Harrisburg, PA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)

Chapter 7-901 of the Harrisburg Codified Ordinances, adopted by City Council on 7-8-2014 as Ord. No. 5-2014, sets the encroachment rule in the City of Harrisburg. Section 7-901.1 requires an easement permit in any case where private property will encroach into a public street or pedestrian right-of-way at, above, or below ground level, and the easement must be authorized by a written resolution approved by City Council. A proposed principal building extension over a public right-of-way gets the strictest path: Council can approve it only after it has been legally advertised at least once and after the Planning Commission has been given an opportunity for review. The code also flags that approval can be needed from the State Department of Transportation when a state street is involved.

Section 7-901.2 controls the hearing. Public notice is published as required by Section 103 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code and states the time, the place, and the particular nature of the matter. The applicant is responsible for seeing that notice is conspicuously posted on the affected tract at least one week before the hearing and stays posted until the hearing. The City gives written notice to the applicant, to owners of property abutting or directly across the street from the subject property, and to any person or group, including civic or community organizations, that made a timely written request. The final decision or findings reach the applicant or representative within the time limit set by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.

Section 7-901.3 removes Planning Commission review and Council approval for four cases: utility easement permits approved by the City Engineer; routine extensions such as cornices and eaves, architectural decorations, ornamental columns, entrance steps, oriel windows, balconies, awnings, awning covers or boxes, and marquees, approved by the Zoning Officer through an easement permit in accordance with the City Building Code; easement permits for handicapped access to an existing structure, or a routine stoop, approved by the Zoning Officer; and below-ground-level footings that project up to 12 inches into a right-of-way, if approved by the City Engineer.