Landlord-Tenant Law in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
Residential landlord-tenant matters throughout Lackawanna County are governed by the Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 (68 P.S. § 250.101 et seq.). Lackawanna 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 Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas in Scranton.
Lackawanna County has no county-wide landlord-tenant ordinances. Local rules apply at the municipal level.
Category
Details
Rental Registration / Licensing
Lackawanna County has no county-wide landlord-tenant ordinances. Scranton City has local code enforcement requirements and may have rental registration requirements. Verify with the City of Scranton Bureau of Codes Enforcement before renting within city limits.
Rent Control
None. Pennsylvania state law does not permit local rent control. No municipality in Lackawanna 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
🏛️ Lackawanna 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?
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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 screening standards regardless of market segment.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
Lackawanna County is the anchor of northeastern Pennsylvania’s Scranton metropolitan area, a region whose anthracite coal heritage, immigrant community history, and post-industrial economic challenges have shaped a rental market that is genuinely demanding but that offers acquisition prices and yield potential that more prosperous markets cannot approach. Scranton, the county seat and one of Pennsylvania’s largest cities, shares the regional market with Wilkes-Barre in neighboring Luzerne County, and the two cities together form the Wyoming Valley-Scranton metropolitan area that is one of the more economically complex regions in the Commonwealth.
Scranton: The Electric City
Scranton, once called the Electric City for its pioneering use of electric streetcars, is a mid-sized post-industrial city of approximately 76,000 that has experienced decades of population loss since its coal-era peak but that retains a functioning urban economy anchored by healthcare — primarily Geisinger Community Medical Center and The University of Scranton’s medical programs — higher education through the University of Scranton and Marywood University — and a distribution sector that has grown alongside broader regional logistics development. The rental market in Scranton is active and economically mixed, requiring thorough screening discipline to navigate the range of applicant quality that presents in an economically stressed urban market.
Clarks Summit and the Suburban Tier
Clarks Summit Borough and the surrounding communities of Abington Township represent Lackawanna County’s most prosperous suburban market, attracting professional and managerial households who work in Scranton or elsewhere in the region while preferring the more residential character and lower density of the county’s northern communities. Properties in the Clarks Summit area command above-average rents for the county and attract a tenant pool with stronger income stability than the Scranton urban market. For investors seeking county exposure with reduced operational complexity, the northern suburban communities offer a more straightforward path.
The Eviction Process
Lackawanna County’s eviction process follows Pennsylvania’s standard MDJ framework with appeals to the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas in Scranton. The city’s MDJ districts handle significant eviction volume given Scranton’s economic profile. Documentation completeness — lease, served notice, accurate rent records — is the consistent predictor of efficient resolution.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania and is not legal advice. Laws change frequently. Always verify current requirements with the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas, the applicable Magisterial District Court, or a licensed Pennsylvania attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: March 2026.
