What is the security deposit cap in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania: 2 months in year 1, 1 month after (250.511a).

How long does a Pennsylvania landlord have to return the security deposit?

Pennsylvania: 30 days with itemization.

What is the late fee cap in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania: No statewide cap.

How many days pay-or-quit notice does Pennsylvania require?

Pennsylvania: 10 days nonpayment, 15 days violations on tenancies under 1 year (250.501).

How much notice to terminate a month-to-month tenancy in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania: 15 days under 1 year, 30 days 1 year+.

What is the security deposit cap in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania caps the security deposit at two months of rent during the first year and one month thereafter. Reference: 68 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 250.101 et seq.. A landlord taking more than the statutory cap can forfeit the right to deduct at move-out.

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania requires the landlord to return the security deposit (or an itemized statement of deductions) within 30 days of the tenant vacating. Reference: 68 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 250.101 et seq.. Missing the deadline can forfeit the landlord's right to withhold any portion of the deposit and, in some states, expose the landlord to double or treble damages.

How much notice is required for a rent increase in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania requires 30 days of advance written notice for a rent increase. Reference: 68 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 250.101 et seq..

What is the late fee cap in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania does not impose a specific statutory percentage cap on late fees. Courts generally require the fee to be reasonable and tied to the landlord's actual damages. Reference: 68 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 250.101 et seq..

How many days is the pay-or-quit notice in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania requires a 10-day pay-or-quit notice before an unlawful detainer or eviction filing can be initiated for non-payment of rent. Reference: 68 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 250.101 et seq..

How much notice terminates a month-to-month tenancy in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania requires 15 days of written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy. Reference: 68 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 250.101 et seq..

What mandatory disclosures does Pennsylvania require in a lease?

Pennsylvania leases must include these disclosures: Federal lead-based paint disclosure (pre-1978 units); Security deposit escrow and bank-name notice whenever deposit exceeds $100 (68 P.S. § 250.511b); Deposit interest obligation after the second anniversary of the tenancy; Utility shutoff notice rights. Missing a required disclosure can invalidate the lease's enforceability on that point and sometimes on the lease as a whole. Reference: 68 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 250.101 et seq..

Which Pennsylvania statute governs landlord-tenant law?

Pennsylvania caps residential security deposits at two months rent during the first year, reduced to one month after the first year. Philadelphia has additional tenant protections under the Good Cause Eviction Bill. The primary citation used across LeaseKit templates for this state is: 68 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 250.101 et seq..

LeaseKit/States/Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania · Full coverage

Pennsylvania landlord-tenant law.

Quick-reference on Pennsylvania residential landlord-tenant rules, primary statute 68 P.S. 250.101 et seq. (Landlord and Tenant Act 1951). Below are every LeaseKit tool that applies to Pennsylvania: calculators, templates, free checklist PDF, blog guides, and frequently asked questions.

Recent changes

68 P.S. 250.511b escrow rule: deposits over $100 held more than 2 years require escrow

Quick reference

Pennsylvania rules at a glance.

Deposit cap: 2 months in year 1, 1 month after (250.511a)
Return deadline: 30 days with itemization
Late fee cap: No statewide cap
Pay-or-quit notice: 10 days nonpayment, 15 days violations on tenancies under 1 year (250.501)
Month-to-month termination: 15 days under 1 year, 30 days 1 year+
Rent cap: None

Templates, $29 each

Pennsylvania documents.

Residential lease

$29 signature-ready PDF →

Notice to quit

$29 signature-ready PDF →

Rent increase notice

$29 signature-ready PDF →

Move-out checklist

$29 signature-ready PDF →

Free calculators

Answer questions for free before the PDF.

Deep-dive articles

Written for Pennsylvania landlords.

Common questions

Pennsylvania landlord FAQ.

Top Pennsylvania cities

Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie. Local ordinances in major cities can add stricter rules (especially rent control, just-cause eviction, and inspection requirements). Always check the city code in addition to the state statute.

Honest limits

This is a quick reference, not legal advice. Pennsylvania landlord-tenant law changes year to year. Always verify the current statute text and any local ordinances before relying on this page for a specific dispute. For contested cases, consult a Pennsylvania-licensed attorney.

State-specific answers

What landlords ask about PA

What is the security deposit cap in Pennsylvania?: Pennsylvania caps the security deposit at two months of rent during the first year and one month thereafter. Reference: 68 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 250.101 et seq.. A landlord taking more than the statutory cap can forfeit the right to deduct at move-out.
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Pennsylvania?: Pennsylvania requires the landlord to return the security deposit (or an itemized statement of deductions) within 30 days of the tenant vacating. Reference: 68 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 250.101 et seq.. Missing the deadline can forfeit the landlord's right to withhold any portion of the deposit and, in some states, expose the landlord to double or treble damages.
How much notice is required for a rent increase in Pennsylvania?: Pennsylvania requires 30 days of advance written notice for a rent increase. Reference: 68 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 250.101 et seq..
What is the late fee cap in Pennsylvania?: Pennsylvania does not impose a specific statutory percentage cap on late fees. Courts generally require the fee to be reasonable and tied to the landlord's actual damages. Reference: 68 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 250.101 et seq..
How many days is the pay-or-quit notice in Pennsylvania?: Pennsylvania requires a 10-day pay-or-quit notice before an unlawful detainer or eviction filing can be initiated for non-payment of rent. Reference: 68 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 250.101 et seq..
How much notice terminates a month-to-month tenancy in Pennsylvania?: Pennsylvania requires 15 days of written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy. Reference: 68 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 250.101 et seq..
What mandatory disclosures does Pennsylvania require in a lease?: Pennsylvania leases must include these disclosures: Federal lead-based paint disclosure (pre-1978 units); Security deposit escrow and bank-name notice whenever deposit exceeds $100 (68 P.S. § 250.511b); Deposit interest obligation after the second anniversary of the tenancy; Utility shutoff notice rights. Missing a required disclosure can invalidate the lease's enforceability on that point and sometimes on the lease as a whole. Reference: 68 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 250.101 et seq..
Which Pennsylvania statute governs landlord-tenant law?: Pennsylvania caps residential security deposits at two months rent during the first year, reduced to one month after the first year. Philadelphia has additional tenant protections under the Good Cause Eviction Bill. The primary citation used across LeaseKit templates for this state is: 68 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 250.101 et seq..

Pennsylvania landlord-tenant law.

Recent changes

68 P.S. 250.511b escrow rule: deposits over $100 held more than 2 years require escrow

Quick reference

Pennsylvania rules at a glance.

Deposit cap: 2 months in year 1, 1 month after (250.511a)
Return deadline: 30 days with itemization
Late fee cap: No statewide cap
Pay-or-quit notice: 10 days nonpayment, 15 days violations on tenancies under 1 year (250.501)
Month-to-month termination: 15 days under 1 year, 30 days 1 year+
Rent cap: None

Top Pennsylvania cities

Honest limits

State-specific answers

What landlords ask about PA

What is the security deposit cap in Pennsylvania?: Pennsylvania caps the security deposit at two months of rent during the first year and one month thereafter. Reference: 68 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 250.101 et seq.. A landlord taking more than the statutory cap can forfeit the right to deduct at move-out.
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Pennsylvania?: Pennsylvania requires the landlord to return the security deposit (or an itemized statement of deductions) within 30 days of the tenant vacating. Reference: 68 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 250.101 et seq.. Missing the deadline can forfeit the landlord's right to withhold any portion of the deposit and, in some states, expose the landlord to double or treble damages.
How much notice is required for a rent increase in Pennsylvania?: Pennsylvania requires 30 days of advance written notice for a rent increase. Reference: 68 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 250.101 et seq..
What is the late fee cap in Pennsylvania?: Pennsylvania does not impose a specific statutory percentage cap on late fees. Courts generally require the fee to be reasonable and tied to the landlord's actual damages. Reference: 68 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 250.101 et seq..
How many days is the pay-or-quit notice in Pennsylvania?: Pennsylvania requires a 10-day pay-or-quit notice before an unlawful detainer or eviction filing can be initiated for non-payment of rent. Reference: 68 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 250.101 et seq..
How much notice terminates a month-to-month tenancy in Pennsylvania?: Pennsylvania requires 15 days of written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy. Reference: 68 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 250.101 et seq..
What mandatory disclosures does Pennsylvania require in a lease?: Pennsylvania leases must include these disclosures: Federal lead-based paint disclosure (pre-1978 units); Security deposit escrow and bank-name notice whenever deposit exceeds $100 (68 P.S. § 250.511b); Deposit interest obligation after the second anniversary of the tenancy; Utility shutoff notice rights. Missing a required disclosure can invalidate the lease's enforceability on that point and sometimes on the lease as a whole. Reference: 68 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 250.101 et seq..
Which Pennsylvania statute governs landlord-tenant law?: Pennsylvania caps residential security deposits at two months rent during the first year, reduced to one month after the first year. Philadelphia has additional tenant protections under the Good Cause Eviction Bill. The primary citation used across LeaseKit templates for this state is: 68 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 250.101 et seq..