Landlord-tenant law

Pennsylvania Landlord-Tenant Laws

Security deposit limits, eviction notice periods, lease termination requirements, and late fee rules for Pennsylvania.

Not legal advice. Current as of May 2026. Verify with a local attorney before any compliance decision.

$
Security Deposit Max
2 months' rent (first year of tenancy); 1 month's rent (subsequent years — landlord must return excess above 1 month at start of second year)
68 Pa. Stat. § 250.511a
↩
Deposit Return Deadline
30 days
68 Pa. Stat. § 250.512
!
Non-Payment Eviction Notice
10-day notice to pay or quit
68 Pa. Stat. § 250.501(b)
✕
Month-to-Month Termination
30 days (no specific statute, based on common practice; some sources cite no statute)
68 Pa. Stat. § 250.501(b) (general notice provision)
¢
Late Fee Cap
No statutory cap (must be reasonable and stated in lease)
⏱
Grace Period
No statutory grace period
Pennsylvania specific notes

Pennsylvania's tiered deposit cap (2 months year 1, 1 month after) requires landlords to proactively return excess deposits at the start of year 2. Philadelphia has a separate Landlord-Tenant ordinance with additional requirements including mandatory registration, inspections, and a right-to-counsel for low-income tenants in eviction proceedings.

FAQ

Common Pennsylvania landlord questions

What is the maximum security deposit in Pennsylvania?+
2 months' rent (first year of tenancy); 1 month's rent (subsequent years — landlord must return excess above 1 month at start of second year). Governed by 68 Pa. Stat. § 250.511a. Deposit must be returned within 30 days after the lease ends.
What notice is required to evict a tenant in Pennsylvania for non-payment of rent?+
10-day notice to pay or quit. Per 68 Pa. Stat. § 250.501(b). This is the notice period before a landlord can file an eviction lawsuit.
How much notice to end a month-to-month tenancy in Pennsylvania?+
30 days (no specific statute, based on common practice; some sources cite no statute). Per 68 Pa. Stat. § 250.501(b) (general notice provision). This applies to no-cause terminations of month-to-month leases.
Are late fees regulated in Pennsylvania?+
No statutory cap (must be reasonable and stated in lease). Grace period: No statutory grace period. Even where no statutory cap exists, late fees must be reasonable and clearly disclosed in the lease.
References

Authoritative sources for Pennsylvania

Compare

See how Pennsylvania stacks up

Deposit Limits — All 50
Side-by-side max deposit and return deadlines.
Eviction Notice — All 50
Notice periods for non-payment and termination.
Late Fee Laws — All 50
Caps and grace periods.
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