every bedroom, outside sleeping areas, and on every floor.
Small backyard recreational fires are allowed in Allegheny County under ACHD Article XXI provided they are contained, burn only clean wood, stay under 3 feet in diameter, and do not create a smoke nuisance. Leaf and yard-waste fires are prohibited countywide.
Allegheny County is not mapped as a wildfire risk zone by PA DCNR. There are no designated wildland-urban interface zones or special construction standards for fire-prone areas in the county.
Family home daycare in Penn Hills is permitted subject to PA Department of Human Services licensing and local zoning review. Family child care homes (4-6 children) require a DHS certificate of compliance. Penn Hills requires a Certificate of Use, Occupancy and Compliance for any home-based business.
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.
Home businesses in Allegheny County are regulated by municipal zoning under PA MPC authority. Typical home occupation rules: owner-occupied, business subordinate to residential use, no more than 1 non-resident employee, limited customer traffic, no outward signs of commercial activity.
Customer visits to home businesses in Allegheny County are tightly regulated. Pittsburgh limits client visits to one at a time and no more than one per hour; most suburbs follow similar caps or prohibit customers entirely in home occupations.
Home business signage in Allegheny County is strictly limited. Pittsburgh and most municipalities prohibit external business signs except one non-illuminated name plate, typically under 2 square feet. Illuminated or freestanding signs are banned in residential zones.
Pennsylvania Act 106 of 2022 codified cottage food operations, allowing sale of non-hazardous home-produced foods (baked goods, jams, candies) directly to consumers. PA Department of Agriculture registration is required. Allegheny County Health Department provides guidance; no extra county permit required.
Penn Hills has no known specific tree removal permit ordinance for private property. Pennsylvania does not regulate private property tree removal at the state level. Trees in public rights-of-way or touching utility lines may require coordination with Penn Hills Public Works or utility providers.
Allegheny County has no countywide grass-height ordinance. Municipalities enforce the International Property Maintenance Code with typical limits of 6-10 inches. Pittsburgh sets 10 inches; most suburban municipalities cap at 6-8 inches.
Rainwater harvesting is legal and unrestricted in Allegheny County. Pennsylvania has no state statute limiting rain barrels or cisterns, and Pittsburgh actively encourages stormwater capture with PWSA rain barrel rebate programs.
Allegheny County encourages native plantings through the Allegheny County Conservation District and Western Pennsylvania Conservancy programs. Municipal weed ordinances can conflict with tall-grass native meadows; registering a managed native landscape with the municipality is recommended.
Allegheny County municipalities enforce weed and noxious-vegetation ordinances through IPMC property maintenance code. PA Noxious Weed Law (3 P.S. Sections 255.1-255.8) lists regulated species including Japanese knotweed and giant hogweed that landowners must control.
Artificial turf is permitted in Allegheny County with no state or county-wide restriction. Pittsburgh and some suburban municipalities require stormwater management review for larger installations because synthetic turf counts as impervious surface.
Allegheny County has no routine water-use restrictions. Pittsburgh Water (PWSA) and suburban authorities such as Pennsylvania American Water serve the region and do not impose outdoor-watering schedules except during rare drought emergencies declared by PA DEP.
Tree trimming on private property is largely unregulated in Allegheny County. Street tree and right-of-way trimming is controlled by municipalities; Pittsburgh requires a permit from the Department of Public Works Forestry Division for any work on street trees.
Penn Hills has no formal dark sky ordinance. Exterior lighting on new commercial and multifamily development is regulated through site plan review under the Zoning Ordinance performance standards, which require full-cutoff fixtures at property lines.
Light crossing property lines and creating a nuisance is actionable under Penn Hills Zoning Ordinance performance standards and PA common-law nuisance. Commercial properties must use shielded fixtures to prevent spillover.
Maximum lot coverage in Penn Hills R-1 is typically 25 to 30 percent, R-2 is 35 percent, and R-3 up to 40 to 50 percent. Impervious surfaces (house, garage, driveway, patios) all count toward the cap.
Residential setbacks in Penn Hills vary by zoning district. Typical R-1 single-family: 30 ft front, 8 ft side, 30 ft rear. R-2 and R-3 are smaller. Set in the 2020 Zoning Ordinance, enforced by Code Enforcement.
Principal residential structures are generally limited to 35 ft or 2.5 stories in Penn Hills R-1 and R-2 districts. Accessory structures cap at 15 ft. Commercial and multifamily districts allow taller with additional setback.
Pennsylvania HOA disputes between owners and associations are generally resolved through the association internal process, mediation, arbitration (if specified in governing documents), or the Court of Common Pleas. Pennsylvania has no dedicated HOA ombudsman. Penn Hills municipal code enforcement does not resolve private HOA disputes.
Pennsylvania HOA board procedures are governed by the PA Uniform Planned Community Act (68 Pa.C.S. Chapter 53) for communities created after February 2, 1997. Boards must follow meeting notice, quorum, open meeting, and recordkeeping rules. Penn Hills has no separate municipal HOA oversight.
Pennsylvania HOAs enforce recorded Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions through fines, suspension of privileges, liens, and injunctive relief in court. UPCA requires due process including notice and an opportunity to be heard before fines. Selective or discriminatory enforcement is not permitted.
Pennsylvania HOA assessments are regulated by the Uniform Planned Community Act. Boards may levy regular and special assessments per the governing documents. Unpaid assessments become liens against the unit. Foreclosure is available after notice. Assessments are personal obligations of the owner at time of levy.
Pennsylvania HOA architectural review authority derives from recorded covenants and is governed by UPCA. Boards or architectural committees may approve or deny exterior modifications. Decisions must be reasonable, non-discriminatory, and applied consistently. Penn Hills building permits are separate and required regardless of HOA approval.
All earth disturbance in Penn Hills must follow 25 Pa. Code Chapter 102 (PA DEP). Projects over 5,000 sq ft require a written E&S plan; over 1 acre requires NPDES permit through Allegheny County Conservation District.
Penn Hills Stormwater Management Ordinance (Chapter 1058, Ord. 2019-2642) requires stormwater review for any earth disturbance over 1,000 sq ft or new impervious cover. Penn Hills also charges a stormwater fee under Chapter 1059.
Grading in Penn Hills requires a permit through the Code Enforcement Department for any work moving more than a minimal amount of soil or altering drainage. Chapter 1420 construction code and Chapter 1058 stormwater ordinance both apply.
Penn Hills participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP); development in FEMA-mapped Special Flood Hazard Areas must meet floodplain management standards under the municipal Floodplain Ordinance and 12 Pa. Code Chapter 113.
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.
Roof-mounted and ground-mounted solar panels in Penn Hills require building and electrical permits through the Code Enforcement Department under PA UCC Chapter 1420. Solar as an accessory use is generally permitted in all residential districts.
Pennsylvania has no statewide solar access law preempting HOA or deed restrictions. HOAs in Penn Hills may impose reasonable aesthetic controls on solar panels. Municipality of Penn Hills does not prohibit solar.
Lead paint in Penn Hills pre-1978 housing is regulated primarily by federal EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule and HUD disclosure requirements. Pennsylvania Lead Certification Act requires state certification for lead abatement contractors. Residential rental lead disclosures are mandatory under federal law.
Scaffolding on construction sites regulated under the PA Uniform Construction Code (34 Pa. Code Ch. 403), enforced locally by Penn Hills Chapter 1420 (Construction Code). Scaffolds over 10 feet require OSHA-compliant guardrails and permits tied to the underlying building permit.
Property owners must maintain premises free of rodents, insects, and vermin under the International Property Maintenance Code adopted through Penn Hills Chapter 1420. Code Enforcement investigates complaints and can order abatement.
Elevator inspections in Penn Hills are regulated by the PA Department of Labor and Industry Bureau of Occupational and Industrial Safety under 34 Pa. Code Chapter 7. Annual inspections by certified inspectors are required. Penn Hills has no separate municipal elevator inspection program.
Penn Hills has no rent control. Pennsylvania preempts municipal rent control through longstanding policy; landlord-tenant relations are governed by the PA Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 (68 P.S. §250.101 et seq.).
Allegheny County does not operate a countywide rental registration program. Individual municipalities administer their own rental licensing, with Pittsburgh, Mt. Lebanon, and Wilkinsburg among those requiring registration and inspection.
Allegheny County has no just-cause eviction ordinance. Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 (68 P.S. 250.501) governs evictions countywide, allowing termination at lease expiration without cause with proper notice. Pittsburgh enacted a local just-cause rule but a court struck it down in 2022.
Food trucks in Penn Hills are permitted in commercial zoning districts with property-owner authorization. Operation on public streets or in residential districts is generally not allowed except at approved special events.
Mobile food vendors in Penn Hills must obtain a Mobile Food Vendor Permit from the municipality plus an annual Allegheny County Health Department mobile food facility permit. PA Department of Agriculture tax license also required.
Pennsylvania authorizes juvenile curfews under 53 Pa.C.S. 3703 for second-class cities and similar statutes elsewhere. Pittsburgh Code Chapter 625 sets curfew for minors under 18 at 10 PM Sunday-Thursday and 11 PM Friday-Saturday. Most suburbs set 10 PM or 11 PM.
Allegheny County parks close at dusk per County Code Chapter 355. County parks include North, South, Boyce, Deer Lakes, Harrison Hills, Hartwood Acres, Round Hill, Settler's Cabin, and White Oak. Entry after closing is trespass.
Bin placement rules are municipal in Allegheny County. ACHD Article XX requires all refuse stored in watertight, verminproof containers with tight-fitting lids kept out of public view between collection days.
Trash collection is arranged by each municipality in Allegheny County, not the county itself. PA Act 101 of 1988 requires municipalities with populations over 10000 to provide weekly curbside collection and recycling.
PA Act 101 of 1988 mandates curbside recycling in all Allegheny County municipalities over 10000 population. Required materials: clear glass, colored glass, aluminum, steel/bimetallic cans, high-grade office paper, newsprint, corrugated cardboard, and plastics. Leaf waste composting also mandated.
Bulk pickup programs vary by municipality in Allegheny County. Many offer quarterly or monthly bulk days; others require call-ahead scheduling. Hazardous waste and electronics prohibited from regular collection.
Door-to-door solicitor permits administered by individual municipalities in Allegheny County. Typical requirement: background check, application fee 25 to 100 dollars, permit valid 30 to 180 days. Religious and political canvassers exempt under First Amendment (Watchtower v. Stratton).
No-Solicitation or No-Knock signs are legally enforceable in Pennsylvania. Allegheny County municipalities including Pittsburgh recognize posted signs; ignoring them can support trespass charges under 18 Pa.C.S. 3503.
Garage sale regulations vary by municipality across Allegheny County. Most allow 2 to 4 sales per year per address without permit, lasting 1 to 3 days each, during daylight hours only. No county rule.
Snow and ice removal from sidewalks is a municipal responsibility passed to adjacent property owners. Typical Allegheny County rule: clear within 24 hours of snow ending. Pittsburgh Code Chapter 419 requires clearance within 24 hours.
Vacant lot maintenance is enforced at the municipal level with ACHD backstop. Typical requirements: vegetation under 10 inches, no debris accumulation, secured against dumping and trespass. Allegheny County Vacant Property Recovery Program can acquire tax-delinquent lots.
Allegheny County participates in the Pennsylvania Neighborhood Blight Reclamation and Revitalization Act (Act 90 of 2010). Municipalities can deny permits and licenses to owners with serious code violations. ACHD Article VI enforces habitability standards countywide.
Allegheny County Health Department Article XX governs refuse storage countywide. Containers must be watertight, verminproof, with tight-fitting lids. Accumulation of refuse or debris on property prohibited.
Medical cannabis dispensaries in Allegheny County operate only under state license from PA Department of Health. Act 16 of 2016 requires 1000-foot separation from schools and daycares (35 P.S. 10231.605). Municipalities may impose additional zoning through MPC authority.
Home cultivation of cannabis is illegal throughout Allegheny County. Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act (Act 16 of 2016, 35 P.S. 10231.101) does not permit patient home grow. Recreational cannabis remains illegal statewide. Pittsburgh decriminalized small possession but cannot authorize cultivation.
Allegheny County does not require permits for residential garage sales. Municipalities set their own rules; most allow 2 to 4 sales per year per household without permit or with free registration. Hours typically 8 AM to 8 PM.
Allegheny County does not regulate garage or yard sale frequency — there is no county ordinance limiting how many sales a household may hold per year. Land-use authority belongs to each of the 130 municipalities under the PA Municipalities Planning Code (Act 247 of 1968, 53 P.S. 10101). The City of Pittsburgh does not require a permit for an occasional residential garage sale on private property, and PA Department of Revenue exempts non-recurring isolated personal-property sales from the 6 percent state sales tax.
Holiday decorations broadly permitted in Allegheny County with minimal regulation. Municipal codes generally exempt temporary seasonal displays from sign ordinances. Reasonable time limits apply, typically 60 days before and 30 days after the holiday.
Garage sale signs regulated by municipality. Typical Allegheny County rule: signs allowed on private property with owner permission, posted 1 to 3 days before sale, removed within 24 hours of sale end. No signs on utility poles or public right-of-way.
Political signs protected by First Amendment and PA Constitution. Allegheny County municipalities cannot ban them but may impose content-neutral size and setback limits. Reed v. Town of Gilbert (2015) controls; signs cannot be regulated based on message.
Commercial drone operations require FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. Pittsburgh International Airport Class C airspace covers most of western Allegheny County, mandating LAANC or FAA airspace authorization. PA Act 78 of 2018 preempts most local commercial regulation.
Recreational drones regulated primarily by FAA under 14 CFR Part 107 and Exception for Limited Recreational Operations (49 U.S.C. 44809). Pennsylvania Act 78 of 2018 (18 Pa.C.S. 3505) created crime of unlawful use of unmanned aircraft. Allegheny County parks prohibit drone launch or landing without permit.
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.