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Pittsburgh City Council

Controller audit reveals city-owned properties break code rules but face no fines.

Written by Amy Whipple

The City of Pittsburgh does not pay fines for code violations on city-owned properties.

According to Controller Rachael Heisler’s code enforcement audit, there were 4,330 investigations of city-owned properties from Jan. 2021 to Dec. 2023 (the scope of the audit). That included 243 investigations on 56 violations that went to court. However, the city is not subject to fines.

“There’s no cohesive process to determine how do we even address this,” said Chief Audit Officer Lee Ajang during a Sept. 15 post agenda meeting regarding the audit. “That’s money out of the taxpayer pocket that’s going towards notices that are really just going in a bin.”

The sweeping, 10-objective audit analyzed 67,631 complaints to the 311 line and 45,413 code violations logged in the city’s software system. It also used court data limited to overgrowth (the magisterial court administrator called the initial, more inclusive request “cumbersome”) as well as policies for the departments of Public Works (DPW), Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) and Permits, Licenses and Inspections (PLI). 

Overall, the complaints — which covered both public and private property — reflect well-known issues throughout the city, including overgrowth, debris and icy sidewalks.

Initial code violations receive a letter of compliance. If not abated, the violation becomes a criminal complaint within the Magisterial District Court.

Council Bob Charland of the South Side—who called for the audit in 2024—noted that each of the 12 magistrates has their own rules and practices. Ajang added that the magistrates are also responsible for setting fines, which, if paid, go into the general fund.

Connections to this story

Governments:
Pittsburgh City Council
Public meetings:
City Council · September 15, 2026

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