Residential landlord-tenant matters throughout Union County are governed by the Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 (68 P.S. § 250.101 et seq.). Union 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 Union County Court of Common Pleas in Lewisburg.
Union County has no county-wide landlord-tenant ordinances. Local rules apply at the municipal level.
Category
Details
Rental Registration / Licensing
Union County has no county-wide landlord-tenant ordinances. Lewisburg Borough may have local code enforcement requirements. Bucknell University creates significant rental demand in Lewisburg — verify locally before renting within borough limits.
Rent Control
None. Pennsylvania state law does not permit local rent control. No municipality in Union 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
🏛️ Union 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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including background checks, credit history, income verification, and rental references — is one of the most
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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 Union County, Pennsylvania
Union County is central Pennsylvania’s university county on the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, home to Bucknell University — one of the most highly regarded liberal arts universities in the northeastern United States — and Federal Correctional Institution Lewisburg, one of the nation’s most well-known federal prisons. This unusual combination of a prestigious university and a major federal correctional facility gives Union County a distinctive economic character and a rental market shaped by these two institutional anchors in very different ways.
Bucknell University and Lewisburg
Bucknell University, with an enrollment of approximately 3,800 students, is a highly selective national liberal arts and engineering university whose faculty, staff, and graduate students create consistent rental demand in Lewisburg Borough and the surrounding area. The university’s selectivity and national profile attract a highly educated and income-stable faculty whose housing needs — larger homes, quality maintenance, longer-tenure tenancies — represent the premium end of Union County’s rental market. Student off-campus housing demand is more limited than at larger state universities given Bucknell’s smaller size and its strong residential campus culture, but it exists and follows academic-year cycles. The historic character of Lewisburg Borough — recognized as one of Pennsylvania’s best small towns — adds a quality-of-place dimension that attracts tenants who value community character.
FCI Lewisburg and Corrections Employment
Federal Correctional Institution Lewisburg, a high-security federal penitentiary, is a significant employer in Union County. Federal corrections officers, administrators, and support staff represent stable, well-compensated federal government employment whose income profiles are among the most reliable in any rental market. FCI staff often seek housing in Lewisburg and the surrounding communities, contributing a professional housing demand segment that complements the university’s employment base.
The Eviction Process
Union County’s eviction process follows Pennsylvania’s standard MDJ framework with appeals to the Union County Court of Common Pleas in Lewisburg. Documentation completeness applies throughout.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Union County, Pennsylvania and is not legal advice. Laws change frequently. Always verify current requirements with the Union County Court of Common Pleas, the applicable Magisterial District Court, or a licensed Pennsylvania attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: March 2026.
