East Carson Street Historic Guidelines
The East Carson Street corridor is one of the largest Victorian Main Streets in the United States. To this day, many of the buildings are ornamented in the predominant styles of the late 19th century — Romanesque, Italianate, and Second Empire. In order to preserve the Victorian style row houses and commercial buildings, the City of Pittsburgh incorporated the designation of the East Carson Street Historic District in 1993. This led to the development of the East Carson Street Historic District Design Guidelines with the City of Pittsburgh Historic Review Commission. The East Carson Street Historic District spans from S 6th Street to S 27th Street. These guidelines have been updated for 2026.
WHAT ARE THE HISTORIC DISTRICT DESIGN GUIDELINES?
The City of Pittsburgh Historic Review Commission uses the guidelines when it reviews the appropriateness of proposed exterior alterations in any historic district. The specific East Carson Street district guidelines can also assist property owners in the formulation of plans for the preservation, rehabilitation, and continued use of historic buildings within the South Side.
City of Pittsburgh general guidelines: https://www.pittsburghpa.gov/files/assets/city/v/1/dcp/documents/historic-preservation/general-historic-district-design-guidelines-nov-2025.pdf
East Carson Street district guidelines: https://www.pittsburghpa.gov/files/assets/city/v/1/dcp/documents/historic-preservation/east-carson-street-historic-district-guidelines-jan-2026.pdf
IF I OWN A PROPERTY IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, HOW DOES THIS AFFECT ME?
If you are planning on doing any of the following, the Historic Guidelines apply to your building:
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- Building rehabilitation & alterations
- Painting any portion of the building exterior
- Altering the existing storefront, including signage in the windows
- New construction
- Additions
- Demolition
- Site improvements
- Building signage including any tenant-related signage
Your next steps: visit the City of Pittsburgh Historic Review Commission Website. This site will guide you through the process: https://pittsburghpa.gov/dcp/hrc
If your scope of work will require a hearing in front of the Historic Review Commission, you will be required to participate in a Development Activities Meeting facilitated by the South Side Community Council.
WHAT ABOUT BUILDING SIGNAGE?
In addition to the appearance of the buildings themselves, signs on buildings in the East Carson Street Historic District require special consideration too. The City of Pittsburgh signage code is available here.
HOW DO I KNOW IF MY PROPERTY IS IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT?
This map, published by the City of Pittsburgh Department of Planning, outlines the extent of the Historic District: https://www.pittsburghpa.gov/files/assets/city/v/1/dcp/documents/historic-nominations/east-carson-chd.pdf
Help! This is the first time I’m going through this process.
We understand and are here to help you navigate the process. The South Side also has a group of experts, the Local Review Committee, that can help advise and give comment on your project as it relates to the East Carson Street Historic Guidelines. We can put you in touch with the LRC prior to you starting your project application. Reach out to us at info@southsidecommunitycouncil.org
DID YOU KNOW?
The East Carson Street Historic District was entered into the National Park Service National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The nomination form is filled with history surrounding East Carson Street and a detailed building inventory.
The original nomination form prepared by the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation is archived here. PHLF also describes other work they did towards ‘Saving Carson Street’s History’ in this 2005 article.