Pittsburgh Landlord Laws, the 2026 Quick Guide

Pittsburgh operates under Pennsylvania state landlord-tenant law (68 P.S. Chapter 8) with City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County overlays. Pittsburgh has stricter source-of-income protection than most of PA. This is the Pittsburgh-specific quick reference for 2026.

## Pennsylvania baseline

• Security deposit cap: 2 months year 1, 1 month from year 2 (68 P.S. 250.511a/b).
• Escrow: required for deposits over $100 held more than 2 years (68 P.S. 250.512).
• Return deadline: 30 days from termination (68 P.S. 250.512).
• Wrongful withholding: forfeit + 2x damages (68 P.S. 250.512(c)).
• Notice periods (68 P.S. 250.501): 10 days non-payment, 15 days other breach (lease ≤1 yr), 30 days other breach (lease >1 yr).
• Habitability: Pugh v. Holmes (1979), unwaivable.
• Rent control: preempted statewide.
• Late fees: no cap, must be reasonable.

## Pittsburgh-specific rules

Pittsburgh adds significant overlay:

• Source-of-income protection (Pittsburgh Code Chapter 659): prohibits Section 8 voucher discrimination, Pittsburgh-specific (not statewide PA).
• Pittsburgh Housing Code habitability inspections.
• Allegheny County dispossessory through Magisterial District Court.
• No just-cause eviction at Pittsburgh level (PA preempts).
• Lead-based paint: federal + Pittsburgh certification for pre-1978 units.
• Allegheny County Tenant Right-to-Counsel (pilot in some districts).

## Pittsburgh eviction process

Pittsburgh evictions go through Allegheny County Magisterial District Court:

1. Notice per 68 P.S. 250.501 (10/15/30 days depending on breach).
2. Landlord/Tenant Complaint ($50-$90 filing).
3. Hearing within 7-15 days.
4. Order for Possession.
5. 10-day window for tenant to vacate.
6. Writ of Possession; constable lockout (10-21 days).

Total uncontested: 30-60 days.

## Common mistakes

Failing to drop deposit cap from 2 months to 1 month at year 2 (68 P.S. 250.511b). Pennsylvania-specific rule. Most commonly missed.

Failing to escrow deposit after year 2. 68 P.S. 250.512 requires interest-bearing escrow.

Refusing Section 8 in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh Code Chapter 659 prohibits voucher discrimination. Penalties for violation.

Wrong notice period. The 10/15/30 split under 68 P.S. 250.501 is non-obvious. 30-day notice for non-payment is overly long but not invalid; 10-day notice for non-rent breach on a 1-year+ lease is invalid.

For a Pittsburgh-ready Pennsylvania residential lease that includes 68 P.S. 250.511a/b deposit cap split, the escrow disclosure, and Pittsburgh source-of-income compliance language, see leasekit.io/templates/pennsylvania-residential-lease for $29 one-time.