Monroe County, PA Rental Property Rules: Just Cause Eviction (2026)
Just cause eviction rules in Monroe County, PA, sometimes called tenant protection or "for cause" eviction ordinances, list the specific legal reasons a landlord can end a tenancy.
Key Facts
- Just cause
- Not required in PA
- Notice to quit
- 15 or 30 days (§250.501)
- Self-help eviction
- Illegal, court order only
- Deposit return
- 30 days, itemized (§250.512)
- Landlord stance
- Relatively landlord-friendly
Summary
Pennsylvania does not require just cause to end a tenancy. Under the Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 a Monroe County landlord may decline to renew a month-to-month tenant with written notice to quit, 15 or 30 days depending on the term.
Every landlord shall within thirty days of termination of a lease or upon surrender and acceptance of the leasehold premises, whichever first occurs, provide a tenant with a written list of any damages to the leasehold premises for which the landlord claims the tenant is liable.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Pennsylvania is relatively landlord-friendly, and no statewide just-cause rule exists; no Monroe County or township ordinance adds one. For a term of less than a year or at will, the landlord gives 15 days' written notice to quit; for a year or more, 30 days (68 P.S. §250.501). Eviction for cause, such as nonpayment, can move faster. But the landlord must go through the magisterial district court. Self-help lockouts, utility shutoffs, and removing a tenant's belongings are illegal, and retaliatory or discriminatory evictions are barred. At the end of the tenancy the deposit must be returned within 30 days with a written list of damages.
Violations & Fines
A self-help lockout or utility shutoff exposes a landlord to tenant damages, and filing without the required notice to quit gets the eviction dismissed. Withholding a deposit past 30 days can forfeit the right to keep any of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my landlord evict me without a reason?
How fast must I get my deposit back?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Monroe County
Compare Monroe County to another location·View the Pennsylvania rental property rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.