Landlord-Tenant Law in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania
Residential landlord-tenant matters throughout Clearfield County are governed by the Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 (68 P.S. § 250.101 et seq.). Clearfield 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 Clearfield County Court of Common Pleas in Clearfield.
Clearfield County has no county-wide landlord-tenant ordinances. Local rules apply at the municipal level.
Category
Details
Rental Registration / Licensing
Clearfield County has no county-wide landlord-tenant ordinances. DuBois City and individual boroughs may have local code enforcement requirements. Verify with the applicable municipality before renting.
Rent Control
None. Pennsylvania state law does not permit local rent control. No municipality in Clearfield 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
🏛️ Clearfield 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.
🔍 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 Clearfield County, Pennsylvania
Clearfield County is central Pennsylvania’s coal and timber county, a largely rural 1,147-square-mile expanse of mountains, forests, and river valleys whose economic history was defined by bituminous coal mining and the logging industry that preceded it. The county’s two significant communities — Clearfield Borough, the county seat, and DuBois, the county’s largest city — anchor a rental market that is modest in scale, affordable in rent, and demanding in its operational requirements given the county’s below-average income levels and limited employment diversification.
DuBois: The County’s Commercial Center
DuBois, with a population of approximately 7,500, is Clearfield County’s largest city and serves as the commercial and healthcare center for the county and adjacent Jefferson County. Penn Highlands DuBois is a significant regional hospital and one of the area’s primary employers. The retail corridor along Route 219 and Route 80 makes DuBois a destination for a large geographic area. The rental market in DuBois is the county’s most active, with demand driven primarily by healthcare employment and the broader service sector. Properties are affordable to acquire and affordable to rent, with modest but consistent demand from working-class tenants.
The Rural County
Outside DuBois and Clearfield Borough, the county is predominantly rural with small boroughs and townships scattered across a landscape that remains heavily forested. Rental housing in these areas serves agricultural workers, forestry employees, and the working families whose lives are rooted in rural central Pennsylvania’s modest economy. Turnover tends to be low in these communities, and tenancies often run for many years when the initial placement is made carefully.
The Eviction Process
Clearfield County’s eviction process follows Pennsylvania’s standard MDJ framework with appeals to the Clearfield County Court of Common Pleas. The county’s economic profile produces above-average eviction rates in its urban communities. Thorough screening is the primary risk management tool.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania and is not legal advice. Laws change frequently. Always verify current requirements with the Clearfield County Court of Common Pleas, the applicable Magisterial District Court, or a licensed Pennsylvania attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: March 2026.
