Become an RCO

What is a Registered Community Organization (RCO)?

RCOs must meet a set of eligibility requirements laid out in the Administrative Code. RCOs will receive notification of proposed zoning amendments, landmark designation applications, planning board and zoning board of adjustment hearings and other activities occurring within the RCO’s geographic footprint, as stipulated in the ordinance.

RCO Responsibilities

• Coordinating with applicants and their DCP neighborhood planner in scheduling the time, date, and location for Development Activities Meetings (D.A.M.s).
• Notifying residents, property owners, business owners, and other stakeholders of the time, date, and location of D.A.M.s. This notice shall include the project location and purpose of the proposal.
• Posting meeting agendas, decisions, and minutes, from Board and/or public meetings, especially those related to D.A.M.s, on the organization’s website.
• Fostering and hosting open and respectful communication with all people.
• Renewing registration with the Department of City Planning on a biennial basis.

   

RCO Policies

1. Agendas, Decisions, and Minutes of Executive Sessions and personnel matters are exempt from the posting requirement. 
2. Decisions and Minutes shall be posted on the organization’s website within 90 days of the meeting/decision. 
3. The applicable RCO(s), using methods from their communication strategy, shall notify the residents, property owners, business owners, and other stakeholders of the time, date, and location of the Development Activities Meeting at least 10 days prior to the Development Activities Meeting. 
4. Development Activities Meeting shall not be scheduled on a holiday, a holiday weekend, or the day before a holiday or holiday weekend. A holiday is defined as a holiday recognized by the City of Pittsburgh. 
5. A RCO shall be provided with two 30-day notices of violations before they are delisted. 
6. The applicable RCO shall schedule the Development Activities Meeting within 45 days of a request by an applicant. 
7. The time between a Development Activities Meeting and the first public hearing can be no longer than one year.  
8. For any questions regarding these policies, please contact the RCO Program Administration team at RCOprogram@pittsburghpa.gov. 

 

RCO Eligibility Criteria

The requirements to become an RCO include:

• 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in good standing with the state of Pennsylvania, or affiliation with a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation in good standing with the state of Pennsylvania via a Memorandum of Understanding
• Adopted bylaws
• Adopted Conflict of Interest Policy
• Adopted statement of purpose or mission
• An identified geographic boundary, identified either by approved bylaws or passed by another action of the organization
• Transparent Board selection process and defined terms
• A written communication strategy which includes the following provisions:
  • The methods the community organizations use to reach out to the community
  • The reasons they use those methods, including data to support these reasons
  • Strategy to inform residents and businesses about the community organization's communication strategy and where the community can access this information
  • Strategy to provide outreach to the community of upcoming meetings
• Regular meetings, not less than twice per calendar year, which are open to all members of the public in an ADA-accessible space
• Adopted Policy Against Discrimination
• A website which provides the following information:
  • Advance notification of meetings
  • Meeting agendas, decisions and minutes
• A signed letter from the Member(s) of Council whose Council District(s) contain the designated geographical area(s)

Each RCO must renew their registration with the Department of City Planning every two (2) years during the month of December by providing updated documents if the information has changed. 

RCO Registration

RCO registration is free and applications will be accepted throughout the year. Please download an application HERE(PDF, 267KB). The application and documentation can be submitted in two ways:

• Via email to the RCO Program Administration team at RCOprogram@pittsburghpa.gov.

• Via mail to the RCO Program Administration, Department of City Planning, 100 Ross Street, Suite 202, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

RCO Resources

• 501(c)3 Status example(PDF, 112KB)
• Boards
  • Board Rotation example(PDF, 124KB)
  • Board Succession Planning(PDF, 103KB)
• Bylaws
  • Bylaws example(PDF, 237KB)
  • Outline to create bylaws(PDF, 27KB)
  • Meeting bylaws example(PDF, 6KB)
• Communication Strategy
  • Example of communication strategy(PDF, 300KB)
  • Communication planning questions(PDF, 220KB)
• Conflict of Interest
  • What qualifies as a conflict of interest?
  • Conflict of Interest Statement example(PDF, 112KB)
• Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement example(PDF, 271KB)
• Mission Statement development process(PDF, 114KB)
• Nondiscrimination
  • Guidestar Nondiscrimination policy
  • Nondiscrimination Statement example(PDF, 173KB)
• Website Planning
  • Example RCO website
  • Website planning resources(PDF, 129KB)

General Information

If you have any questions, please contact the RCO Program Administration team at RCOprogram@pittsburghpa.gov.