Pittsburgh Zoning Districts - UC-MU Performance Points
By Carolyn Ristau
Introduction to Performance Points
The UC-MU (Urban Center Mixed Use) district is one of the zoning districts where the city’s Performance Points system (Chapter 915.07) can be applied. The Department of City Planning (DCP) has developed a series of guides to help navigate the Performance Points system that can be found on their website. This post is Details Reviewed LLC’s interpretation of the regulations of the Performance Points system specific to the UC-MU zoning district aided by DCP’s process guides.
Overall, the Performance Points system establishes goals in the following categories:
Zero Energy or Zero Carbon Buildings
[Reserved]
On-Site Energy Generation
Affordable Housing
Rainwater
Building Reuse
Riverfront Public Access Easements, Trails and Amenities
Neighborhood Ecology
Public Art
Urban Fabric
Transit-Oriented Development
Equitable Development
Fresh Food Access
Each category has two or more goals; by achieving a goal, a proposed development can gain a number of points associated with that goal. Depending on the category, projects may be able to receive additional points by achieving multiple goals within that category. The number of points associated with each goal is initially defined in Chapter 915.07. For example, in the category of On-Site Energy Generation, if 75% or more of energy use is or will be generated from on-site renewable sources, the project can gain three points.
The number of points for a goal may vary based on the zoning district in which the project is located; if the number of points available for a certain goal in a zoning district is different than what’s listed in Chapter 915.07, it is noted in the district’s zoning code chapter.
Performance Points in the UC-MU
Eight of the Performance Points categories established in Chapter 915.07 can be applied in the UC-MU as listed below (based on Chapter 904.08.C.5 and Chapter 915.07.D). To qualify for earning Performance Points, a project in the UC-MU must meet two preliminary criteria:
The project must show satisfactory efforts to meet the City of Pittsburgh’s policies regarding minority and women business enterprises found in Section 177.A.02 of the City Code.
The project must meet the standards for the lowest point of the relevant energy consumption point for the project type (i.e., new construction or existing buildings). Note: This requirement appears to reference the original two categories of On-Site Energy that were replaced with the single On-Site Energy Generation category.
Note: The zoning code standards listed in this post were those available in the online zoning code as of September 2025. Whenever there is a code amendment it often takes months for the online version to be updated. Zoning staff have access to the most recent code amendments, which can also be found on the city’s online legislation center.
Zero Energy or Zero Carbon Buildings
Demonstrate compliance with International Energy Conservation Code Section C407 Total Building Performance criteria or ASHRAE Standard 90.1- 2019 Appendix G Building Performance Rating Method = 1
Demonstrate compliance with International Energy Conservation Code Section C407 Total Building Performance criteria or ASHRAE Standard 90.1- 2019 Appendix G Building Performance Rating Method and buildings shall be designed and constructed with no gas or fossil-fuel fired equipment as described in Zero Code 2.0 = 2
Demonstrate compliance with International Energy Conservation Code Appendix CC: Zero Energy Commercial Building Provisions = 3
On-Site Energy Generation
To earn points in this category requires at least one point from the Zero Energy or Zero Carbon Buildings category above.
25%+ of energy use generated from on-site renewable sources = 1
50%+ of energy use generated from on-site renewable sources or connecting to distributed energy systems = 2
75%+ of energy use generated from on-site renewable sources = 3
Affordable Housing
5% - 14.9%+ of units for rent are affordable housing for persons at or below 80% AMI = 1
5% - 14.9%+ of units for sale are affordable housing for persons at or below 80% AMI = 2
5% - 14.9%+ of units for rent are affordable housing for persons at or below 60% AMI = 2
15% - 19.9%+ of units for rent are affordable housing for persons at or below 80% AMI = 2
15% - 19.9%+ of units for sale are affordable housing for persons at or below 80% AMI = 4
15% - 19.9%+ of units for rent are affordable housing for persons at or below 60% AMI = 4
20%+ of units for rent are affordable housing for persons at or below 80% AMI = 4
20%+ of units for sale are affordable housing for persons at or below 80% AMI = 6
20%+ of units for rent are affordable housing for persons at or below 60% AMI = 6
Rainwater
Required native species must be chosen from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' (DCNR's) Native Wild Plant Species Accounts
All vegetated Green Infrastructure must use at least 50% Native Plants
50%+ of the first 2 inches of runoff from impervious surfaces captured and managed using Preferred Stormwater Management Technology installation = 1
15%+ of the first 2 inches of runoff from impervious surfaces captured and reused on-site = 1
75%+ of the first 2 inches of runoff from impervious surfaces captured and managed using Preferred Stormwater Management Technology installations = 2
30%+ of the first two (2) inches of runoff from impervious surfaces captured and reused on-site = 2
100%+ of the first 2 inches of runoff from impervious surfaces captured and managed using Preferred Stormwater Management Technology installations = 3
45%+ of the first 2 inches of runoff from impervious surfaces captured and reused on-site = 3
Building Reuse
Exterior design of new development is compatible with nearby structures more than 50 years old including the use of similar window and door sizes and materials, cladding materials, bays, cornices, and other primary structure elements = 1
At least 75% of street facing building facades from structures more than 50 years old are restored and integrated into new development = 2
Existing building shell is restored and retained = 3
Public Art
The percent of estimated gross construction cost applied to public art includes artist engagement; design, fabrication and placement of art; insurance; and funds dedicated for ongoing maintenance.
At least 1% of the estimated gross construction cost is applied directly to the creation and maintenance of on-site public art as defined by the URA's Public Art Resource Guide for Developers, OR made as a one-time contribution to the City's Public Art Fund for use by the City for art on publicly owned lands within the same neighborhood = 1
At least 2% of the estimated gross construction cost is applied directly to the creation and maintenance of on-site public art as defined by the URA's Public Art Resource Guide for Developers, OR made as a one-time contribution to the City's Public Art Fund for use by the City for art on publicly owned lands within the same neighborhood = 2
At least 3% of the estimated gross construction cost is applied directly to the creation and maintenance of on-site public art as defined by the URA's Public Art Resource Guide for Developers, OR made as a one-time contribution to the City's Public Art Fund for use by the City for art on publicly owned lands within the same neighborhood = 3
Equitable Development
Commitment to ensuring 10% of jobs in the building will be hired from Underrepresented Groups for the first 10 years the building is in operation and recertified by the City of Pittsburgh every 2 years = 1
Contribution of a sum equal to $3 per rentable square foot of the project into the City's Equitable Development Trust Fund either in full or annually over a period not to exceed 10 years with a minimum of 25% of the total sum due at the time the project completes construction = 1
A signed lease agreement between the applicant and a Local Workforce Group for a period not less than 5 years = 1
Commitment to ensuring 20% of jobs in the building will be hired from Underrepresented Groups for the first 10 years the building is in operation and recertified by the City of Pittsburgh every 2 years = 2
Contribution of a sum equal to $4 per rentable square foot of the project into the City's Equitable Development Trust Fund either in full or annually over a period not to exceed 10 years with a minimum of 25% of the total sum due at the time the project completes construction = 2
Commitment to ensuring 30% of jobs in the building will be hired from Underrepresented Groups for the first 10 years the building is in operation and recertified by the City of Pittsburgh every 2 years = 5
Contribution of a sum equal to $5 per rentable square foot of the project into the City's Equitable Development Trust Fund either in full or annually over a period not to exceed 10 years with a minimum of 25% of the total sum due at the time the project completes construction = 5
Fresh Food Access
The building is designed and constructed, or a renovation of a building within the District, includes a Fresh Food Market as a tenant = 2
How the Points Can be Used
In the UC-MU, bonus points earned by meeting the listed goals can be used to increase building height up to the maximum bonus height established in the Zoning Permitted Height map overlay. Each point is worth a 15-foot height increase in building height.
The same documentation guidelines apply in the UC-MU as in other districts where bonus points are available: in order for any bonus points to be awarded, it must be documented in the application materials that the related goals are being achieved. The requirements for what documentation is required for each goal and when it is required to be provided is outlined in Chapter 915.07.E: Enforcement.
Conclusion
Bonus points can be used in the UC-MU to increase the permitted building height when certain criteria are met. Additional documentation will be required to verify that the project does or will meet this criteria.
For Additional Information:
See our overview of the UC-MU for more about this district and our Introduction to Pittsburgh’s Zoning Districts for the complete list of base zoning districts in the city.
Need More Help?
Visit our Pittsburgh Zoning Services page to request one or more of the following services:
a 30- or 60-minute Zoning On-Call virtual meeting to ask your specific questions about Pittsburgh’s zoning ordinance.
a Use Restrictions & Zoning Report to check for any potential use and zoning issues on a property you want to buy.
a Zoning Plan Check to preemptively resolve or accommodate zoning issues that may otherwise cause unexpected delays or cost overruns during the permitting process.
