[Ord. 29-1980, eff. 12-31-1980; Ord. 1-1997, eff. 2-7-1997; Am. Ord. 3-1997, eff. 2-7-1997; Am. Ord. 4-1997, eff. 2-7-1997; Ord. 2-1990, eff. 4-3-1990; Ord. 20-1992, eff. 5-28-1992; Am. Ord. 1-1997, eff. 2-7-1997; Ord. No. 59-2015, § 1, eff. 12-18-2015; Ord. No. 16-2016, § 1, eff. 6-21-2016; Ord. No. 11-2019, § 1, eff. 3-15-2019; Ord. No. 27-2019, § 1, eff. 7-9-2019; Ord. No. 15-2020, § 1, eff. 5-13-2020; Ord. No. 35-2020, § 1, eff. 10-23-2020; Ord. No. 4-2021, eff. 2-23-2021; Ord. No. 52-2021, § 1, eff. 12-6-2021; Ord. No. 27-2023, § 1, eff. 10-31-2023; Ord. No. 21-2024, 9-24-2024; Ord. No. 13-2025, eff. 7-9-2025; Ord. No. 28-2025, eff. 10-1-2025; Ord. No. 33-2025, eff. 11-12-2025]
As used in this Article, the following terms shall have the meaning indicated, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
(a) COMMISSIONThe Commission on Human Relations as established by the Pittsburgh Home Rule Charter.
(b) DISCRIMINATE OR DISCRIMINATIONAny difference in treatment based on an actual or perceived Protected Class or Protected Activity. This includes any act which results in unequal treatment or segregation of an individual or group of individuals, or the use of facially neutral policies or practices that have an adverse or Disparate Impact on people of a Protected Class.
(c) EMPLOYERAny person who employs five (5) or more employees, exclusive of the parents, spouse or children of such person, including the City of Pittsburgh, its departments, boards, commissions and authorities, and any other governmental agency within its jurisdiction, but excluding any religious, fraternal, charitable or sectarian organization which is not supported in whole or part by any governmental appropriations.
(d) EMPLOYMENTShall not include the employment of individuals in domestic service.
(e) EMPLOYMENT AGENCYAny person regularly undertaking with or without compensation to procure opportunities for employment or to procure, recruit, refer or place employees.
(f) LABOR ORGANIZATIONAny organization which exists for the purpose in whole or in part of collective bargaining or of dealing with employers concerning grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in relation to employment.
(g) LENDING INSTITUTIONAny bank, insurance company, saving and loan association, or any other person whose business consists in whole or in part in lending money or guaranteeing loans.
(i) OWNERIncludes the owner, co-owner, lessee, sublessee, mortgagee, assignee, manager, agent or any other person having the right of ownership or possession or the authority to sell, rent or lease any dwelling, or any person having an equitable or security interest in any dwelling, including the City of Pittsburgh and its departments, boards, commissions and authorities.
(j) REAL ESTATE BROKERAny natural person, partnership, corporation or other association which for a fee or other valuable consideration manages, sells, purchases, exchanges, rents, negotiates, or offers or attempts to negotiate the sale, purchase, exchange or rental of the real property of another, or holds itself out as engaged in the business of managing, selling, purchasing, exchanging or renting the real property of another, or collects rent for the use of the real property of another, and includes real estate salespersons or agents or any other person employed by a real estate broker to perform or to assist in the performance of their business.
(l) Repealed (By Ord. 34-1993, eff. December 28, 1993).
(m) Repealed (By Ord. 34-1993, eff. December 28, 1993).
(n) SEXUAL ORIENTATIONA person's identified or perceived engagement in, or desire for, sexual, physical, or romantic relationships with a person or persons of a particular sex, gender, gender identity, or gender expression.
(o) ACCESSIBLEWhen used with respect to the public and common use areas of a building containing covered multifamily dwellings, means:
(1) That the public or common use areas of the building can be approached, entered and used by individuals with physical handicaps. The phrase "readily accessible to and usable by" is synonymous with accessible. A public or common use area that complies with the appropriate requirements of ANSI A117.1-1986 or a comparable standard is ACCESSIBLE within the meaning of this subsection; or
Being in compliance with the applicable standards set forth in the following:
A. The Fair Housing Act (Public Law 90-284, 42 U.S.C. Section
3601, et seq.);
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-336, 42 U.S.C. Section
12101 et seq.); and
The Act of September 1, 1965 (P.L. 459, No. 235), entitled, as amended, "An act requiring that certain buildings and facilities adhere to certain principles, standards and specifications to make the same accessible to and usable by persons with physical handicaps, and providing for enforcement;" and
Any other applicable Federal or State law or regulation, or any local ordinance or resolution, relating to accessibility or accommodations.
(p) AGEIncludes any person forty (40) years of age or older and shall also include any other person so protected by further amendment to the Federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act.
(q) AGGRIEVED PERSONAny person who:
(1) Claims to have been injured by an unlawful practice under Chapter
659; or
Believes that such person will be injured by an unlawful practice under Chapter
659.
(r) ANSI A117.1-1986The 1986 edition of the American National Standard Institute for buildings and facilities providing accessibility and usability for physically handicapped people.
(s) CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONAn organization, institution, association or corporation which is dedicated to philanthropic pursuits and provides goods, services and financial aid to the public free of charge.
(t) COMMON USE AREASRooms, spaces or elements inside or outside of a building that are made available for the use of residents of a building or the guest thereof. These areas include, but are not limited to, hallways, lounges, lobbies, laundry rooms, refuse rooms, mail rooms, recreational areas and passageways among and between buildings.
(u) CONCILIATIONThe attempted resolution of issues raised by a complaint, or by the investigation of such complaint, through informal negotiations involving the aggrieved person, the respondent and the Commission.
(w) COVERED MULTIFAMILY DWELLINGSBuildings consisting of four (4) or more units if such buildings have one (1) or more elevators; and ground floor units in other buildings consisting of four (4) or more units.
(x) DISABILITYThe term DISABILITY is synonymous with the term HANDICAP.
(z) DWELLINGAny building, structure or portion thereof which is occupied as or designed or is intended for occupancy as, a residence by an individual or one (1) or more families, or by a group of persons living together, and any vacant land which is offered for sale or lease for the construction or location thereon of any such building, structure, or portion thereof.
(aa) DWELLING UNITA single unit of residence for a family of one (1) or more persons.
(cc) FAMILIAL STATUSone (1) or more individuals who have not attained the age of eighteen (18) years being domiciled with:
(1) A parent or other person having legal custody of such individual or individuals; or
The designee of such parent or other person having such custody, with the written permission of such parent or other person.
The protection afforded against discrimination on the basis of familial status shall apply to any person who is pregnant or is in the process of securing legal custody of any individual who has not attained the age of eighteen (18) years. |
(dd) HANDICAPThe term handicap or disability, with respect to a person, means:
(1) A physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one (1) or more of such person's major life activities; or
A record of having such an impairment; or
Being regarded as having such an impairment, but such term does not include current, illegal use of or addiction to a controlled substance, as defined in Section
102 of the Controlled Substances Act (Public Law 91-513, 21 U.S.C. Section
802).
(ee) HOUSING FOR OLDER PERSONS(1) Housing:
A. Provided under any state or federal program that the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development determines is specifically designed and operated to assist elderly persons as defined in the state or federal program; or
Intended for, and solely occupied by, persons sixty-two (62) years of age or older; or
Intended and operated for at least one (1) person fifty-five (55) years of age or older per unit as determined by the Secretary of U.S. Housing and Urban Development.
In determining whether housing qualifies as housing for older persons under this Article, the Commission shall follow the standards set forth in the Fair Housing Act and regulations pertaining to housing for older persons as promulgated by the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
Housing shall not fail to meet the requirements for housing for older persons by reason of unoccupied units provided that such units are reserved for occupancy by persons who meet the age requirements of this subsection.
(ff) INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORIncludes any person who is subject to the provisions governing any of the professions and occupations regulated by State licensing laws enforced by the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs in the Department of State, or is included in the Fair Housing Act.
(gg) NONJOB-RELATED HANDICAP OR DISABILITYAny handicap or disability which does not substantially interfere with the ability to perform the essential functions of the employment which a handicapped person applies for, is engaged in or has been engaged in.
(hh) RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE-RELATED TRANSACTIONAny of the following:
(1) The making or purchasing of loans or providing other financial assistance and any terms and conditions of such a transaction:
A. For purchasing, constructing, improving, repairing or maintaining a dwelling; or
Secured by residential real estate.
The selling, brokering or appraising of residential real property.
(ii) SEXA person's identified or perceived biological traits as they relate to that person's reproductive system, secondary sex characteristics, or genetic composition including physical anatomy, chromosomal sex, or sex assigned at birth.
(kk) DOMESTIC VIOLENCEThe occurrence of one (1) or more of the following acts between family or household members, current or former dating partners, sexual or intimate partners, or persons who share biological parenthood:
(1) Attempting to cause or intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing bodily injury, serious bodily injury, emotional distress, substantial emotional distress, rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, or incest, with or without a deadly weapon.
Placing another in reasonable fear of imminent serious bodily injury including but not limited to making threats of harm or intimidation.
The infliction of false imprisonment pursuant to 18 Pa. C.S. §
2903 (relating to false imprisonment).
Physically or sexually abusing minor children, including sexual abuse as defined at 23 Pa. C.S. §
6303.
(ll) STALKINGEngaging in a course of conduct or repeatedly committing acts toward another person, including following the person without proper authority, under circumstances which demonstrate either an intent to place such other person in reasonable fear of bodily injury or to cause substantial emotional distress to such other person; or engaging in a course of conduct or repeatedly communicating to another person under circumstances which demonstrate or communicate either an intent to place such other person in reasonable fear of bodily injury or to cause substantial emotional distress to such other person.
(mm) VICTIM OF DOMESTIC ABUSE OR VIOLENCEAn individual who has been subjected to domestic violence or intimate partner abuse as defined in Section
651.04(ll). The term "survivor of domestic violence" may be used interchangeably with "victim of domestic violence."
(nn) PREGNANCYThe state of being pregnant, including being the partner of a pregnant person, seeking to become pregnant, and related symptoms of pregnancy.
(oo) CHILDBIRTHLabor or childbirth, whether or not it results in a live birth.
(pp) RELATED MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND EVENTSAny medical condition and events that are related to or caused by pregnancy or childbirth, which can occur before, during, or after the gestation period, or after childbirth, whether or not it results in a live birth, including being a partner of a person affected by any such related medical condition or event.
(qq) GENDER IDENTITYA person's actual or perceived identity as it relates to the gender spectra.
(rr) GENDER EXPRESSIONA person's actual or perceived expression of gender identity through appearance, dress, behavior, mannerisms, or other traits.
(ss) CITIZENSHIP OR IMMIGRATION STATUSPerceived or actual matters regarding questions of citizenship of the United States or any other country, the authority to reside in or otherwise be present in the United States, the time or manner of a person's entry into the United States, or any other immigration matter enforced by the United States Department of Homeland Security or a successor or other federal agency charged with the enforcement of civil immigration laws.
(tt) PREFERRED LANGUAGEPerceived or actual spoken or written language or form of sign language most preferred by the individual as means of communication.
(uu) HAIRSTYLEHair texture and styles of hair of any length, such as protective or cultural hairstyles, and natural hairstyles.
(vv) PROTECTIVE AND CULTURAL HAIR TEXTURES AND HAIRSTYLESHairstyles and hair textures most commonly associated with race, including, but not limited to braids, cornrows, locs, Bantu knots, Afros, and twists, whether or not hair extensions or treatments are used to create or maintain any such style, and whether or not hair is adorned by hair ornaments, beads, or headwraps.
(ww) INCITING INCIDENTAn act of domestic violence or an action, event or circumstance related to an act of domestic violence that puts a tenant in reasonable fear of further harm from the responsible party.
(xx) FAMILY OR HOUSEHOLD MEMBERSSpouses or persons who have been spouses, persons living as spouses or who lived as spouses, parents and children, other persons related by consanguinity or affinity, current or former sexual or intimate partners or persons who share biological parenthood.
(yy) RESPONSIBLE PARTYAn individual who commits, or is alleged to have committed, an act of domestic violence.
(zz) LANDLORDAny person who owns or controls a dwelling, dwelling unit, or rental unit and rents such unit, either personally or through a designated agent, to any person.
(aaa) MEDICAL MARIJUANA PATIENTAn individual who has a serious medical condition, disability or handicap such that qualifies them for medical marijuana use and who is certified under the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act of 2016 to access marijuana for a certified medical use.
(bbb) ELECTIVE MEDICAL CAREAny non-emergency care which may be scheduled in advance by the attending practitioner, facility, or recipient, and which is provided by an individual who is licensed, certified or registered under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to provide, to an individual or a group, health services, including but not limited to, treatment of physical illness or injury, rehabilitation from illness or physical injury, palliative care, nursing home or other long term care, or the assessment or improvement of physical, mental, emotional, psychiatric, psychological, or psychosocial adjustment or functioning, regardless of whether there is a diagnosable, pre-existing disorder or disease.
(ccc) HOUSING STATUSThe actual or perceived type of housing in which an individual resides, or previously resided in, whether publicly or privately owned; or the status of not having a fixed residence, including the status of living on the streets or in a homeless shelter or similar temporary residence; or currently or formerly living in transitional, temporary, or shelter housing; or lacking a residential rental housing history in whole or in part.
(ddd) PROTECTED CLASSA set of identities or traits that are protected by law against discrimination. For the purposes of this ordinance, protected classes shall be defined as relates to this ordinance and its sections.
(eee) PERCEIVED PROTECTED CLASSWhen a person is believed to have a set of identities or traits that are protected by law against discrimination, even if that belief is incorrect.
(fff) PROTECTED ACTIVITYActivity including, but not limited to, opposing, reporting, or making a complaint of practices made unlawful by the ordinance; or making a reasonable accommodation or modification request based on any Protected Class or status identified in the ordinance; or participating in or cooperating with an investigation of any of the discriminatory practices made unlawful by the ordinance.
(ggg) DISPARATE IMPACTDemonstration that a facially neutral policy or practice of a covered entity, or a group of policies or practices of a covered entity, results in an adverse impact to any group protected by the provisions of this chapter.