Residential landlord-tenant matters throughout Adams County are governed by the Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 (68 P.S. § 250.101 et seq.). Adams County government has no county-wide landlord-tenant ordinances beyond Pennsylvania state law. Eviction actions are filed in the Magisterial District Court for the district in which the property is located, with appeals going to the Adams County Court of Common Pleas in Gettysburg.
Adams County has no county-wide landlord-tenant ordinances. Local rules apply at the municipal level.
Category
Details
Rental Registration / Licensing
Adams County has no county-wide landlord-tenant ordinances. Individual boroughs may have local code enforcement requirements. Verify with the applicable municipality before renting. The county’s significant tourism economy means some properties near Gettysburg may have short-term rental zoning considerations — verify locally.
Rent Control
None. Pennsylvania state law does not permit local rent control. No municipality in Adams County has rent stabilization.
Local Notice Requirements
None beyond Pennsylvania state requirements. Nonpayment: 10 days. Lease violation / end of term (lease ≤1 yr): 15 days. Lease violation / end of term (lease >1 yr): 30 days.
Security Deposit
Governed by PA state law. Year 1 maximum: 2 months’ rent. Year 2+: 1 month’s rent. Return within 30 days with itemized deduction list. Double damages for wrongful withholding. (68 P.S. § 250.511a – 250.512)
Last verified: 2026-03-15
🏛️ Adams County Courthouse
Where landlords file eviction actions
🏛️ Courthouse Information and Locations for Pennsylvania
Loading courthouse data
Coming Soon
Courthouse data for Pennsylvania is being compiled. Check back soon!
Tenant Can Cure?Yes - tenant can pay all rent owed at any time before writ of possession is executed to supersede the writ (68 PS §250.503(c))
Days to Hearing7-15 days
Days to Writ10-15 days
Total Estimated Timeline30-60 days
Total Estimated Cost$200-$500
⚠️ Watch Out
Lease can SHORTEN or WAIVE notice requirements - always check lease first. 10-day notice is the default but lease may allow less. Tenant can pay all rent before writ execution to stop eviction. MDJ judgment can include both possession and money. Appeal to Court of Common Pleas results in trial de novo. Philadelphia has Eviction Diversion Program (mandatory since 2022 for nonpayment).
Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
File an eviction case with the Magisterial District Court (MDJ) / Philadelphia Municipal Court. Pay the filing fee (~$60-150).
Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
Attend the court hearing and present your case.
If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
Law enforcement executes the writ and removes the tenant if necessary.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This page provides general information about Pennsylvania eviction laws and does not constitute legal advice.
Eviction procedures can vary by county and may change over time. Local jurisdictions may have additional requirements or tenant protections.
For specific legal guidance, consult a qualified Pennsylvania attorney or local legal aid organization.
🔍 Reduce Your Risk Before Signing a Lease:
Pennsylvania landlords who screen tenants carefully before signing a lease significantly
reduce their risk of ending up in eviction court. Understanding
tenant screening in Pennsylvania —
including background checks, credit history, income verification, and rental references — is one of the most
cost-effective steps you can take to protect your rental property. Before you ever need Pennsylvania's
eviction process, proper tenant screening can help
you identify red flags early and avoid problem tenancies altogether.
Ready to File?
Generate Pennsylvania-Compliant Legal Documents
AI-generated, state-specific eviction notices, pay-or-quit letters, lease termination documents, and more — pre-filled with your tenant's information and built to Pennsylvania requirements.
Select your state, eviction reason, and the date you plan to serve notice. We'll calculate your earliest filing date and key milestones.
⚠️ Disclaimer: These calculations are estimates based on state statutes and typical court timelines. Actual results vary by county, court backlog, and case specifics. Always verify current requirements with your local courthouse. This is not legal advice.
Verify income at 3x monthly rent, check eviction history through the MDJ system, and call prior landlords directly. Apply consistent standards across every application.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Adams County, Pennsylvania
Adams County is defined by Gettysburg, site of the Civil War’s most pivotal battle, and by the agricultural landscape that surrounds the battlefield and the historic borough that grew up alongside it. The county’s 521 square miles are predominantly rural and agricultural, with fruit orchards in the Adams County Apple Country corridor and the distinctive character of a region whose primary industry for over a century and a half has been the telling and retelling of three days in July 1863.
Gettysburg: Tourism, Education, and the Permanent Market
Gettysburg Borough is simultaneously one of Pennsylvania’s most visited destinations and a functioning small community of approximately 8,000 permanent residents. Gettysburg College, a nationally respected liberal arts institution, is the borough’s most significant employer and creates consistent rental demand from faculty, staff, and graduate students whose housing needs are year-round and income-stable. The tourism economy — battlefield visitors, battlefield-adjacent hospitality workers, and the retail and restaurant employees who serve the tourist trade — creates a distinct rental demand segment whose income is more seasonal and variable. For landlords, distinguishing between the stable academic and professional tenant segment and the more variable tourism economy segment is the primary screening consideration in the borough.
Hanover and the Southern Market
Hanover Borough, in the county’s southeastern corner straddling the York County line, is Adams County’s largest community and its primary manufacturing and retail center. Major food processing operations — Utz Quality Foods, Snyder’s of Hanover, and others — give Hanover a distinctive economic identity and create substantial working-class employment that anchors the rental demand base in the borough and surrounding communities. The rental market in Hanover is affordable and consistent, with demand driven by the food processing workforce and the broader service sector that supports the community.
The Eviction Process
Adams County’s eviction process follows Pennsylvania’s standard MDJ framework with appeals to the Adams County Court of Common Pleas in Gettysburg. The county’s generally favorable economic profile produces moderate eviction rates. Standard documentation discipline applies throughout.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Adams County, Pennsylvania and is not legal advice. Laws change frequently. Always verify current requirements with the Adams County Court of Common Pleas, the applicable Magisterial District Court, or a licensed Pennsylvania attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: March 2026.
