Pennsylvania Rent Increase Law
Pennsylvania has no statute requiring a specific notice period for rent increases; rent generally cannot change mid-lease, and for month-to-month tenants landlords should give notice at least 15 days before the period ends to match the notice-to-quit rule (Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, 68 P.S. § 250.101 et seq., silent).
Last verified: · Researched and cited by MakeLease · not yet attorney-reviewed
Pennsylvania rent increase rules at a glance
| Notice of a rent increase | No state rule68 P.S. § 250.101 et seq. (silent on rent-increase notice) |
|---|---|
| Rent control | No statewide rent control53 Pa.C.S. § 2962(f) (home rule limit on regulating businesses), 68 P.S. § 250.101 et seq. (no rent-control provisions) |
| Ending a month-to-month tenancy | 15 days (either side)68 P.S. § 250.501(a)-(b) |
What Pennsylvania law says
How much notice is required for a rent increase in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has no statute requiring a specific notice period for rent increases; rent generally cannot change mid-lease, and for month-to-month tenants landlords should give notice at least 15 days before the period ends to match the notice-to-quit rule (Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, 68 P.S. § 250.101 et seq., silent) (68 P.S. § 250.101 et seq. (silent on rent-increase notice)).
Does Pennsylvania have rent control?
Pennsylvania has no statewide rent control and no statute that expressly preempts local rent control, so check for local rules before raising rent (no state statute; see 53 Pa.C.S. § 2962(f) on home-rule limits) (53 Pa.C.S. § 2962(f) (home rule limit on regulating businesses)).
How much notice ends a month-to-month tenancy in Pennsylvania?
To end a month-to-month tenancy, a landlord must serve written notice at least 15 days before the end of the rental period, and the Attorney General advises tenants to give the same 15 days (68 P.S. § 250.501(b)) (68 P.S. § 250.501(a)-(b)).
How Pennsylvania compares
23 of 51 verified jurisdictions set a statewide period.
Ohio and West Virginia follow the same rule as Pennsylvania; 4 of its 6 neighbors differ.
| Rent-increase notice | States |
|---|---|
| No statewide period | Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia |
| 60 days (more in some cases) | Delaware |
| 90 days (more in some cases) | Maryland |
| 30 days (more in some cases) | New Jersey, New York |
Local rules in Pennsylvania
Philadelphia adds its own rules in Phila. Code ch. 9-800: landlords must give 30 days' written notice stating good cause to terminate or not renew leases shorter than one year (including month-to-month), and since Dec. 2025 tenants may pay a first-year deposit above one month's rent in installments (Bill 250044-A; landlords with 2 or fewer units exempt). Pittsburgh and other cities have rental registration/licensing rules.
Other Pennsylvania rules
| Security deposit limit | 2 months' rent (with exceptions)68 P.S. § 250.511a(a)-(b) (Landlord and Tenant Act § 511.1) |
|---|---|
| Deposit return deadline | 30 days after the lease ends68 P.S. § 250.512(a), (c) |
| Late-fee cap | No state cap68 P.S. § 250.101 et seq. (silent on late fees), PA AG Consumer Guide to Tenant and Landlord Rights, p. 6 |
| Entry notice | No state rule68 P.S. § 250.101 et seq. (silent on landlord entry), PA AG Consumer Guide, p. 10 (implied covenant of quiet enjoyment) |
| Notice for unpaid rent | 10 days (10-day notice to quit)68 P.S. § 250.501(b), (e)-(f) |