Landlord-Tenant Law in Cameron County, Pennsylvania
Residential landlord-tenant matters throughout Cameron County are governed by the Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 (68 P.S. § 250.101 et seq.). Cameron 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 Cameron County Court of Common Pleas in Emporium.
Cameron County has no county-wide landlord-tenant ordinances. Local rules apply at the municipal level.
Category
Details
Rental Registration / Licensing
Cameron County has no county-wide landlord-tenant ordinances. Emporium Borough is the only significant community. The rental market is extremely limited given the county’s tiny population. Verify locally before renting any property.
Rent Control
None. Pennsylvania state law does not permit local rent control. No municipality in Cameron 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
🏛️ Cameron 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 Cameron County, Pennsylvania
Cameron County is Pennsylvania’s least populous county, a 398-square-mile expanse of Allegheny Plateau forests and stream valleys in north-central Pennsylvania with a total population of approximately 4,500 people — making it the smallest county by population in the Commonwealth. The county is almost entirely forested state land, with Emporium Borough serving as the only incorporated community of any significance and the governmental and commercial center of an extraordinarily rural landscape.
Emporium and the Micro-Market
Emporium Borough, with a population of approximately 2,200, is Cameron County’s entire urban presence. The borough’s economy is based on government employment, a small healthcare presence, and the outdoor recreation economy driven by hunting and fishing in the surrounding state forests and game lands. The rental market in Emporium is genuinely tiny — a handful of rental properties serving a very small tenant pool of local workers and the few households that rent rather than own in this remote community.
Investment Realities
Cameron County is not a viable investment target for any investor who does not already live in the county or its immediate vicinity. The tenant pool is too small to support meaningful vacancy periods, the exit market for investment properties is essentially non-existent from an investor perspective, and the acquisition and management logistics of owning property in one of Pennsylvania’s most remote counties are substantial. For the very rare local investor with a specific property opportunity in mind, the county’s stable long-term tenancies and very low property values can produce modest returns — but this is a market measured in individual properties, not portfolios.
The Eviction Process
Cameron County’s eviction process follows Pennsylvania’s standard MDJ framework with appeals to the Cameron County Court of Common Pleas in Emporium. Given the county’s tiny population, eviction proceedings are rare. Standard documentation discipline applies when needed.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Cameron County, Pennsylvania and is not legal advice. Laws change frequently. Always verify current requirements with the Cameron County Court of Common Pleas, the applicable Magisterial District Court, or a licensed Pennsylvania attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: March 2026.
