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Zoning provides the rules and regulations defining the essential nature and character of Mt. Lebanon’s neighborhoods, business districts, and natural spaces.
Zoning is the act of dividing a town into specific areas that allow for different land uses. Among its main goals are safety and protection of the value of land. Chapter 20: Zoning of the municipal code contains the rules, regulations, and guidelines that set the standard for building heights, setbacks and define permitted uses in different areas of the community. Zoning regulations are the reason why someone can’t, for example, put an industrial facility right next to a single family home.
Within the municipal code, the partner to the zoning ordinance is Chapter 16: Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO). The SALDO describes all required details to be included as part of a development application and the process for considering approvals of various types of applications. The SALDO also includes provisions related to the layout of streets and required plantings.
SALDO and ZONING UPDATE
Periodically, Mt. Lebanon undertakes a comprehensive review of these Ordinances to ensure the Zoning and SALDO are properly updated for the future vision of the community. The last full update to these Ordinances was in the early 2000s with additional amendments in 2017. A zoning update is typical following the adoption of a new comprehensive plan. The budgeted amount for this project is $150,000. The Commission awarded the contract to OHM Advisors in 2025.
Among the top requirements of this update is the requirement that any proposed changes align with the municipality’s 2023 Comprehensive Plan. It also will need to follow nationally-recognized best practices in planning and zoning. The firm will conduct community meetings and public hearings and use the large amount of public opinion data collected in the Comprehensive Plan.
After the proposed updates are complete, there will be a public comment and review period, followed by a recommendation vote from the Planning Board, and a vote on adoption by the Commission.
Timeline
The project is broken into four phases. At the end of each phase, the consultants will deliver a report to the Planning Board and Commission.
| Phase | Key Tasks | Public Involvement | Estimated Timeframe |
| 1: Launch | – Review adopted plans & policies – Outline public education & engagement | December 2025 – February 2026 | |
| 2: Diagnose & Draft | – Identify challenges with current code and sections that require modernization – Create draft framework for new provisions | Focus groups with key stakeholders | March – November 2026 |
| 3: Convene & Calibrate | – Public education and feedback on draft code provisions – Develop user-friendly graphics to supplement new code | Community Open House and Workshops | December 2026 – February 2027 |
| 4: Adopt | – Planning Board recommendation – Commission public hearing and approval | Community Open House, public comment and review period, public hearings | February – May 2027 |
Zoning Map
As part of the project, we’ll be exploring possibilities to enhance or streamline our current zoning map (See our existing one). To learn more about the character of the unique places in Mt. Lebanon under today’s zoning districts, check out the embedded interactive map.
