Peduto names Pittsburgh's new director of Permits, Licenses and Inspection Department

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto on Monday promoted Sarah Kinter to director of the Permits, Licenses and Inspections Department.

Kinter, 32, of Pittsburgh’s Stanton Heights neighborhood, had served as acting director since November following the resignation of Maura Kennedy, who left to take a job with Amazon in Washington, D.C. The director’s salary is $111,379, according to the city’s operating budget.

“I’m truly honored and excited to be appointed to head the department,” Kinter said in a statement. “I’m proud of our work at PLI and of my PLI colleagues as we continue to improve and grow our permit and code enforcement operations.”

Kinter has guided the department through the creation of online permitting, according to the Mayor’s Office. PLI inspectors under her leadership have continued processing building permits during the coronavirus pandemic.

She has a bachelor’s degree in political science and international studies from Wilkes University and a master’s in public administration from the University of Pittsburgh.

She previously served as deputy director and as commission representative for Pittsburgh’s Human Relations Commission.