Pittsburgh has launched the first phase of a comprehensive permitting reform, cutting processing times for routine residential permits to as little as one business day, down from over a week, the city announced Wednesday.
Mayor Corey O'Connor signed an executive order directing departments to overhaul the permitting process nine months ago. The Phase 1 implementation introduces a tiered system that processes simple applications faster than complex projects.
Key changes include a new fast-track category called EZ Permits for 15 routine residential and commercial permit types that require no design review, with approval available within one business day. Virtual video inspections are now available for 13 eligible residential permits, with appointments scheduled in as little as two days.
The city has also created standardized pre-application meetings for complex projects to outline required permits, fees, timelines and public processes before submission. A new permit tracker called OneStopPGH, which launched ahead of schedule in July, allows applicants to monitor their application status and estimated approval timeframe in real time.
The overhaul consolidated permit information across multiple departments onto a unified OneStopPGH landing page on the city's website. The city also began tracking permit data by project size and scope to better measure processing times and identify bottlenecks.
The Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections, Department of City Planning and Department of Mobility and Infrastructure led the effort. Two additional phases focused on reviews and inspections are planned, along with a complete rewrite of the city's zoning code and a public-facing dashboard of permitting performance data.