Department of City Planning

Mission

The Department of City Planning works with partners to plan and deliver a vision for the City’s future grounded in a Just Transition.

Strategic Objectives

• Grow DCP into a center of gravity that enables City government and its partners to take big, coordinated actions to advance a Just Transition for Pittsburgh.
• Create a center of excellence in terms of efficiency and customer service.
• Create a shared sense of pride and responsibility among DCP staff. Departmental/Bureau Overview Integrated Planning – The Integrated Planning division manages data, develops plans, and informs policies related to food access, vacant land, housing, mobility, and economic opportunity. Public History, Art, and Design – The Public Realm division proactively engages with and supports communities who face the steepest challenges in accessing civic design opportunities, historic preservation resources, and public art initiatives. Strategic Planning – Strategic Planning is responsible for supporting residents — particularly historically marginalized communities — in understanding the tools at their disposal to play meaningful roles in the planning and implementation of holistic polices, programs, and partnerships. Sustainability & Resilience – Sustainability and Resilience advances Pittsburgh’s vision for environmental protection, climate change mitigation, adaptation, and strategies to address the impacts of climate hazards on vulnerable residents and communities. Zoning & Development Review – Zoning and Development Review is responsible for facilitating an understanding of the land use and regulatory needs of communities that have been historically harmed by past planning actions. 2025 Accomplishments
• PGH2050 – Pittsburgh's Comprehensive Plan
• Hosted 4 series of large public events (January, June, July, October)
• Assembled and activated the Steering Committee and 3 working groups
• Facilitated 3 Steering Committee meetings, 3 Government Working Group meetings, 2 Youth Working Group Meetings
• Attended over 40 Community Meetings / Gatherings since the Public Kick-Off
• Awarded over 60 Community Organizations with mini-grants to deliver events with engagement on PGH2050 as a part of the ‘Summer of Engagement’
• Interviewed over 100 local experts in the 20+ topic areas of PGH2050
• Engaged over 25,000 people to date in 2025 on PGH2050
• Sent information to over 133,000 people about PGH 2050
• Reached 92,500 people via social media on PGH 2050
• Launched a project updating Design Guidelines across City Historic Districts. The initial phase includes Schenley Farms, Mexican War Streets Expansion, and Roslyn Place Historic Districts.
• Renewed the Western PA Energy consortium MOU with 25 entities for 5 years, providing momentum for continuing renewable energy purchases for the region leading governmental and educational institutions
• Completed an evaluation of the vending program with PLI & DOMI and introduced legislation to amend zoning & vending ordinances towards a vision of having a clear process that expands opportunities and improves equity for vendors.
• Created a series of zoning amendments to implement the City’s Housing Needs Assessment, including the introduction of Accessory Dwelling Units, Parking Reform, and Affordable Housing into the Code. 140

• On pace to work on approximately 10,000 applications this year, ranging from Property Certification to major developments and master plans.
• Zoning Code reform eliminating minimum lot size per unit and reducing minimum lot sizes across all residential districts.

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