Landlord-Tenant Law in Monroe County, Pennsylvania
Residential landlord-tenant matters throughout Monroe County are governed by the Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 (68 P.S. § 250.101 et seq.). Monroe 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 Monroe County Court of Common Pleas in Stroudsburg.
Monroe County has no county-wide landlord-tenant ordinances. Local rules apply at the municipal level.
Category
Details
Rental Registration / Licensing
Monroe County has no county-wide landlord-tenant ordinances. Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg boroughs may have local code enforcement requirements. The county has a significant vacation and short-term rental market — landlords should verify local zoning before operating rental properties, as some municipalities restrict short-term rentals. Verify all local requirements before renting.
Rent Control
None. Pennsylvania state law does not permit local rent control. No municipality in Monroe 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. Must be returned within 30 days with itemized deduction list. Double damages for wrongful withholding. (68 P.S. § 250.511a – 250.512)
Last verified: 2026-03-15
🏛️ Monroe 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.
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⚠️ 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.
Underground Landlord
🏙️ Communities in Monroe County
Notable cities, boroughs, and townships
StroudsburgEast StroudsburgTannersvilleDelaware Water GapMount PoconoTobyhannaPocono SummitScotrun
Monroe County
Screen Before You Sign
Verify income at 3x monthly rent, check eviction history through the MDJ system, and call prior landlords directly. Apply consistent screening standards regardless of market segment.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Monroe County, Pennsylvania
Monroe County is Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains county, a 608-square-mile landscape of lakes, forests, ski resorts, and vacation communities that has simultaneously served as a resort destination for metropolitan-area visitors and as a bedroom community for commuters who accept long drives to New York City and northern New Jersey employment in exchange for dramatically lower housing costs. This dual identity — resort market and commuter suburb — creates a rental environment unlike any other in Pennsylvania.
The Commuter Dynamic
Monroe County’s most significant rental market driver is the extraordinary cost differential between housing in the Pocono region and housing in the New York metropolitan area. Working families, service workers, and even some professionals who are priced out of New Jersey and metropolitan New York have relocated to Monroe County in substantial numbers over the past two decades, accepting commutes of 70 to 90 minutes — or longer — to access significantly lower housing costs. Interstate 80 and Route 80 provide the primary commute corridor to New Jersey, and the Delaware Water Gap crossing is among the most heavily trafficked in the region during commute hours. This has created a rental market with above-average demand in the context of Monroe County’s modest income base, driven by tenants whose primary employment income comes from out-of-state labor markets.
The Resort and Short-Term Market
The Pocono Mountains resort economy — anchored by ski resorts, lake communities, and the legacy of the Poconos as a honeymoon and vacation destination — creates demand for short-term and seasonal rental properties that operates largely separately from the permanent residential market. Landlords considering short-term rental operations in Monroe County should verify local zoning carefully, as attitudes and regulations regarding vacation rentals vary significantly by municipality. Some Pocono communities have imposed restrictions on short-term rentals in response to community concerns about resort-area traffic and neighborhood character. East Stroudsburg University adds a student and faculty housing market to the Stroudsburg-East Stroudsburg corridor.
The Eviction Process
Monroe County’s eviction process follows Pennsylvania’s standard MDJ framework with appeals to the Monroe County Court of Common Pleas in Stroudsburg. The county’s mixed economic profile — some high-income commuter tenants, some economically stressed local households — produces variable eviction rates by community. Thorough income verification is essential given the number of tenants whose income comes from employment outside the county.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Monroe County, Pennsylvania and is not legal advice. Laws change frequently. Always verify current requirements with the Monroe County Court of Common Pleas, the applicable Magisterial District Court, or a licensed Pennsylvania attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: March 2026.
