Property Maintenance in Scranton, PA (2026)
4 verified property maintenance rules for Scranton, Pennsylvania, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Trash Bin Storage
Scranton's receptacle rules sit in Chapter 400 (Solid Waste) of the Code of the City of Scranton. Each garbage and refuse receptacle must hold not fewer than 3 and not more than 26 gallons, be provided with a handle or handles, and be fitted with a tight-fitting cover. Receptacles must be placed by the owner, tenant, housekeeper, or other occupant in the yard where they are easily accessible to the collectors, and they must be kept covered at all times to maintain sanitary conditions and prevent rain or snow from entering. Service is provided by the City Bureau of Refuse and Recycling (Department of Public Works, 570-348-4180).
Scranton Trash Bins (Chapter 400, Solid Waste): 3-26 Gallon Covered Receptacles with Handles; Keep Covered at All Times
Some RestrictionsProperty Blight
Scranton enforces property blight through Chapter 360 (Property Maintenance) of the Code of the City of Scranton, which identifies conditions that endanger health/safety/welfare or cause a blighting effect on neighborhoods (lack of maintenance, littering, improper trash storage, inoperable vehicles, high grass and weeds, graffiti, and snow/ice accumulation). The Bureau of Code Enforcement (570-348-4193, Director Thomas Oleski) enforces against the 2021 International Code Council Series adopted citywide (effective for all plans January 1, 2026). Statewide backstop is PA Act 90 of 2010 (Neighborhood Blight Reclamation and Revitalization Act, 53 P.S. §6101 et seq.), which lets Scranton deny permits and approvals to owners with serious code violations anywhere in Pennsylvania.
Scranton Property Blight (Chapter 360): Local Property Maintenance Code + 2021 ICC Series + PA Act 90 Permit-Denial Backstop
Heavy RestrictionsVacant Lot Maintenance
Scranton maintains a Registry of Abandoned Real Property under Chapter 360 (Property Maintenance) of the Code of the City of Scranton, defining 'abandoned' as real property in default on a mortgage, with a lis pendens filed, subject to foreclosure, tax deed application, or transferred to a lender via deed in lieu of foreclosure. The abandoned designation continues until the property is transferred or the foreclosure dismissed. Registration is done through tolemi.com/scranton-pa with no fee. All abandoned real properties are subject to ongoing maintenance as required by City ordinances and the property maintenance code. The RENTAL Ordinance of 2022 (Chapter 373, Rental Property) also requires registration of foreclosure/abandoned status for rental units.
Scranton Vacant/Abandoned Property: Registry of Abandoned Real Property (Chapter 360); Tolemi Online Registration; No-Fee Filing
Heavy RestrictionsSnow & Sidewalk Clearing
Scranton's sidewalk snow ordinance lives at Chapter 360 (Property Maintenance) of the Code of the City of Scranton. Every owner, tenant, occupant, lessee, property agent, or other person responsible for any property must remove all snow and ice from the abutting sidewalk within 24 hours after snowfall ceases for residential properties, or within 4 hours for businesses, and must keep a path of at least 3 feet on residential sidewalks (entire sidewalk for businesses). If precipitation ceases during hours of darkness, the clearing window begins at daybreak. Throwing, shoveling, casting, or otherwise depositing snow or ice from sidewalks or driveways into the street or public highway is expressly prohibited.