Harrisburg, PA Public Conduct: Loud Party Ordinance (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger
- Two disruptive conduct incidents within twelve months
- Consequence
- Certificate of compliance revoked; eviction ordered
- Owner deadline
- Begin eviction within 15 days or unit is placarded
- Occupant deadline
- 30 days after the placard to vacate
- Proof required
- Guilty verdict, guilty plea or nolo contendere plea
- Penalty
- Fine of $50 to $1,000 plus costs, per violation
Summary
In the City of Harrisburg, a rental unit whose occupants or guests are involved in two disruptive conduct incidents within any twelve-month period loses its certificate of compliance, and the owner must start eviction. Disruptive conduct includes amplified music and other loud noise, but only after a guilty verdict or a guilty or nolo contendere plea.
C. In the event that the occupant(s) or guest(s) of a residential rental unit is involved in two disruptive conduct incidents, as documented by disruptive conduct reports, within any twelve-month period, the Codes Bureau shall immediately revoke any certificate of compliance for the residential rental unit and shall send a notice of revocation to the owner and the responsible agent designated under § 8-511.4, if different than owner, informing the owner in writing that the owner must begin eviction proceedings against the occupant(s) of the residential rental unit. Should the owner fail to begin eviction proceedings against the occupant(s) of the residential rental unit within 15 days, the Codes Bureau shall placard the residential rental unit as unfit for human occupancy. The occupant(s) of the residential rental unit shall have 30 days after the date that the unit is placarded to vacate the residential rental unit, unless other health or safety violations exist on the property which require vacation of the premises in advance of 30 days. ... Each twenty-four-hour period of occupancy following the expiration of the thirty-day period shall constitute a separate violation.
Full Breakdown
Section 8-511.12 of the Harrisburg Codified Ordinances is the City's tool against unruly parties at rental units. It sits in Chapter 8-511, the Residential Rental Unit Registration Program, so it reaches the owner and occupants of a registered rental unit rather than every household in the City of Harrisburg.
The process starts when a reported incident of unlawful conduct, including a City ordinance violation, brings a law enforcement officer or codes enforcement officer to the unit. The officer decides whether it was disruptive conduct and, if so, completes a disruptive conduct report listing the exact address, the identity of the perpetrators and a factual description. The Codes Bureau keeps the reports and mails a copy to the owner, to the responsible agent if different, and to all occupants of the units involved. The owner must then contact the offending occupants and remind them of their responsibility (§ 8-511.5(C)).
The definition in § 8-511.3 names firearm, explosive device or fireworks violations, prostitution, amplified music or other loud noise, and illegal drug activity, and also covers Property Maintenance Code violations, animal violations under Chapter 3-505 and disturbing the peace under Chapter 3-341. An incident counts only if a citation results in a guilty verdict, guilty plea or nolo contendere plea, and an incident under appeal does not count until the finding of guilt is affirmed.
Two incidents inside twelve months trigger revocation of the certificate of compliance and a written notice ordering the owner to begin eviction. If the owner has not started within 15 days, the Codes Bureau placards the unit as unfit for human occupancy, and the occupants have 30 days after the placard to vacate. Each twenty-four-hour period of occupancy after that is a separate violation by both occupant and owner. The certificate is reinstated immediately upon eviction or vacation and a satisfactory inspection.
Noise has its own rule outside the rental chapter. Section 3-343.2(B)(3) makes it a noise disturbance when a loudspeaker, sound amplifier or stereo is plainly audible upon the public streets at 50 feet from the source in a residential area. Under § 3-343.99, each violation beyond five per calendar year by the same person carries a $500 minimum fine.
Violations & Fines
Occupants must not engage in, tolerate or permit guests to engage in disruptive conduct (§ 8-511.6(D)). Staying past the 30-day vacate period is a violation by both occupant and owner, and failing to start eviction within 15 days gets the unit placarded. Under § 8-511.99(D) conviction carries a fine of not less than $50 and not more than $1,000 plus costs, or up to 90 days in the Dauphin County Prison, or both, per violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many loud party incidents before a Harrisburg rental loses its certificate?
Does a noise complaint alone count as disruptive conduct in Harrisburg?
What must a Harrisburg landlord do after a disruptive conduct report?
Is there a separate Harrisburg noise rule for amplified sound outside?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Harrisburg
Compare Harrisburg to another location·View the Pennsylvania public conduct overview
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