Pennsylvania Eviction Notice
Create a proper Pennsylvania eviction notice — pay-or-quit, cure-or-quit, or termination — and download a print-ready PDF. Free, no signup. The preview updates as you type.
Maintained by the SealForms editorial team · Every state-specific figure on this page is cited to its statute or official agency page · Dataset last verified 2026 · Not legal advice.
What happens after the notice in Pennsylvania
If the tenant does not comply, the eviction moves to court. These are Pennsylvania’s own rules for that step, from the judiciary and the statute.
- What the case is called. In Pennsylvania an eviction lawsuit is a(n) action for the recovery of possession of real property (landlord/tenant complaint) action. — Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. 502 (amended eff. Aug. 16, 1982) ↗
- Where to file. If the tenant doesn’t comply with the notice, the landlord files in the Magisterial District Judge (Magisterial District Court). — Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. 501 and 502 (246 Pa. Code ch. 500) ↗
- How to serve the notice. Notice to quit served personally on the tenant, by leaving it at the principal building on the premises, or by posting it conspicuously on the leased premises. — 68 P.S. § 250.501(f), Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 (current as of Jan 1, 2026) ↗
- Filing fee. Statewide statutory schedule by amount in controversy: $45 (under $2,000), $55 ($2,000–$4,000), $75 ($4,000–$12,000), plus surcharges; verify current MDJ fee schedule — 42 Pa.C.S. § 1725.1 (current as of Jan 1, 2026) ↗
Each point links to the Pennsylvania source it was taken from. Rules change; confirm before relying on them.
Pennsylvania notice periods · as of 2026
- Non-payment of rent
- 10 days
- Lease violation (cure)
- Often unconditional
- End month-to-month
- 15 days
Source: 68 Pa. Stat. § 250.501(b) · verify ↗. Using the wrong number can void the notice — confirm the current rule before you serve it.
Live preview · updates as you type
Notice to Pay or Quit / Vacate
State of Pennsylvania
Date: __________. To: __________ ("Tenant"), and all occupants of __________ (the "Premises").
You are hereby notified that you are in violation of your tenancy for the following reason: __________ . Amount due, if applicable: $______.
You are required, within ____ days as required by Pennsylvania law, on or before__________, to cure the violation (or pay the amount due) OR to vacate and surrender the Premises. If you fail to do so, the landlord may begin eviction proceedings in court.
This notice is given under the landlord-tenant laws of the State of Pennsylvania. Nothing here waives the landlord’s rights.
Generated with SealFormsReflects Pennsylvania law · verified 2026
Types of eviction notice
- Pay or quit — for unpaid rent: pay by the deadline or move out.
- Cure or quit — for a lease violation: fix it by the deadline or move out.
- Unconditional / termination — to end a month-to-month tenancy or for serious violations.
Pennsylvania notice period & service
The number of days and how you must deliver the notice are set by Pennsylvania law — get both right, keep proof of service, and never lock out or remove a tenant yourself. Check the current Pennsylvania eviction rules before serving.
Frequently asked questions
How many days notice do I have to give in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, a non-payment (pay-or-quit) notice must give the tenant 10 days to pay or leave (as of 2026). Source: 68 Pa. Stat. § 250.501(b). Notice periods for lease violations or ending a tenancy differ — see the box on this page and confirm current law before serving.
Is an eviction notice the same as eviction?
No. The notice is the required first step — it gives the tenant a chance to pay, fix the problem, or move out by a deadline. If they don’t, you then file an eviction (unlawful detainer) case in court. You cannot lock out or remove a tenant yourself; only a court and law enforcement can carry out an eviction.
How do I serve the notice in Pennsylvania?
States set rules for delivery — often personal delivery, leaving it with an adult at the home, and/or mailing a copy. Keep proof of how and when you served it. Improper service is a common reason eviction cases get dismissed, so follow Pennsylvania’s method carefully.
Do I need a lawyer?
Not always for the notice itself, but eviction is technical and a small mistake can restart the clock. For contested cases, commercial properties, or if the tenant has an attorney, it’s worth consulting a landlord-tenant lawyer in Pennsylvania.
Where does a landlord file an eviction case in Pennsylvania?
If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord files in the Magisterial District Judge (Magisterial District Court) (the case is called a(n) action for the recovery of possession of real property (landlord/tenant complaint) action). Source: Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. 501 and 502 (246 Pa. Code ch. 500).
How must an eviction notice be served in Pennsylvania?
Notice to quit served personally on the tenant, by leaving it at the principal building on the premises, or by posting it conspicuously on the leased premises. Source: 68 P.S. § 250.501(f), Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 (current as of Jan 1, 2026).
What does it cost to file an eviction in Pennsylvania?
Statewide statutory schedule by amount in controversy: $45 (under $2,000), $55 ($2,000–$4,000), $75 ($4,000–$12,000), plus surcharges; verify current MDJ fee schedule Source: 42 Pa.C.S. § 1725.1 (current as of Jan 1, 2026).
How does Pennsylvania compare? See the notice periods in all 50 states, every figure cited to statute. Not sure which notice applies? Try the 2-question wizard.
How Pennsylvania compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Pennsylvania: 68 Pa. Stat. § 250.501(b) ↗.
- Notice to pay rent or quit
Notice to pay rent or quit: 10 days — about 2× the national median of 5 days across the 47 states with a statutory rule.
This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 7 other states.
Notice to pay rent or quit in neighboring states — Delaware (5 days), Maryland (10 days), New Jersey (no statutory rule), New York (14 days), Ohio (3 days), West Virginia (no statutory rule).
- Notice to cure a lease violation
Pennsylvania sets no statutory cure period for lease violations; check the lease and local court rules before serving.
Notice to cure a lease violation in neighboring states — Delaware (7 days), Maryland (30 days), New Jersey (30 days), New York (no statutory rule), Ohio (30 days), West Virginia (no statutory rule).
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy
Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy: 15 days — well under the national median of 30 days across the 51 states with a statutory rule.
Ranked #46 of 51 states (tied with 2) — higher means a longer notice period.
2 other states use the same figure.
Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy in neighboring states — Delaware (60 days), Maryland (60 days), New Jersey (30 days), New York (30 days), Ohio (30 days), West Virginia (30 days). Pennsylvania's 15 days is the shortest among its neighbors.
Eviction notice in other states
More Pennsylvania legal forms
Different state? See eviction notices by state →