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Pittsburgh right-of-way staff cite limited enforcement capacity after DOMI presentation to Clean Pittsburgh Commission
Summary
Department of Mobility and Infrastructure officials told the Clean Pittsburgh Commission that DOMI performed more than 30,000 right-of-way inspections in 2024 but only two dedicated code-enforcement inspectors handle most sidewalk, litter and obstruction complaints, limiting proactive enforcement and cleanup options.
Katie Wettick, senior right-of-way manager with the City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure, told the Clean Pittsburgh Commission at the panel’s February meeting that DOMI’s permitting and inspection work has grown and that enforcement capacity has not kept pace.
Wettick said the department “did over 30,000 inspections” in 2024 and that roughly 17 percent of those inspections were code-enforcement related — work handled largely by two inspectors who respond to 311 complaints for blocked sidewalks, litter, debris and overgrowth. “We only have 2 code enforcement inspectors for the whole city,” she said, describing the office as primarily reactive: inspectors open cases after public reports, issue requests for compliance, then follow up before filing criminal complaints if violations remain.
The presentation outlined DOMI’s right-of-way permitting process, which includes a completeness check, traffic review and field inspections. Wettick said the agency oversees routine permits — from utility openings to moving permits — and three inspector roles: lead inspectors for large developments, construction inspectors focused on utility restorations and the two code-enforcement inspectors who respond to public complaints.
Wettick gave examples of recurring problems: construction materials and household debris left in sidewalks; informal use of gravel and other materials spilling into the parking lane; and private dumpsters placed in alleys without permits or left overflowing. She described a 2023 downtown effort that brought about “20 some dumpsters into compliance” by identifying owners and requiring permits, and she showed examples where property owners had been cited multiple times but the underlying cleanup remained unresolved because vendors refused service or courts issued only fines.
On the limits of enforcement, Wettick said DOMI can file criminal complaints that go to magistrate court but that court outcomes often do not result in cleanup. “Sometimes they’ll issue a fine. Sometimes they’ll just throw the case out,” she said, adding that a fine does not necessarily restore a site. She described possible programmatic options the department is considering, such as a city cleanup-and-lien model to clear sites immediately and bill property owners later.
Commission members and partners discussed next steps. Kelsey Ripper, executive director of Friends of the Riverfront, suggested outreach to magistrate judges to educate them on neighborhood impacts of code violations; Ripper said magistrate-level education had been effective in the past and could be revived as a biannual effort. Lisa (program director, Allegheny Cleanways and cochair of the commission) offered CleanWays as a partner for magistrate outreach and enforcement education.
Wettick requested partnership ideas for targeted enforcement and education in neighborhood focus areas. She emphasized equity concerns: enforcement without support for residents or property owners could be harmful in underserved neighborhoods, so DOMI is weighing education and targeted assistance alongside inspection.
The commission did not take formal regulatory action on DOMI’s proposals during the meeting. Members asked for continued collaboration as the commission develops its neighborhood-of-focus work and outreach for Earth Day and other events.
