Landlord-Tenant Law in Washington County, Pennsylvania
Residential landlord-tenant matters throughout Washington County are governed by the Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 (68 P.S. § 250.101 et seq.). Washington 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 Washington County Court of Common Pleas in Washington.
Washington County has no county-wide landlord-tenant ordinances. Local rules apply at the municipal level.
Category
Details
Rental Registration / Licensing
Washington County has no county-wide landlord-tenant ordinances. Washington 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 Washington 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
🏛️ Washington County Courthouse
Where landlords file eviction actions
🏛️ Courthouse Information and Locations for Pennsylvania
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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 Washington County
Notable cities, boroughs, and townships
Washington CityPeters TownshipCanonsburgCharleroiBentleyvilleMonongahelaCaliforniaFinleyville
Washington 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 Washington County, Pennsylvania
Washington County is southwestern Pennsylvania’s largest county by area and one with an economic identity shaped equally by its coal and steel heritage, its position as an outer Pittsburgh suburb in its northern communities, and the transformative impact of Marcellus Shale natural gas development that has reshaped the county’s economic landscape over the past fifteen years. The county’s 857 square miles range from the dense suburban development of Peters Township and Canonsburg to the rural mining communities of its southern reaches near the West Virginia border.
Peters Township and the Pittsburgh Outer Suburbs
Peters Township, in the county’s northeastern corner bordering Allegheny County, is consistently ranked among the most desirable residential communities in western Pennsylvania. Its top-rated school district, prosperous residential development, and proximity to Pittsburgh’s South Hills employment corridors via I-79 attract upper-income professional families who choose it over more expensive closer-in Allegheny County communities. The rental market in Peters Township is tight and high-quality — properties that are well-maintained and offered at market rents attract excellent tenants whose income profiles and payment reliability are among the strongest in the region. Canonsburg Borough, just north of Peters Township, has undergone meaningful revitalization and has attracted young professional tenants who value its walkable downtown at more accessible price points than Peters Township.
The Natural Gas Economy
The Marcellus Shale development that accelerated through the 2010s brought a wave of economic activity to Washington County whose legacy continues to shape the rental market. Drilling crews, pipeline workers, engineers, and the supporting ecosystem of energy sector professionals created temporary but substantial housing demand that inflated rents in some communities and that has left behind a more diversified local economy than existed before the shale development. The energy sector’s workforce is somewhat more volatile than institutional employers — employment follows drilling activity and pipeline construction — but the county’s energy employment base has matured into a more stable operating phase that provides consistent if not dramatic rental demand.
The Eviction Process
Washington County’s eviction process follows Pennsylvania’s standard MDJ framework with appeals to the Washington County Court of Common Pleas. The county’s northern communities near Pittsburgh generate lower eviction rates consistent with their stronger economic profiles; the county’s more rural and economically stressed southern communities see proportionally higher filing rates. Standard documentation discipline applies throughout.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Washington County, Pennsylvania and is not legal advice. Laws change frequently. Always verify current requirements with the Washington County Court of Common Pleas, the applicable Magisterial District Court, or a licensed Pennsylvania attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: March 2026.
