How Bethlehem Handles Rental Property Rules: A Practical Guide

Bethlehem maintains 100 local ordinances across all categories, and 5 of those deal specifically with rental property rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Bethlehem falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Rent Control

The City of Bethlehem has no rent-control ordinance. Residential rent is governed by the Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 (68 P.S. §250.101 et seq.), which sets no cap on rent amounts or rent increases for third-class cities like Bethlehem.

Key details: Local Rent Control: None in Bethlehem. State Framework: 68 P.S. §250.101+. Notice Statute: 68 P.S. §250.501. Forum: Lehigh / Northampton MDJ. Habitability: Pugh v. Holmes (PA).

No local rent-cap penalties exist. Disputes over improper notice, retaliation, or fair-housing violations go to the Lehigh County or Northampton County Magisterial District Court covering the rental, or to PHRC and HUD for discrimination complaints.

Bethlehem is more permissive than most cities when it comes to rent control. That said, there are still limits.

Rental Inspection Programs

Bethlehem's rental inspection program is run by Housing Inspections in the Department of Community and Economic Development. Inspectors apply the International Property Maintenance Code as adopted by the City to confirm habitable conditions, on a rotation cycle and on tenant complaint.

Key details: Administrator: Bethlehem Housing Inspections. Standard: IPMC as adopted. Smoke/CO Alarms: PA Act 121 of 2014. Lead Paint: 42 U.S.C. §4852d (pre-1978). Triggers: Rotation + complaint.

Refusing scheduled-inspection entry, renting a unit declared unfit, missing the compliance deadline, or re-renting a placarded unit violates the Codified Ordinances. Citations go to Lehigh or Northampton County MDJ Court with escalating fines. Defective units may be placarded under IPMC §108.

Just Cause Eviction

Bethlehem has no local just-cause eviction ordinance. Evictions are governed by Pennsylvania's Landlord and Tenant Act (68 P.S. §250.501), which allows termination at lease end or for breach with proper written notice. Filings go to the Lehigh or Northampton County Magisterial District Court.

Key details: Local Ordinance: None. State Statute: 68 P.S. §250.501. Standard Notice: 15 / 30 days. Nonpayment Notice: 10 days (default). Forum: Lehigh / Northampton MDJ.

With no local just-cause rule, tenants raise procedural, retaliation, or discrimination defenses in MDJ Court or on appeal to Common Pleas. Self-help eviction is actionable civilly and may trigger criminal charges under PA law.

The rules around just cause eviction in Bethlehem lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Rental Registration

The City of Bethlehem operates a Rental Registration Program administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development / Housing Inspections. Owners of residential rental units must register each unit, identify a local agent, pay the annual fee, and submit to periodic property-maintenance inspection.

Key details: Administrator: Bethlehem Housing Inspections. Department: Community & Economic Development. Standard: IPMC as adopted. Renewal: Annual. Forum: Lehigh / Northampton MDJ.

Renting an unregistered unit, missing the annual fee, refusing inspection entry, or missing IPMC correction deadlines violates the Codified Ordinances. Citations go to MDJ Court with per-offense and per-day fines, plus possible registration suspension and condemnation of severely defective units.

Security Deposit Rules

Security deposits in Bethlehem follow Pennsylvania statute. Under 68 P.S. §250.511a a landlord may collect at most two months' rent in the first year. Under §250.511b only one month may be held after year one. Under §250.512 the deposit must be returned with itemization within 30 days of vacancy.

Key details: Year-1 Cap: 2 months' rent (§250.511a). Year-2+ Cap: 1 month's rent (§250.511b). Return Deadline: 30 days (§250.512). Escrow Threshold: >$100 held >2 yrs. Penalty: Double damages.

Charging over two months in year one, holding more than one month in year two, or missing the 30-day return-or-itemize deadline violates 68 P.S. §250.511a-b and §250.512. Under §250.512(c) the landlord forfeits deduction rights and owes double damages on the wrongfully withheld portion.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Bethlehem gives residents more room on rental property rules. 2 of the 5 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

This guide is based on Bethlehem's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.