Land Operations Permits

A commercial land operations permit is required for the following work:

• Site grading that:
  • Exceeds 50 cubic yards.
  • Is performed on a slope exceeding 25% with a depth of 5 feet or more.
  • Is performed for an easement for a public sewer, water main, storm drain or power line.
  • Is performed for an encroachment on or alteration of an existing drainage channel or watercourse systems.
• Placing impermeable / semipermeable surfacing for an area exceeding 10,000 square feet.
• Removal of Vegetation, Trees and/or Ground Cover that:
  • Exceeds 10,000 square feet.
  • Is performed on any slope exceeding 25%.
• Surface mining exceeding 50 cubic yards.
• Remediation of a landslide

Please see Permit Home for the definition of commercial structures and work types. Please see work not requiring a permit for work that can be performed without a PLI permit. Please visit our Contacts page for the Construction Inspector's contact information.

Work Scopes:

• Site Work (Grading): excavation and/or fill.
• Impermeable / Semipermeable Surfacing: installing impermeable or semipermeable surfacing.
• Removal of Vegetation, Trees, and/or Ground Cover: removal of vegetation, trees, and/or ground cover.
• Surface Mining: surface mining.
• Construction of Private Roadway: construction of a roadway on private property and not regulated by DOMI.

Permit Process

See these web pages for additional information regarding the permitting process:

• Application Submission
  • All Work Types require submission of drawings to OneStopPGH.
• Application Review
• Permit Issuance
• Permit Inspections
  • Special Inspections are required for all work performed under a land operations permit.
• Permit Completion

Please see Other Agency Coordination for processes related to other agencies that may relate to your permit scope.  For commercial land operations permits:

• Zoning Development Review application submission is required for all land operations permits.
• Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI)
  • Required to review transportation of materials over city streets. A route map shall be provided to DOMI.
• Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA)
  • Required to confirm the land operations work does not impact PSWA infrastructure.