Occupancy Guidelines

Occupancy Guidelines The following general occupancy standards apply (occupancy standards may vary based on local laws and other factors such as apartment size). 

Note: In the city of Pittsburgh there is a law allowing a maximum of three unrelated people to live in the same rental unit regardless of size/number of bedrooms. Upon establishing that the household is a family unit, the occupancy can exceed 3 and the occupancy is governed first by the square footage, then by the age of the occupants.

Note: Pittsburgh defines “family” as “related by blood, marriage, or adoption”.  A person under the age of 12 is not counted as an “occupant”, However, the names and dates of birth must be listed on the lease to comply with occupancy limits.

Occupancy Limits: A bedroom or sleeping room area must be 70 square feet for the first occupant. Each additional occupant 12 years of age and older requires an additional 50 square feet in the room. See Allegheny County Housing Rules and Regulations, pasted below:

648. SLEEPING ROOM AREA. A. Every room occupied for sleeping purposes in dwelling units shall contain at least 70 square feet of floor area for the first occupant and at least 50 additional square feet of floor area for each additional occupant 12 years of age or over. B. Every room in a rooming house occupied for sleeping purposes by one (1) occupant shall contain at least 70 square feet of floor area. Every room in a rooming house occupied for sleeping purposes by more than one (1) occupant shall contain at least 50 square feet of floor area for the first occupant and at least 50 square feet of floor area for each additional occupant 12 years of age or over.