Landlord-Tenant Law in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania
Residential landlord-tenant matters throughout Armstrong County are governed by the Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 (68 P.S. § 250.101 et seq.). Armstrong 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 Armstrong County Court of Common Pleas in Kittanning.
Armstrong County has no county-wide landlord-tenant ordinances. Local rules apply at the municipal level.
Category
Details
Rental Registration / Licensing
Armstrong County has no county-wide landlord-tenant ordinances. Individual boroughs may have local code enforcement requirements. Verify locally before renting.
Rent Control
None. Pennsylvania state law does not permit local rent control. No municipality in Armstrong 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
🏛️ Armstrong County Courthouse
Where landlords file eviction actions
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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.
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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 Armstrong County, Pennsylvania
Armstrong County is western Pennsylvania’s river valley county, a 653-square-mile landscape carved by the Allegheny River and its tributaries north and east of Pittsburgh. The county’s communities are primarily small river valley boroughs and rural townships whose economic history spans coal mining, natural gas production, glass manufacturing, and agriculture. Armstrong County is one of western Pennsylvania’s quieter counties — not a growth market by conventional measures, but a stable, low-complexity operating environment for landlords who understand its character.
Kittanning and the River Boroughs
Kittanning, the county seat with a population of approximately 3,700, sits on the Allegheny River and serves as the governmental and commercial center for the county’s middle section. Ford City, south of Kittanning, has a glass manufacturing heritage rooted in the Pittsburgh Plate Glass company’s historic operations and retains some manufacturing employment alongside the healthcare and service sectors. Leechburg and Apollo, in the county’s southern reaches near the Westmoreland County line, are Pittsburgh-area adjacent communities whose residents often commute to Allegheny County employment.
Natural Gas and the Energy Economy
Armstrong County sits atop the Marcellus Shale formation, and natural gas extraction has been an active part of the county’s economy for years. The employment generated by drilling, pipeline, and related operations — while subject to the cyclicality of energy commodity prices — provides an economic layer that supplements the county’s more stable healthcare, government, and service employment. Landlords in communities with significant gas industry activity should be aware that energy worker demand can be volatile and that gas industry tenants may be transient when project assignments change.
The Eviction Process
Armstrong County’s eviction process follows Pennsylvania’s standard MDJ framework with appeals to the Armstrong County Court of Common Pleas in Kittanning. The county’s modest scale means relatively low total eviction volumes. Standard documentation discipline applies throughout.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania and is not legal advice. Laws change frequently. Always verify current requirements with the Armstrong County Court of Common Pleas, the applicable Magisterial District Court, or a licensed Pennsylvania attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: March 2026.
