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File #: 2026-0289    Version: 1
Type: Ordinance Status: Held in Standing Committee
File created: 3/24/2026 In control: Committee on Public Safety and Wellness
On agenda: 4/8/2026 Final action:
Enactment date: Enactment #:
Effective date:    
Title: Ordinance amending and supplementing the Pittsburgh Code, Title Six: Conduct, Article I: Regulated Rights and Actions, by adding Chapter 630C - Protecting Community Spaces.
Sponsors: Deborah L. Gross, Barbara Warwick
Indexes: PGH. CODE ORDINANCES TITLE 06 - CONDUCT

Title

Ordinance amending and supplementing the Pittsburgh Code, Title Six: Conduct, Article I: Regulated Rights and Actions, by adding Chapter 630C - Protecting Community Spaces.

 

Body

The Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby enacts as follows:

 

Section 1.                     The Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances, Title Six: Conduct, Article I: Regulated Rights and Actions is hereby amended to include a new Chapter 630C - Protecting Community Spaces as follows:

 

Chapter 630C - Protecting Community Spaces

 

§ 630C.01 Definitions. The following definitions shall apply to this Section:

 

(a) Law Enforcement Officer. Any "peace officer" as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 501                                           (relating to definitions).

 

(b) Information. Any personal identifying information, including custody status, release                      date, photos, Social Security number, Individual Tax Identification Number, contact                      information, place of birth, country of origin, place of employment, school or educational                       institution records, income, status as a recipient of public benefits, public utilities                                                                accounts, medical information or disability information.

 

(c) Municipal Authority. An authority established by the City of Pittsburgh pursuant to                      Pennsylvania Municipality Authorities Act, 53 Pa. C.S. § 5601 et seq.

 

(d) Judicial warrant. A warrant based on probable cause and issued by a judge appointed                      pursuant to Article III of the United States Constitution or a federal magistrate judge                      appointed pursuant to Section 631 of Title 28 of the United States Code.

 

(e) Administrative warrant. A document issued by an immigration enforcement official,                      including those from the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), United                      States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), or an administrative immigration                      judge (IJ), relating to suspected violations of immigration law, including an I-200                                           “Warrant for Arrest of Alien”, I-205 “Warrant of Removal/Deportation”, and any                                           successor or similar forms. “Administrative warrant” shall include civil administrative                      warrants, administrative subpoenas, detainer requests, removal orders, entries in                                                                databases maintained by National Crime Information Center or other entities, and any                                           similar civil order for the arrest or detention of an individual or for information but shall                       not include a judicial warrant or court order.

 

(f) Safe Community Place means any property or facility owned, controlled, or operated                      by the City or a Municipal Authority, including but not limited to such property                                          that is a:

(1) Library;

(2) Designated disaster and emergency response site;

(3) Courthouse;

(4) Homeless shelter, rape crisis center, domestic violence shelter, family justice                      center, or human trafficking service provider;

(5) Legal service provider;

(6) Park, Healthy Active Living center, or recreation center;

(7) Greenway

(8) Community resource center;

(9) Any other location properly designated by the City Solicitor of Pittsburgh.

 

§ 630C.02 - Prohibition on Consent -

 (a) No employee or agent engaged in official duties at a Safe Community Place shall have the authority to consent to permitting a law enforcement officer to enter a nonpublic area of the facility for the purpose, or in furtherance, of an operation executed in whole or part by federal authorities or out-of-state authorities that seeks:

(1) To identify or impose civil or criminal liability upon a person or entity based on their participation in activities protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution or Article 1 Section 7 of the Pennsylvania Constitution including assembly, petitioning, and speech; or

 

(2) To identify, arrest or otherwise impose a penalty upon a person for purposes of federal immigration enforcement, including an immigration enforcement operation.

 

(b) City agencies and departments, as designated by the Mayor, are authorized to identify property that has been, and is likely to be used by, immigration enforcement. Each identified City-owned or controlled property shall have clear signage to this effect stating the following: “In nonpublic areas of this property, a judicial warrant is required for law enforcement activities, and no voluntary consent may be solicited from any employee.”

 

(c) This section does not prevent compliance with a valid judicial warrant authorizing entry or entry under exigent circumstances.

 

(d) Exclusive right of enforcement. The City Solicitor shall possess the exclusive right to bring a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction against a person violating this Chapter. The limitations period for a civil action brought pursuant to this Section shall be three (3) years from the date the complainant knew or should have known of the alleged violation.

§ 630C.03 - Remedies

A court of competent jurisdiction may order the following remedies for a violation of this                      Chapter:

(a) An order requiring the City department or agency to cease and desist the unlawful practice;

(b) Payment of a fine not to exceed two thousand dollars ($2,000) for each violation; and

(c) Other equitable relief, including, but not limited to, the dismissal or removal from office of the offending individual.

 

§ 630C.04 - Severability. If any provision of this Chapter or application thereof to any person or circumstance is judged invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the Chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Chapter are declared severable.