Landlord-Tenant Law in Bradford County, Pennsylvania
Residential landlord-tenant matters throughout Bradford County are governed by the Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 (68 P.S. § 250.101 et seq.). Bradford 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 Bradford County Court of Common Pleas in Towanda.
Bradford County has no county-wide landlord-tenant ordinances. Local rules apply at the municipal level.
Category
Details
Rental Registration / Licensing
Bradford County has no county-wide landlord-tenant ordinances. Individual boroughs may have local code enforcement requirements. The county has significant Marcellus Shale natural gas activity — some rental demand is driven by energy industry workers whose tenancy may be tied to project timelines. Verify locally before renting.
Rent Control
None. Pennsylvania state law does not permit local rent control. No municipality in Bradford 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
🏛️ Bradford 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 Bradford County, Pennsylvania
Bradford County is northern Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna River county, a 1,148-square-mile expanse of ridges, valleys, and river plains along the New York border whose economy blends agriculture, natural gas production, healthcare, and the modest commercial activity centered on Towanda and the Sayre-Athens area near the New York state line.
The Sayre-Athens Healthcare Hub
The most significant employment anchor in Bradford County is Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, one of the largest hospitals in northern Pennsylvania and the flagship facility of the Guthrie Clinic health system. The hospital and the broader Guthrie organization employ thousands of healthcare workers whose housing demand is the most stable and income-reliable segment of the county’s rental market. The Sayre-Athens area along the New York border has a more urban character than the rest of the county and the most active rental market, driven primarily by Guthrie employment and the cross-border economic activity with the Elmira-Corning metropolitan area in New York.
The Natural Gas Economy
Bradford County sits atop some of the most productive Marcellus Shale acreage in Pennsylvania, and natural gas extraction has been a significant economic force in the county since the shale development accelerated in the late 2000s. The employment generated by drilling operations, pipeline construction, and midstream infrastructure has created waves of rental demand from energy industry workers — but this demand is inherently cyclical. When drilling activity is high, rental demand from energy workers is strong; when activity contracts, those workers move on. Landlords in Bradford County who have relied heavily on energy industry tenants have experienced the volatility of this demand firsthand. The more durable rental market is built on the healthcare, agricultural, and service employment that is structurally rooted in the county.
The Eviction Process
Bradford County’s eviction process follows Pennsylvania’s standard MDJ framework with appeals to the Bradford County Court of Common Pleas in Towanda. Standard documentation discipline applies throughout.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Bradford County, Pennsylvania and is not legal advice. Laws change frequently. Always verify current requirements with the Bradford County Court of Common Pleas, the applicable Magisterial District Court, or a licensed Pennsylvania attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: March 2026.
