Pennsylvania Breastfeeding Laws

In Pennsylvania, mothers have the right to breastfeed in any public location, as long as they are legally allowed to be there. The federal FLSA’s PUMP Act provides workplace lactation accommodation protections for all breastfeeding employees, but Pennsylvania has no additional state-level lactation laws.

We’ve awarded Pennsylvania one drop on our scale.

PA Breastfeeding Laws: In Public

Mothers in Pennsylvania have the right to breastfeed in public. Read the law: Pa. Cons. Stat. tit. 35 § 636.1 et seq. (2007)

PA Breastfeeding Laws: At Work

Unfortunately, Pennsylvania doesn’t have any state legislation to protect and support breastfeeding parents in the workplace. But all breastfeeding employees in Pennsylvania are protected by the federal FLSA’s PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act. Under this federal mandate, breastfeeding employees are entitled to reasonable break time and a private space (other than a bathroom) to pump at work for one year.

PA Laws: Breastfeeding-Positive Municipalities

Philadelphia

Despite the lack of laws at the state level, the city of Philadelphia Fair Practices Ordinance requires all city employers to provide breastfeeding employees with reasonable break time, and a private and sanitary space (other than a bathroom) to pump at work. Read the law: Philadelphia Code § 9-1103(m)

Pittsburgh

Thanks to a 2018 Executive Order by the Mayor, the City of Pittsburgh now requires city buildings to provide a lactation room for guests and employees. This only applies for the construction of new buildings, and buildings under renovation. Read the law: Lactation Room E.O.

PA Breastfeeding Information + Resources

In 2018, Pennsylvania’s Department of General Services created a policy that requires all new state-owned and leased buildings to have at least one lactation space for nursing mothers. Read Chapter 67c. 

Pennsylvania state law also exempts breastfeeding mothers from public indecency laws.

The Pennsylvania Breastfeeding Coalition was establsihed in 1992 to “protect, promote, and support breastfeeding as the cultural norm for infant feeding in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.” Visit here.

Visit U.S. Breastfeeding Committee for a full list of state breastfeeding coalitions

Mamava designs solutions to empower breastfeeding and pumping parents on the go, like our freestanding lactation pods and lactation space locator app.

Laws are constantly evolving—which is a good thing! So if we’ve missed something, contact us at hello@mamava.com.
Disclaimer: Please consult a professional for legal advice. Mamava’s information on breastfeeding laws is not a substitute for legal counsel.

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Mamava’s Breastfeeding Law Rating Key

One drop: State does not have any workplace lactation legislation that exceeds the PUMP Act.

Two drops: State law exceeds the PUMP Act in one of the following ways: 1) Lower threshold for employer exemption); 2) Workplace protections beyond one year; 3) Requirements for lactation spaces (e.g. electrical outlets); 4) Protections for specific populations other than employees (e.g. students). 

Three drops: State law exceeds the PUMP Act in at least two of the following ways: 1) Lower threshold for employer exemption); 2) workplace protections beyond one year; 3) requirements for lactation spaces (e.g. electrical outlets); 4) protections for specific populations other than employees (e.g. students).