City Council makes it easier for child care businesses to operate in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh City Council voted Tuesday to make it easier for child care businesses to operate in the city.

The new measure will allow businesses that care for up to six children to operate in residential neighborhoods without getting a special exemption.

The measure also eliminates a requirement that such businesses maintain off-street parking.

Councilman Bobby Wilson, D-North Side, who sponsored the measure, said the changes should make child care more accessible throughout the city.

Wilson, who has three young children, said he understands the challenges families face in finding quality child care in their neighborhood.

“Removing these burdensome zoning and parking requirements in residentially zoned neighborhoods allows us to provide child care services to working families right where they live,” Wilson said when he introduced the measure in October.

The legislation cited statistics that more than 75% of parents reported having difficulty finding a child care location for their kids. About 70% of parents said that difficulty impacted their ability to work.

Across Pennsylvania, there are about 38,000 children on waiting lists to enroll at child care facilities, officials wrote in the legislation.

Council voted unanimously in favor of the measure Tuesday with the exceptions of Councilwomen Theresa Kail-Smith, D-West End, who abstained, and Barb Warwick, D-Greenfield, who was not present.