Frequently Asked Questions

The Ross Police Department is located at 1000 Ross Municipal Drive. Our station may be accessed off of Evergreen Road or from McKnight Road.

The magistrate’s office is located at 439 Perry Highway in West View Borough.

Contact the Records Division during normal business hours and they will be glad to assist you. The Records Division may be reached at 412-931-9070 for more information.

All instructions can be found on the citation. Additionally if you received a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Traffic Citation you can pay online.

Yes!  All Ross Township Police Officers have been issued individual body-worn cameras that they must wear while on-duty.  Officers are required to record all police-citizen contacts.  You can review our body-worn camera policy here.

Our Community Policing Unit will make every attempt to accommodate your request; they may be reached at 412-931-9070.

Subscribe to the Department’s Facebook Page for up to the date testing information or check Job Openings.

All traffic violation complaints should be directed to the Traffic Division. The Traffic Officers will assess the complaint and take steps to address any safety problems they find. The Traffic Division may be reached at 412-931-9070.

No, the Ross Police Department does not pick up or remove stray animals. We will, however, arrive if we are called with our chip scanner and make every attempt to locate the owner.

Yes, The Ross Police Department keeps information regarding your alarm on file in case of emergency. This way, if there is a problem inside your home during an alarm, the police will know how to find you or a relative.

Contact the Ross Police Department and advise an officer that you are leaving on vacation. The officer will take some information from you at the time of the notification. Officers will check your residence daily while you are away. When you return home, contact the Ross Police to advise that you have returned.

No.  We no longer provide those services.  For individuals that would need inked fingerprint cards, we would suggest the UPS Store located in the McKnight-Siebert Shopping Plaza on McKnight Road.  For automated print services, the PA State contract is through IdentGo.  Arcpoint Labs located at 8158 Perry Highway is an IdentGo fingerprint site for PA.

Recycling collection continues to occur weekly.

Place your bin at least 3 feet from other objects, such as your garbage can, a mailbox, a car or a tree. The lid opening should face the street. Write your house number on your bin with permanent marker for easy identification. 

The benefits are as following:

• Features attached, hinged lid
• Holds more recyclables (31.75 inches long by 24.25 inches wide by 41.75 inches high)
• Moves easily on wheels
• Withstands wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour

Do not put the old bin in the new bin. Keep your old bin, or take it to a special recycling center for disposal.

Yes! Cooking, recreation or ceremonial fires, are permitted so long as they are contained fires within a fireplace, brazier, pit, fire ring or other similar contained or enclosed structure. No fire shall burn within 10 feet of any combustible. View more details.

A privacy fence can be installed in the side and/or rear yards of the lot behind the building line. Fences can be no higher than 6 feet in Residential Districts or 8 feet in commercial or Industrial Districts. View more details.

No more than two (2) residential accessory buildings with a total combined square footage of 720 are permitted. View more details.

Yes! View more details.

The code can be viewed online.

Yes!  The use of lawnmowers, chainsaws and other mechanical or motorized tools commonly used on residential properties shall be used between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.  Normal land development and construction activities may occur between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.  Emergency work and snow removal are exceptions.  If violations occur, please call 911.  For additional details, check out the Ross Township Code of Ordinances.

Yes! Cooking, recreation or ceremonial fires, are permitted so long as they are contained fires within a fireplace, brazier, pit, fire ring or other similar contained or enclosed structure.  No fire shall burn within 10 feet of any combustible. View more information.

No. Pennsylvania’s DEP does not permit open burning or barrel burning of trash or yard waste.

Our fire related applications are on our permits page.

Our Fire Appeals Board related applications are on our permits page.

You can view the Ross Township fire codes online.

No. Ross Township Fire Departments are not permitted to fill swimming pools.

It is important to practice your civic duty for yourself and your community. Learn more about our volunteer opportunities.

View a listing of all Parks & Rec rental facilities by visiting our Fees & Applications page.

Bring your little ones for unstructured playtime during our Tots & Little Ones class!

Visit our Seniors page to learn about fitness programs and activities available for our older visitors.

Yes! View more details.

The code can be viewed online.

No more than two (2) residential accessory buildings with a total combined square footage of 720 are permitted. View more details.

A privacy fence can be installed in the side and/or rear yards of the lot behind the building line. Fences can be no higher than 6 feet in Residential Districts or 8 feet in commercial or Industrial Districts. Complete and Submit a Residential Building Permit. View more details.

Check our the Inspection Procedures document.

Yes! Please fill out and submit a Residential Building Permit.  Be sure to include a survey or plot plan indicating the size, height, dimensions and specific location of the proposed fence, shed, deck and/or addition.

Refer to the Ross Township Fee Schedule for the most up to date fees.

A grading permit is required if any of the following are exceeded:

1. A cut or fill of greater than four (4 feet) in depth
2. A total area of cut or fill greater than 1000 feet
3. A total volume of great than 50 cubic yards
4. Grading in an easement for a public sewer, water main, storm drain or power line.
5. An encroachment on or alteration of an existing drainage channel or watercourse.
6. For surface mining involving 50 cubic yards or more
7. Removal of trees, vegetation or other natural ground cover: in an area greater than 1000 feet, or on slopes greater than 25 percent
8. Surfacing and paving of land other than streets or ways with non-permeable material of areas greater than 5000 square feet.

A site plan that shows the property boundary, the existing topography, the proposed topography and the proposed erosion and sedimentation control measures. Detailed requirements for grading plans are provided in the Township Grading Ordinance.

A permit is required for the construction of a retaining wall when the wall height exceeds four (4) feet at any point.

A plan for the wall sealed by a Licensed Professional Engineer must be submitted along with the grading permit application.

A sanitary Sewer Tap is a fee that is charged by the Township or The Girtys Run Sanitary Authority, that provides a builder the right to connect to (tap) the sanitary sewer. The fee does to pay for any pipe that the builder needs to construct to service the structure.

The Tap Fee cost is $2665 per EDU (equivalent dwelling unit) in the Jacks Run, Spruce Run and Little Pine sewer sheds. The Tap Fee cost in Lowries Run is $3302.85 per EDU. In the Girty's Run Sewer Shed you must contact the Girty's Run Joint Sanitary Authority at 412-821-3497 to obtain a Sewer Tap. The cost is $4400 per EDU.

Please contact the Township Engineer to determine if Sewer Taps are available in the area where you wish to build. In general sewer taps are currently available throughout Ross Township. 

In Pennsylvania, you can choose the company that generates your electricity and your gas supplier. Here are some helpful links to help you make that decision: 

• https://www.papowerswitch.com 
• https://www.pagasswitch.com/  
• https://www.puc.pa.gov/

Helpful Numbers:

• Peoples Gas:  1-800-764-0111
• Duquesne Light:  1-888-393-7100
• West View Water:  412-931-3500
• Waste Management (Garbage):  1-800-866-4460
• Jordan Tax Service (Collect for Sewage):  412-835-5243

Ross Township is located in the North Hills School District. You can contact the North Hills School District Administration Office for school information at 412-318-1000 or go to their website http://www.nhsd.net/

Magisterial District Judge

Richard Opiela 

439 Perry Highway

Pittsburgh, PA  15229

412-931-3205

No! Ross Township does NOT have a plastic bag ban. Retail establishments are allowed to provide single-use plastic bags and non-recycled paper bags to customers. Ross does NOT require a fee for recyclable paper carry-out bags. Businesses are permitted to charge fees on their own, but they cannot state the fees are due to a local law.

No retail establishment in Ross Township should be charging a bag fee because of a "local law or ordinance". If you notice a Ross Township business charging for bags and blaming the Township, complete a Code Enforcement Complaint and our Code Enforcement Officer will address the issue.

Yes.  Dogs are required to be licensed through Allegheny County.  You can pick up an application at the Ross Township Municipal Building or you can apply online through the Allegheny County website  http://www.alleghenycounty.us/treasurers-office/dog-license.aspx Ross Township does not require any other license.

You can be added to the No Solicitation list by calling Jackie at 412-931-7055 or signing up here: No Solicitation List.

Yes.  Ross Township Seniors 65 and older get 5 free leaf bags in the fall!  Please bring your driver’s license or state issued ID to the municipal building to show proof of age and residency. You can also purchase extra bags for a nominal fee if you need them. More information can be found here.

Call the Township at 412-931-7055. They will dispatch an animal control company to resolve the issue. If not during regular business hours, please call 911.

Waste Management offers an At Your Door Service for pick up of televisions, small electronics, chemicals, and many other household hazardous waste or hard to recycle items for residential customers in Ross Township.  There is no additional charge for pickup of most items.  Please call Waste Management at 1-800-449-7587 for more information and to arrange for a pick up. You can also arrange for a pickup online at http://www.wmatyourdoor.com/

To find your polling location, you can contact the Municipal Building at 412-931-7055.  You can also go to the Allegheny County Election Division website to find your polling location as well as view your sample ballot.    https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/PollingPlaceInfo.aspx 

You can get property tax receipts from Jordan Tax Service for your Ross Township real estate taxes as well as your North Hills School District real estate taxes by contacting Jordan Tax Service at 412-835-5243.

Yes! Ross Township residents aged 65 and older can qualify for a discount on their Waste Management bill. Please call Waste Management at 1-800-866-4460 to sign up.

Call 911. They will dispatch a police officer to the location. 

Residents can contact an animal removal service such as Big Daddy Wildlife Removal at 412-403-7396.  The property owner will be responsible for the cost of having the animal removed.

October 31^st from 6:00 – 8:00 pm.

For information on Senior Centers and to find one near you please contact the Allegheny County Agency on Aging at 412-350-5460 or go to their website at http://www.alleghenycounty.us/Human-Services/About/Offices/Area-Agency-on-Aging.aspx  

To request a handicapped parking space, please contact the Ross Township Police Department at 412-931-9070.

We sell discounted Amusement Park tickets for Kennywood , Idlewild, Sandcastle, Waldameer and several other parks from May through September.  We sell Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium Tickets from May through December each year.  We also sell discounted ski lift tickets to Hidden Valley and Seven Springs in the winter from December through March.  The tickets are sold at the reception desk in the Municipal Building Monday through Friday from 8:00 am – 4:30 pm.  Please contact Jackie Snyder at 412-931-7055 for more information and prices.

The Ross Township Public Works Department will pick up leaves that are placed in the brown paper leaf bags two times each year.  Usually, the first two weeks in April for the spring cleanup and October 15th through November 30th for the fall cleanup.  Any other time of the year, Waste Management will take leaves and yard debris that is placed in plastic lawn bags.  Waste Management will not pickup brown paper leaf bags. More information is available here.

Ross Township has 30,745 people.

The number is 412-364-7903.  The address is 4981 McKnight Road, Pittsburgh, PA  15237.

Contact an animal removal service such as Big Daddy Wildlife Removal at 412-403-7396  or any other service listed online or in the yellow pages.  The Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Ross Township Public Works Department do not respond to these types of calls. 

Get all the information here: Senior Bus Passes - ConnectCards

Yes.  Hunters must have the permission of property owners to hunt on private property.  There is no hunting allowed on Ross Township property including parks.  They must have a valid hunting license.  Hunters must also follow all rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania Game Commission.             

 Sometimes there is confusion between Ross Township, Allegheny County and Ross Township, in Saylorsburg, PA in Monroe County.  Their phone number is 570-992-4990.