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Reporting
Code Violations | FAQ
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The Bureau
of Building Inspection, Code Enforcement Division monitors and ensures
compliance with various city codes and ordinances. This includes
overgrown lots or yards, inoperable or abandoned vehicles on private
property, maintenance of structures, illegal signs, and anything
else that may affect the quality of life within the boundaries of
the City.
It is through
this Division that the City of Pittsburgh is able to ward off neighborhood
blight and thus protect the property values, and health, safety,
and welfare of the various neighborhoods throughout the City.
The Code Enforcement
Division responds to concerns about violations from citizens, other
City Departments, and outside agencies. Systematic inspections are
also performed throughout the city in an effort to keep developing
situations from becoming worse.
Reporting
Problems to the Bureau of Building Inspection (BBI)
What
types of violations should I report to the BBI Code Enforcement
Division? Here is a list of the most common violations
received by Code Enforcement Officers:
- Weeds
and/or debris on a property
- Abandoned
vehicles on private property only
- Sidewalks
that are a tripping hazard
- Electrical
Violations
- Building
Violations
What
types of problems are not handled by BBI?
Problems
Handled by Other City Departments |
Abandoned
Vehicles
(public right of way) |
Mayor's Office at 412-255-2621 |
| Animal
Control |
Public
Works at 412-255-2036 |
| Sewer
or Catch Basins |
PWSA
at 412-255-2429 |
| Special
Events Permit |
Mayor's
Office at 412-255-2641 |
| Residential
Permit Parking Program |
City
Planning at 412-255-2102 |
| Snow
and Ice Removal |
Public
Works at 412-255-2790 |
Frequently
Asked Questions
Q:
There is a property causing problems in my neighborhood. Whom should
I call?
A: First, you should check to make sure your problem is of a type
handled by BBI. If it is, contact
us.
Q: How can I determine who owns the property?
A: You can use the Allegheny
County Real Estate Website to find the owner of record for a
property. Please note that BBI is not responsible for the accuracy
of content on websites external to the City of Pittsburgh site.
Q: How long does it take to correct a violation?
A: If a valid city address is submitted with the complaint, a notice
is sent to the owner of record. All notices are orders requiring
the recipient to correct the violation within a fixed period of
time, which is specified in the correspondence they receive. If
the responsible party fails to comply with the notice in a timely
manner, that individual is subject to legal action in Housing Court.
It is important to remember that many problems cannot be resolved
through code enforcement and must be resolved through the court
system, which can become time consuming.
Q: What can BBI do about vacant properties
owned by the URA or the City?
A: If the property is inspected and a violation exists, the city
or the URA will be cited. Steps will be taken to raze or clean and
secure the building, whichever is applicable.
Q: May I report a violation anonymously?
A: Yes, but please note that we will be unable to contact you if
we have a question about your problem submission.
Contact
Options
To report
a code violation, call 412-255-2621.
Please
note that due to the the volume of violation reports received, we
are unable to respond to your problem personally. Be assured
that an inspector will follow up on the problem as soon as time
permits. Thank
you for your cooperation.
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