ADU rules in Scranton, PA — also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances — cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.
Scranton is a Home Rule city in Lackawanna County (population approximately 76,000) operating under a Home Rule Charter adopted in 1976 pursuant to Pennsylvania Act 62 of 1972 (the PA Home Rule Charter and Optional Plans Law). The Scranton Zoning Ordinance is maintained as a separate document from the codified Scranton Code on eCode360 at https://ecode360.com/SC1148; the last comprehensive zoning amendment dates from approximately 2015. Pennsylvania has no statewide accessory dwelling unit preemption statute, so ADU permissibility, density, owner-occupancy requirements, and design standards in Scranton are determined entirely by the Scranton Zoning Ordinance under the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (53 P.S. §10101 et seq.). Property owners must consult the Zoning Ordinance and the Scranton Department of Licensing, Inspections and Permits (LIP) for whether ADUs (variously called accessory apartments, in-law suites, or second dwelling units) are permitted by right, by special exception, or by conditional use in the applicable residential district.
Pennsylvania, unlike California (Gov. Code §66313 et seq.) or Oregon (ORS 197.312), has not enacted statewide legislation requiring municipalities to permit ADUs. The legal framework for housing regulation in Pennsylvania flows from the Municipalities Planning Code (Act 247 of 1968, as amended; 53 P.S. §10101 et seq.), which authorizes cities, boroughs, and townships to adopt zoning ordinances and assigns interpretation to local zoning hearing boards. Scranton's Home Rule Charter (adopted 1976 under PA Act 62 of 1972) grants the city broad authority over local matters not preempted by state law, including zoning. The Scranton Zoning Ordinance divides the city into residential districts (typically R-1A, R-1B, R-2, R-3, and mixed-use overlays) along with commercial and industrial districts. Whether an ADU is permitted as an accessory use, a two-family dwelling conversion, or a special-exception use depends on the underlying district and lot dimensions. Owner-occupancy, off-street parking, minimum/maximum unit size, separate entrance restrictions, and rental limitations are all set by the local ordinance rather than state law. The Scranton Zoning Hearing Board (created under 53 P.S. §10901-10916) hears variance and special-exception applications. Building construction must additionally comply with the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (34 Pa Code §§401.1-405.42), which adopts the 2018 IRC and IBC with state amendments. Applicants should request a zoning interpretation in writing before investing in design work, because Scranton's older hillside neighborhoods (Hill Section, West Scranton, North Scranton, Green Ridge) include narrow lots and historic homes that frequently require variances for ADU additions.
Building or occupying an unpermitted ADU is a zoning violation enforceable under 53 P.S. §10617 (enforcement remedies). Scranton's Department of Licensing, Inspections and Permits may issue a notice of violation, a cease-and-desist order, and seek civil penalties up to $500 per day per violation under 53 P.S. §10617.2. Continuing violations are treated as separate offenses. Unpermitted construction additionally violates the Pennsylvania UCC (34 Pa Code §401.7) and can result in stop-work orders from the Scranton Building Code Official.
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