Landlord-Tenant Law in Clarion County, Pennsylvania
Residential landlord-tenant matters throughout Clarion County are governed by the Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 (68 P.S. § 250.101 et seq.). Clarion 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 Clarion County Court of Common Pleas in Clarion.
Clarion County has no county-wide landlord-tenant ordinances. Local rules apply at the municipal level.
Category
Details
Rental Registration / Licensing
Clarion County has no county-wide landlord-tenant ordinances. Individual boroughs may have local code enforcement requirements. Clarion University of Pennsylvania creates academic rental demand in Clarion Borough. Verify locally before renting.
Rent Control
None. Pennsylvania state law does not permit local rent control. No municipality in Clarion 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
🏛️ Clarion 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 Clarion County, Pennsylvania
Clarion County is northwestern Pennsylvania’s university county, home to Clarion University of Pennsylvania and the agricultural and forested landscape of the upper Allegheny River drainage. The county’s 604 square miles encompass Clarion Borough — the university town that serves as the county’s commercial and educational center — and a surrounding landscape of small boroughs, agricultural townships, and the natural gas-bearing geology that has created some energy sector economic activity.
Clarion University and the Borough Market
Clarion University of Pennsylvania, with an enrollment of approximately 4,000 students, is the dominant economic force in Clarion County’s rental market. The university’s students, faculty, and staff create consistent housing demand in Clarion Borough and the immediately surrounding area. Student tenancies follow academic-year cycles with predictable summer vacancy; faculty and staff provide the more stable, longer-tenure tenancy that anchors the professional market segment. The borough’s small-town character and university identity give it a rental market that is modest in scale but reasonably consistent in demand from year to year.
The Rural County
Outside Clarion Borough, the county is rural and sparsely settled. Natural gas production in some townships provides energy sector employment. Agriculture and forestry employ a portion of the rural population. Rental housing outside the borough is limited and serves primarily working-class and agricultural households whose housing needs are modest and whose tenancy patterns tend toward stability and long tenure.
The Eviction Process
Clarion County’s eviction process follows Pennsylvania’s standard MDJ framework with appeals to the Clarion County Court of Common Pleas. The university market produces predictable eviction activity at academic year transitions. Standard documentation applies.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Clarion County, Pennsylvania and is not legal advice. Laws change frequently. Always verify current requirements with the Clarion County Court of Common Pleas, the applicable Magisterial District Court, or a licensed Pennsylvania attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: March 2026.
