County Executive Innamorato Signs Emergency Housing Legislation
Published on November 12, 2026
New law strengthens County’s ability to respond to unsafe housing conditions and recover emergency relocation costs
PITTSBURGH – Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato today signed legislation updating Article VI of the County Public Health Code, strengthening the County’s ability to protect tenants when rental housing becomes unsafe and hold negligent landlords financially accountable for emergency relocation costs. The legislation was initially passed by the Allegheny County Board of Health on July 15, 2026, and was passed by County Council on October 20, 2026.
The legislation clarifies and strengthens existing County authority to respond when emergency conditions require tenants to temporarily leave their homes. It establishes a clear mechanism for the County to recover costs associated with relocating residents when unsafe housing conditions result from a property owner’s negligence.
County Executive Sara Innamorato said, “Over the past two years Allegheny County has had to work in multiple instances to rehouse tenants when their housing became unsafe for them to continue living. These necessary interventions to protect the health and safety of our neighbors resulted in tens of thousands of dollars in costs borne by Allegheny County taxpayers. I’m thrilled to sign a bill that holds landlords accountable and protects residents from unsafe housing conditions. In particular, I would like to thank Council President Naccarati-Chapkis for her leadership on this critical issue.”
In the past two years, the Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS) has helped relocate at least 50 residents during housing emergencies. Since 2025, DHS has spent more than $21,000 on 24 hotel rooms to temporarily shelter 50 people displaced from unsafe rental properties.
The legislation grew out of County Executive Innamorato’s HOUSING For All Executive Order, issued February 5, 2026, which established an Emergency Housing Strike Team made up of representatives from County departments, including Emergency Services, the Health Department, Human Services, and the Law Department. The team was charged with coordinating responses to housing emergencies and advancing policy changes to strengthen protections for tenants and hold negligent property owners accountable.
“This amendment shows why critical health and safety issues sometimes require a policy change. I saw firsthand how essential this revision to Article VI was after the fire at Midtown Plaza Apartments, when residents went without heat for several weeks and needed repairs lagged. Multiple county departments worked together to assist the residents and hold the building owner accountable for the resulting code violations,” said Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis, President of County Council and Chair of the Housing Advisory Committee of the Allegheny County Board of Health. “Safe and healthy housing is a fundamental right for all. I also thank my colleagues on the Housing Advisory Committee for their feedback on this amendment.”
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