Zoning Overlays & Bonuses in Pennsylvania (2026)
16 rules on the books across Pennsylvania, 11 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Density Bonus Law
California Density Bonus Law (Gov Code §65915) and local implementations granting up to 50% density bonuses for affordable-housing projects.
Harrisburg
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Table 2 of § 7-307.3B prints a density bonus for certified affordable housing…
Read full rule →Haverford
Some RestrictionsIn Haverford Township, Delaware County, the Township can grant an R-1 special residential development a density…
Read full rule →Lower Paxton
Some RestrictionsThe Towne Centre District in Lower Paxton Township, Pennsylvania caps floor area ratio at 1.5 with no bonus. Zoning…
Read full rule →Philadelphia
Some RestrictionsPhiladelphia's Zoning Code lets developers in the RM-1, CMX-1, CMX-2, and CMX-2.5 districts build more dwelling units…
Read full rule →Pittsburgh
Some RestrictionsNon-residential projects pursuing LEED certification can get up to a 20% floor-area-ratio and height bonus over the…
Read full rule →Reading
Some RestrictionsReading's Transit-Oriented Development Overlay lets developers add one market-rate unit for every workforce housing…
Read full rule →Upper Darby
Some RestrictionsIn the C-3 Traditional Downtown Business District, Upper Darby offers up to 40 extra feet of building height, on top of…
Read full rule →Bensalem
Light RestrictionsBensalem Township's only density bonus for zoning is its transfer of development rights program. Section 232-765 lets…
Read full rule →Downtown Design Guide
LA's Downtown Design Guide and Community Plan governing high-rise massing, ground-floor activation, and adaptive-reuse standards in DTLA.
Pittsburgh
Significant RestrictionsDowntown building projects in the Golden Triangle involving more than $250,000 of exterior work must pass Planning…
Read full rule →Pottstown
Significant RestrictionsPottstown's older neighborhoods and downtown-adjacent areas sit inside a Conservation District overlay that applies…
Read full rule →Allentown
Some RestrictionsAllentown's Downtown Zone applies a three-part base, middle, and cap design test to any high-rise using bonus…
Read full rule →Erie
Some RestrictionsErie's Zoning Ordinance Section 205.20 forbids any front setback in the C-3 Central Commercial District: new buildings…
Read full rule →Lower Paxton
Some RestrictionsLower Paxton Township, Pennsylvania sets mandatory design standards for the Towne Centre (TC) District in Zoning Code §…
Read full rule →Philadelphia
Some RestrictionsLarge Philadelphia developments, over 100,000 sq. ft. or 100 units citywide, or 50,000 sq. ft./50 units near homes…
Read full rule →Upper Darby
Some RestrictionsUpper Darby's C-3 Traditional Downtown Business District rules require new development to match the district's historic…
Read full rule →Bensalem
Light RestrictionsBensalem Township adopted a downtown-style design overlay called the Bensalem 2018 Regulating Code under section…
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