How to speak at the hearing.
The most persuasive testimony does not sound like a rant. It sounds like a neighbor explaining, calmly and specifically, how this policy will affect real Pittsburgh people. Here is how to prepare.
Everything you need to show up.
- When
- Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at 2:00 PM The Commission's briefing starts at 1 PM. The hearing and action portion begins no earlier than 2 PM — and this item may fall later on the agenda. Plan to wait.
- Where
- Basement Conference Room, 412 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh The meeting is hybrid: in person, on Zoom, and streamed live on the Pittsburgh City Planning YouTube channel.
- Zoom
- us02web.zoom.us/j/88275113502 Webinar ID 882 7511 3502 · dial-in 301-715-8592
- What's on
- Council Bill 2026-0009, the zoning text amendment It amends Title Nine (Zoning Code), Article V, Chapter 911 (Primary Uses) and Chapter 912 (Accessory Uses and Structures) to add Short-Term Rental (Primary) and Short-Term Rental (Accessory) uses and standards.
- Questions
- planningcommission@pittsburghpa.gov
- Accessibility
- Contact the City ADA Coordinator at ada@pittsburghpa.gov Request accommodations as soon as possible, and no later than two business days before the hearing.
Source: the City's official public notice, issued July 21, 2026. Read the notice →
You do not need to register.
There is no sign-up sheet and no deadline to reserve a slot. You can simply appear, or raise your hand on the call.
In person at the hearing
Show up at 412 Boulevard of the Allies and give testimony. This is by far the most effective option, and it is the one the Commission has not yet heard.
On Zoom — use raise hand
Join the webinar and use the raise hand function to request to speak.
By phone — press *9
Call 301-715-8592, enter Webinar ID 882 7511 3502, then press *9 to raise your hand.
Email written testimony
Send it to planningcommission@pittsburghpa.gov. Accepted until 12 p.m. the business day before the meeting — see the deadline note below.
By mail
412 Boulevard of the Allies, Suite 201, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. It must arrive two business days before the meeting, so at this point mail is unlikely to land in time. Email instead.
The notice says email testimony is accepted until 12 p.m. the business day before the meeting. Monday, September 7 is Labor Day — so if City offices are closed, the last business day before the hearing is Friday, September 4, and written testimony would be due at noon that day, not Monday.
Confirm with the Planning Commission if you are relying on written comment. If you are testifying in person or by Zoom, this deadline does not apply to you.
Come prepared to wait, and prepared to be brief.
- Choose in person. Being physically in the room is substantially more effective than remote or written comment.
- Check the agenda the day before to confirm the item is still scheduled — and remember it may be called well after 2 PM.
- Prepare two to three minutes. Lead with your strongest point. Assume you may get less time than you expect.
- Bring a written copy. If time runs short, it can be submitted for the record.
- Arrive early, dress neatly, and be ready for a long agenda.
- Bring someone. A room with twenty operators in it makes an argument that no single speaker can.
Why in person mattersOn July 30 the Commission heard from the bill's sponsors. It has not yet heard from the people the ordinance actually lands on. Seats filled by real operators, cleaners and neighbors are the evidence that no written comment can supply.
Credible beats loud. Every time.
Do
- Speak as a Pittsburgh homeowner, resident, worker or small business owner
- Tell one real story
- Explain specifically who is hurt, and how
- Acknowledge that noise, trash, parties and safety are legitimate concerns
- Support licensing and enforcement against genuine bad actors
- Ask the Commission to slow down and work with hosts on a better approach
- Stay calm, even if you strongly disagree
Avoid
- Ranting, sarcasm or insults
- Accusing anyone of corruption, bad faith or personal motives
- Attacking neighbors or housing advocates
- Sounding dismissive of party, trash, parking or housing concerns
- Making it only about investor returns or profit
- Threatening lawsuits or political consequences
- Overstating facts you cannot support
“I support reasonable regulation. I do not support a policy that effectively bans responsible hosts and hurts local families, workers and small businesses.”
Four things worth your two minutes.
Your own story
Specific and personal carries further than general. What the income actually covers — taxes, insurance, repairs, staying in your home. Who stays with you: visiting families, medical travelers, wedding guests, people in town for a game or a graduation. Which local businesses your guests spend money at.
Who else this reaches
Short-term rentals support cleaners, handypeople, contractors, plumbers, electricians, HVAC techs and landscapers — plus the restaurants, coffee shops, bars, museums and attractions guests visit. If your property supports people by name, say so.
Regulation is not the objection
Say plainly that you support licensing, safety standards and enforcement against nuisance properties — and that this package goes far beyond that. Most commissioners were comfortable with exactly that framing on July 30.
Grandfathering does not fix it
Existing rentals may continue, but no new one may ever be established in a residential zone, and any property whose use lapses is lost permanently. Supply can only fall — while the tourism the city is actively courting keeps growing.
Three things that will cost you the room.
Private conversations
Do not say “the Mayor told us” or “a council member privately admitted.” Instead: “We have met with city officials and community stakeholders who share serious concerns about whether this is good policy.”
Making it personal or partisan
Do not frame this as an attack on any individual. Instead: “I believe this ordinance goes too far and will have unintended consequences.”
Sounding anti-regulation
“There should be no rules” is the easiest position in the room to dismiss. Instead: “We support clear rules, licensing, safety standards and enforcement. We oppose rules that function as a ban.”
One practical caution: hearings are recorded and archived publicly. Share what makes your case — you are never obliged to disclose personal financial details on the record.
Five beats, two minutes.
1. Introduce yourself
Your name, and your connection to Pittsburgh — where you live, operate or work.
2. Tell your story
Two or three sentences. The concrete version, not the general one.
3. State the concern
These bills go beyond reasonable regulation and would eliminate many responsible short-term rentals.
4. Support better rules
Licensing, safety standards, enforcement against nuisance properties.
5. Make the ask
Do not advance this bill as written. Work with hosts, homeowners, workers and tourism partners on a balanced policy.
A version you can make your own.
Do not read this verbatim — identical testimony is discounted the same way identical form letters are. Use it as a frame and fill it with your own specifics.
My name is , and I am a Pittsburgh . I support responsible short-term rental regulation. I believe hosts should be licensed, reachable, safe and accountable. But this ordinance goes far beyond that.
My short-term rental helps me . It also supports local cleaners, contractors and small businesses. My guests eat in Pittsburgh restaurants, shop locally, visit family, attend weddings and come for medical appointments.
I understand existing rentals may be grandfathered. But no new one could ever be established in a residential neighborhood, and any property that goes unused for a period loses that protection permanently. Pittsburgh's lodging supply could only shrink from here, while the events and tourism we are working to attract keep growing.
Please do not punish responsible homeowners and small businesses because of a small number of nuisance properties. Enforce against bad actors. Pass licensing first, gather real data, and only then decide whether these zoning restrictions are warranted.
Be human. Be specific. Be respectful. Tell the Commission what it cannot see from a spreadsheet.