Not legal advice. This page summarizes public statutes and court fee schedules as of the date shown. Rules and fees change; confirm with the court before you file, and talk to a local attorney about your situation.
Pennsylvania eviction at a glance
| Court | Magisterial district court (Philadelphia: Municipal Court) |
|---|
Outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania evictions start at the local magisterial district judge (MDJ). MDJ landlord-tenant costs are set statewide each year; constable service is extra.
Step by step
- Notice to quit. 10 days for nonpayment of rent; 15 days for leases of one year or less (30 days for longer leases) for other reasons, unless the lease validly waives notice. (68 P.S. §250.501)
- File the landlord-tenant complaint. File with the MDJ for the property's location; a constable serves the complaint and the court sets a hearing. (Delaware County MDJ landlord-tenant FAQ)
- Hearing and judgment. The MDJ decides the case; costs are recoverable as part of the judgment.
- Order for possession. After the appeal period, the landlord can request an order for possession, which a constable serves before the lockout. Ask the MDJ office for current timing.
Statewide fees
| MDJ landlord-tenant costs, claims of $2,000 or less (2026) | $102.50 Source: 204 Pa. Code §29.402 |
|---|---|
| MDJ landlord-tenant costs, $2,001–$4,000 (2026) | $125.50 Source: 204 Pa. Code §29.402 |
| MDJ landlord-tenant costs, $4,001–$12,000 (2026) | $171 Source: 204 Pa. Code §29.402 |
| Constable service | Not verified Extra; ask the MDJ office |
MDJ costs apply in every county except Philadelphia, which uses Municipal Court.
About the missing details
Why it's missing: We only list eviction court fees published by an official source. Pennsylvania hasn't published its local filing, service and writ fees online in a form we could verify, so call the clerk of the magisterial district court to confirm before you file.
General information
Not specific to Pennsylvania
Across the 21 counties where we've read the official fee schedule, the eviction filing fee runs from $41 to $322. Sheriff or constable service usually adds a per-tenant charge, and a writ of possession adds another. Statewide fixed filing fees we've verified: California $240 (claims up to $10,000), Connecticut $175, Delaware $45, Florida $185, Texas $54.
Closest place with verified data
Cuyahoga County, OH (about 213 miles away): filing fee $110
Call or visit the official office
PALawHelp.org · Official website
Ask for the clerk's office for the court that handles evictions in your county.
Know the current fee? Tell us. We check every tip against an official source before publishing it.
Counties with verified local fees
All Pennsylvania counties
Counties without verified local fees show the statewide rules above.
- Adams County
- Allegheny County
- Armstrong County
- Beaver County
- Bedford County
- Berks County
- Blair County
- Bradford County
- Bucks County
- Butler County
- Cambria County
- Cameron County
- Carbon County
- Centre County
- Chester County
- Clarion County
- Clearfield County
- Clinton County
- Columbia County
- Crawford County
- Cumberland County
- Dauphin County
- Delaware County
- Elk County
- Erie County
- Fayette County
- Forest County
- Franklin County
- Fulton County
- Greene County
- Huntingdon County
- Indiana County
- Jefferson County
- Juniata County
- Lackawanna County
- Lancaster County
- Lawrence County
- Lebanon County
- Lehigh County
- Luzerne County
- Lycoming County
- McKean County
- Mercer County
- Mifflin County
- Monroe County
- Montgomery County
- Montour County
- Northampton County
- Northumberland County
- Perry County
- Philadelphia County
- Pike County
- Potter County
- Schuylkill County
- Snyder County
- Somerset County
- Sullivan County
- Susquehanna County
- Tioga County
- Union County
- Venango County
- Warren County
- Washington County
- Wayne County
- Westmoreland County
- Wyoming County
- York County
Frequently asked
Which court handles evictions in Pennsylvania?
Magisterial district court (Philadelphia: Municipal Court).
How much notice does a Pennsylvania landlord have to give?
10 days for nonpayment of rent; 15 days for leases of one year or less (30 days for longer leases) for other reasons, unless the lease validly waives notice.
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Pennsylvania?
MDJ landlord-tenant costs, claims of $2,000 or less (2026): $102.50. MDJ costs apply in every county except Philadelphia, which uses Municipal Court.