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Erie, PA Code Violation Reporting: Common Violations (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing law
City of Erie Codified Ordinances Article 1129
Adopted
Ord. 39-2018, passed October 17, 2018
Listed violations
41 numbered QOL categories (QOL-1 to QOL-41)
Typical ticket fine
$100 per offense for most QOL items
Unpaid-ticket deadline
10 days before a citation is filed
Citation fine
$300 to $1,000 or up to 90 days jail
City cleanup rate
$75 per worker per hour plus 20% materials

Summary

Erie enforces dozens of everyday property complaints, trash accumulation, high grass, junk vehicles, illegal dumping, through its Quality of Life Ticketing Program instead of sending every case straight to court. A Public Officer can issue an on-the-spot ticket, most carrying a flat $100 fine, before an unpaid or repeat violation escalates to a citation before a Magisterial District Judge.

Lack of maintenance of properties, littering, improper storage of trash and rubbish, storage of inoperable/nonregistered vehicles, vendor operations without permits, high grass and weeds, graffiti and accumulation of snow and ice are costly problems that contribute to the deterioration of property values and general disorder in a community. ... Upon finding a quality-of-life violation, any public officer, as previously defined herein, may issue quality-of-life violation ticket(s) to the owner and/or occupant of the property at issue or to the individual(s) known to have violated this Ordinance.

View official code

Full Breakdown

01). 03 lists 41 numbered Quality of Life violations, QOL-1 through QOL-41, covering everything from rubbish accumulation and illegal dumping to unpermitted driveway cuts and improper animal restraint. 04). 07). 08). 09 sets the fine schedule: most QOL items carry $100 per offense, prohibited occupancy of a condemned structure is $200, and illegal burning starts at $25 for a first offense, rising to $50 and then $100.

Violations & Fines

Ignore a QOL ticket for more than 10 days and the City files a citation with the Magisterial District Judge, where the fine jumps to $300 to $1,000 per offense, or up to 90 days in jail, under § 1129.10, on top of the original ticket fine, restitution and the City's attorneys' fees under § 1129.11. Every day a violation continues counts as its own separate offense under § 1129.07.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Erie's Quality of Life Ticketing Program?
It's the enforcement system in Codified Ordinances Article 1129 that lets a Public Officer, police, code enforcement, a building official, or an authorized inspector, issue an on-the-spot ticket for common property problems like trash accumulation, high grass, junk cars and illegal dumping instead of going straight to court.
How much is a typical QOL ticket in Erie?
Most of the 41 listed violations carry a flat $100 fine under § 1129.09, though prohibited occupancy of a condemned structure is $200 and illegal burning starts at $25 for a first offense and climbs to $50 and then $100.
What happens if I don't pay a QOL ticket?
Section 1129.09(b) gives you 10 days to pay before the City files a citation with the Magisterial District Judge. At that point § 1129.10 raises the exposure to a fine of $300 to $1,000 per offense or up to 90 days in jail.
Can the City fix the problem itself and bill me?
Yes. Under § 1129.08, once 48 hours pass after a ticket issues, the City or its contractor can abate the violation and bill the owner at $75 per worker per hour plus materials, with a 20% City markup or 30% contractor processing fee.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Erie

Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash LawsSome RestrictionsHow to ReportLight RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Decibel LimitsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Pet Groomer RulesSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/NeuterSome Restrictions

All Erie rules

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