Pittsburgh City Council again revises proposal to amend city's parking code

Pittsburgh City Council on Wednesday again revised a proposed change to the city’s parking code.

The proposed legislation, introduced by Councilman Bobby Wilson in October, would create hybrid residential parking permit areas where drivers without a permit could pay to park for a limited time.

It also would create non-resident permits for residential parking permit areas, for people administering medical care or end-of-life care, performing city-permitted work or providing daytime childcare. Landlords with residential units in an area also would be eligible.

The landlord provision has drawn criticism from some residents and council members. Council members have said landlords could take advantage of the program, hoarding permits and potentially misusing them. The intended purpose was to have landlords use the permits while doing maintenance work or making upgrades at their rentals.

To address concerns, Wilson last week introduced an amendment to cap the number of parking permits landlords could get at four.

That amendment was replaced Wednesday by a new one that further limited landlord permits.

Under the new amendment, landlords will have to prove they own a rental or rentals in the area where they’re parking and that they are participating in Pittsburgh’s new rental registry, an effort to identify the city’s rental units and subject them to inspections to ensure renters are living in safe conditions.

Landlords who own between one and five rental units would be eligible for one parking permit. Those who own between six and 10 could get two permits. Landlords with more than 10 units could get up to four.

“I think it’s a good solution to a complicated issue,” Wilson said.

Councilman Bruce Kraus, who had questioned offering any permits to landlords, said he liked tying the parking permits to the rental registry. It’s a move that he said would make sure landlords are “playing nice” and “showing their commitment to providing safe, inhabitable” rental units.

The measure is now “tweaked just right” and in the “best interest of residents,” Council President Theresa Kail-Smith said.

Council members voted unanimously to approve the amendment and advance the larger piece of legislation, meaning it should be ready for a final vote next week.