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Scranton City Code Section 317-7(A)(13) bars operation of construction, drilling or demolition tools or equipment that creates a noise disturbance across a residential property line between 10:00 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, and between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. on Sundays and holidays. Outside those windows, construction sound at the property line cannot exceed 85 dB(A) without a variance. Public-safety emergency work is exempt.
Scranton regulates barking dogs through two parallel chapters of the City Code. Chapter 317-7(A)(15) (Noise) creates a bright-line test: any animal or bird that barks, bays, cries, squawks or makes other noise continuously for 10 minutes - or intermittently for 30 minutes or more - to the disturbance of any person, at any time of day or night, is a violation. Chapter 169 (Animals) supplies a separate frequent-howling-or-barking offense with first-offense warning, then citation.
Scranton, PA does not have a standalone short-term rental ordinance. Hosts who rent dwellings for stays under 30 days are regulated through the city's rental registration and Mercantile/Business Privilege License framework, applicable zoning, and the Lackawanna County 7% hotel tax. Scranton is a Home Rule city under PA Act 62 of 1972, and Pennsylvania has not preempted local STR regulation.
Short-term rental hosts in Scranton are responsible for guest noise under the city's general noise and nuisance provisions in the Scranton City Code (eCode360 SC1148). Loud music, parties, and amplified sound that disturb neighbors trigger citations, and repeat violations can jeopardize a host's rental registration and Mercantile/Business Privilege License under city enforcement practice.
Short-term rental operators in Scranton must collect the Lackawanna County 7% hotel tax authorized under 72 P.S. §1771-A et seq. and the Pennsylvania 6% state hotel occupancy tax under 72 P.S. §7210 for any stay under 30 consecutive days. The combined rate is 13%. Scranton does not impose a separate municipal STR tax, but operators must pay the city Mercantile/Business Privilege Tax.
Scranton does not impose STR-specific parking minimums, but short-term rentals are bound by the off-street parking requirements in the Scranton Zoning Ordinance for the use district where the dwelling sits, and by the on-street residential parking system administered through the Scranton Parking Authority. Hosts must inform guests that posted time limits and snow-emergency rules apply.
Scranton does not set an STR-specific occupancy cap, but every dwelling must meet the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) minimum-area standards as adopted by Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code. IPMC Section 404 sets minimum sleeping-room area (70 sq ft for one occupant, 50 sq ft per additional). Scranton DLIP inspects rental units under these standards.
Scranton PA does not require short-term rental hosts to carry a specific insurance policy or post a liability minimum, and Pennsylvania has no statewide STR insurance mandate. However, hosts using Airbnb or VRBO rely on platform-provided host protection (AirCover up to $1M, VRBO Liability Insurance up to $1M), and a personal homeowner's policy almost always excludes commercial transient rental.
Scranton has no California-style defensible-space program. The city controls fire-fuel vegetation primarily through Chapter 360 (Property Maintenance) of the Codified Ordinances, which adopts the International Property Maintenance Code. Under Chapter 360, all premises and exterior property must be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of 8 inches in height, and noxious weeds are prohibited.
Scranton, PA (Lackawanna County, population approximately 76,000) regulates residential fire pits through Chapter 243 (Fire Prevention) of the Scranton Code of Ordinances, which adopts the BOCA National Fire Prevention Code, supplemented by the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code at 34 Pa. Code Chapters 401-405. Recreational fires must be set back from structures, contained in approved devices, and continuously attended.
Scranton restricts open burning through Chapter 243 (Fire Prevention) of the Codified Ordinances, which adopts the BOCA National Fire Prevention Code, supplemented by Pennsylvania DEP air-quality rules at 25 Pa. Code Section 129.14. Burning of leaves, yard waste, household garbage, treated wood, plastic, and tires is prohibited. Only compliant recreational fires (seasoned wood, contained, attended) and approved cooking fires are allowed.
Scranton, PA does not have a city-designated Wildfire Hazard Severity Zone. Pennsylvania has not adopted IFC Chapter 49 (Requirements for Wildland-Urban Interface Areas) statewide, and Scranton has not adopted it locally through Chapter 243. The surrounding Pocono region and DCNR Tobyhanna State Forest area do see seasonal wildfire activity, but the city itself is a dense urban core with no WHSZ overlay.
Propane (LP-gas) storage in Scranton is regulated through Chapter 243 (Fire Prevention) of the Codified Ordinances, which adopts the BOCA National Fire Prevention Code, and the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code at 34 Pa. Code Chapters 401-405 (which incorporates the International Fire Code). NFPA 58 (Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code) governs tank setbacks, and the residential aggregate LP-gas storage cap on a single-family lot is 500 pounds water capacity (approximately 125 gallons of propane).
Consumer fireworks in Scranton, PA are governed by Pennsylvania Act 74 of 2022 (codified at 3 Pa. C.S.A. Chapter 24, repealing Act 43 of 2017) and locally enforced by the Scranton Bureau of Fire under Chapter 243. Fireworks may not be discharged within 150 feet of any occupied structure or vehicle. Use is restricted to 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m., extended to 1:00 a.m. on July 2, 3, 4 and December 31.
RV, trailer and boat parking in Scranton is governed by the City of Scranton Code (codified on eCode360) and the separately adopted Scranton Zoning Ordinance, layered on top of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code (75 Pa.C.S.). On-street storage of recreational vehicles, boat trailers and utility trailers is restricted by the City's vehicles-and-traffic provisions and by the statewide 75 Pa.C.S. §3353 stopping/standing/parking rules; on-lot storage is regulated as an accessory use under the Scranton Zoning Ordinance.
Driveway design, curb cuts and off-street parking in Scranton are governed by the Scranton Zoning Ordinance (referenced in the City Code on eCode360 portal SC1148) and by the City's right-of-way and engineering rules administered by the Department of Public Works. The Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (34 Pa. Code §§401-405) adopts the IBC/IRC statewide and applies to driveway-related structures. Curb cuts and aprons across the City right-of-way require a permit.
Commercial vehicle parking in Scranton is regulated by the City's Vehicles and Traffic provisions (City of Scranton Code on eCode360 portal SC1148) and the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code (75 Pa.C.S.) and Title 67 of the Pennsylvania Code. The City restricts where larger trucks, trailers and tractor units may park on residential streets, requires use of designated loading zones for active deliveries, and applies the statewide 75 Pa.C.S. §3353 stopping/standing/parking baseline.
On-street parking in Scranton is governed by the City's Vehicles and Traffic chapter (Code of the City of Scranton, eCode360 portal SC1148) and the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code (75 Pa.C.S.), notably §3353 (Restrictions on parking). The Scranton Parking Authority (SPA) operates meters, kiosks, residential permit zones and several public parking garages in Center City. Statutory setbacks of 15 ft from hydrants, 20 ft from crosswalks and 30 ft from stop signs/signals apply citywide.
Scranton does not impose a citywide overnight ban on on-street parking of ordinary passenger vehicles, but overnight parking is limited by signed block restrictions, Scranton Parking Authority residential permit zones, the City's continuous-parking storage rules, and - importantly - the snow emergency route program activated during winter storms. RVs, trailers and commercial vehicles face additional restrictions under the Zoning Ordinance and Vehicles and Traffic chapter.
Pennsylvania does not have a statewide EV-ready building mandate or model municipal EV ordinance comparable to New Jersey's, so EV charging in Scranton is governed primarily by the Scranton Zoning Ordinance and the electrical permit requirements of the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (34 Pa. Code §§401-405, adopting the NEC). Single-family residential EVSE is generally treated as a permitted accessory use requiring an electrical permit from the City Department of Licensing, Inspections & Permits.
Abandoned and inoperable vehicles in Scranton are handled under the City's Vehicles and Traffic and Property Maintenance / Nuisance provisions (Code of the City of Scranton, eCode360 portal SC1148), together with the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code abandoned-vehicle provisions at 75 Pa.C.S. §7311 et seq. The Pennsylvania statute sets out the title-clearing and removal framework, and the City layers local enforcement and notice procedures on top.
Scranton does not have a breed-specific ordinance and cannot enact one. Pennsylvania's Dog Law at 3 P.S. Section 459-507-A(c) preempts local breed bans: a local ordinance otherwise dealing with dogs may not prohibit or otherwise limit a specific breed of dog. Scranton regulates dangerous behavior on an individual-dog basis through Chapter 169 vicious-dog provisions, aligned with the state dangerous-dog statute at 3 P.S. Section 459-502-A enforced through the Court of Common Pleas of Lackawanna County.
Scranton's Code of Ordinances Chapter 169 (Animals) prohibits horses, cows, bulls, goats, sheep, hogs, mules, oxen and similar livestock from running at large in the City, and authorizes the Director of the Office of Public Health to order removal of chickens, ducks, geese, guinea fowl, turkeys, pigeons or other domestic fowl confined within 15 feet of any dwelling within 48 hours of notice. No person may keep a cow or bull without a written permit from the Director of the Office of Public Health. The combined effect is that backyard agricultural birds and large livestock are not by-right uses inside Scranton city limits.
Scranton's Code of Ordinances Chapter 169 (Animals) does not contain an express urban-beekeeping framework, and bees are not listed as a permitted accessory use in residential zones under the Scranton Zoning Ordinance. The practical effect is that any hive proposed within City limits sits in regulatory gray space and would draw nuisance review under Chapter 169 if it triggered complaints. Statewide, the Pennsylvania Bee Law at 3 Pa.C.S. Section 2101 et seq. requires every beekeeper to register all apiaries with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry.
Scranton's Code of Ordinances Chapter 169 addresses dangerous and at-large animals through nuisance and restraint provisions, and the Scranton Zoning Ordinance does not list exotic species as a customary residential accessory use. Statewide, the Pennsylvania Game and Wildlife Code at 34 Pa.C.S. Section 2961 et seq. and the Pennsylvania Game Commission's permit regulations at 58 Pa. Code Chapter 147 separately require an Exotic Wildlife Possession Permit for big cats, primates, bears, wolves, and venomous reptiles native to non-PA jurisdictions.
Scranton addresses animal hoarding through two overlapping frameworks: (1) Chapter 169 of the Code of Ordinances, which prohibits keeping animals in a manner that disturbs the peace or constitutes a health hazard to the citizens of the City of Scranton; and (2) the Pennsylvania cruelty statutes at 18 Pa.C.S. Sections 5532 (neglect), 5533 (cruelty), and 5534 (aggravated cruelty), as enacted by Libre's Law in 2017. Pennsylvania SPCA-trained humane officers, working with Griffin Pond Animal Shelter (Humane Society of Lackawanna County), enforce the criminal statutes alongside Scranton Police.
Scranton's local wildlife-feeding enforcement runs through Chapter 169 nuisance provisions of the Code of Ordinances and property-maintenance rules against accumulations attracting vermin. Statewide rules add specific bans: 58 Pa. Code Section 137.33 prohibits feeding bears and elk anywhere in Pennsylvania, and 58 Pa. Code Section 137.34 prohibits feeding wild deer within designated Disease Management Areas (DMAs). Lackawanna County's DMA status changes after new CWD detections — verify the current Pennsylvania Game Commission CWD map before placing deer feed.
Scranton's Code of Ordinances Chapter 169 (Animals) caps the total combined number of dogs and cats over three months of age at six (6) per residential lot of less than one acre. Each dog three months or older must be licensed annually under the Pennsylvania Dog Law through the Lackawanna County Treasurer, and any person breeding, boarding, or selling 26 or more dogs in a calendar year must hold a separate state kennel license under 3 P.S. Section 459-206. Conditions sufficient to constitute neglect or hoarding escalate to criminal charges under 18 Pa.C.S. Sections 5532-5534.
Scranton's Code of Ordinances Chapter 169 (Animals) prohibits dogs from running at large in the City, requires that any leash or chain not exceed six feet in length, and authorizes Scranton Police and contracted animal-control authorities to seize dogs running at large. As of January 1, 2023 the City of Scranton no longer issues a separate City dog license — owners license through the Lackawanna County Treasurer under the Pennsylvania Dog Law at 3 P.S. Section 459-201, which requires every dog three months or older to be licensed annually.
Tree trimming in the City of Scranton is governed by Chapter 434 (Trees and Weeds), Article I (Trees) (https://ecode360.com/11608793) and Chapter 358 (Shade Tree Commission, https://ecode360.com/11603607). The ordinance applies to street, highway, lane, alley, and avenue trees within the public right-of-way and to trees on public parks and other City-owned grounds. It is unlawful to top any tree (severe cutting back of limbs to stubs larger than 5 inches in diameter) as a normal practice without permission of the Shade Tree Commission or City Forester. Routine trimming of a wholly private tree typically does not require a City permit; pruning of right-of-way and street trees does.
Weed control in the City of Scranton operates on two tiers. Locally, Chapter 360 (Property Maintenance) Article II caps weeds and plant growth at 8 inches and prohibits all noxious weeds; Chapter 434 Article IV (Weeds) specifically targets Canada thistles, ragweed, burdocks, any senecio species, and rank vegetable growth, with a 10-day notice procedure and Section 1-16 penalties. Statewide, Pennsylvania's Controlled Plant and Noxious Weed Act (3 Pa.C.S. Chapter 12, replacing 3 P.S. § 255.1 et seq.) and 7 Pa. Code § 110.1 list noxious weeds including multiflora rose, Canada thistle, Johnson grass, musk thistle, bull thistle, and giant hogweed.
Scranton residents are served by Pennsylvania American Water, the regulated investor-owned utility under the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. The City of Scranton does not impose year-round watering days. Restrictions are triggered by Pennsylvania American Water's PUC-approved drought contingency plan or by a Governor-declared drought emergency under the Emergency Management Services Code (35 Pa.C.S.) implemented through 4 Pa. Code Chapter 119 (Prohibition of Nonessential Water Uses) and Chapter 118 (Reductions of Major Water Use). The PA DEP Drought Task Force coordinates the four-stage advisory framework: Normal, Drought Watch, Drought Warning, Drought Emergency.
Tree removal in the City of Scranton is governed by Chapter 434, Article I (Trees) (https://ecode360.com/11608793) and Chapter 358 (Shade Tree Commission) (https://ecode360.com/11603607). It is unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, or city department to remove any tree in the right-of-way or on City-owned grounds without first obtaining permission from the Shade Tree Commission and/or City Forester. The Shade Tree Commission or City Forester may order removal of trees that are in unsafe condition or are injurious to sewers, sidewalks, electric power lines, gas lines, water lines, or other public improvements. Routine removal of a private residential tree generally does not require a City permit.
The City of Scranton does not mandate native-plant landscaping on residential property. Native and pollinator-friendly planting is encouraged through the Shade Tree Commission, City Forester, and grants administered by the Pennsylvania DCNR Urban and Community Forestry program (formerly TreeVitalize) and TreePennsylvania (the PA Environmental Justice Forests program awarded Scranton $30,000 for 250 bare-root trees). The Chapter 360 Property Maintenance Code's 8-inch height standard exempts cultivated flowers, gardens, trees, and shrubs, providing a clear path for maintained native or pollinator plantings. PA Right to Farm Act (3 P.S. § 951-957) protects agricultural operations in agricultural security areas.
Backyard composting in the City of Scranton is permitted; the City does not require a permit for a residential compost bin. The City operates a yard-waste collection program through its Department of Public Works for grass clippings, leaves, and brush, separate from regular trash. Improper composting that becomes a vermin or odor nuisance is reachable under Chapter 360 (Property Maintenance). Statewide, the Pennsylvania Solid Waste Management Act (35 P.S. § 6018.101 et seq.) and 25 Pa. Code Chapter 271 govern composting facilities; small backyard composting is exempt from facility permitting. Open burning of yard waste is restricted under 25 Pa. Code § 129.14 and local fire-code provisions.
Grass and weed height in the City of Scranton is regulated under Chapter 360 (Property Maintenance), Article II (Rules and Regulations), which adopts the International Property Maintenance Code, 2015 Edition (https://ecode360.com/29522618). All premises and exterior property must be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of 8 inches; all noxious weeds are prohibited. Cultivated flowers, gardens, trees, and shrubs are exempt. A separate weed-cutting article (Chapter 434, Article IV - Weeds, https://ecode360.com/11608837) imposes a 10-day notice procedure before penalty under Section 1-16. Enforcement is by the City of Scranton Department of Licensing, Inspections and Permits.
Pennsylvania law permits rainwater harvesting statewide with no state-level prohibition, while plumbing code universally governs any potable connection to home systems.
Scranton exempts most residential fences with a fair market value under $500 from a zoning permit, but a permit is still required in the Floodplain Overlay and Airport Hazard Overlay zones. Larger fences and any work in an overlay district need a zoning approval letter or building permit from the Bureau of Code Enforcement.
Scranton's Zoning Ordinance allows fences on the property line and does not require neighbor consent. Boundary and partition-fence disputes are resolved under Pennsylvania common law in the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas, not by the City Zoning Officer.
Scranton's Zoning Ordinance regulates fence height, location, and visibility but does not prescribe a closed list of allowed residential materials. Wood, vinyl, ornamental metal, chain link, and masonry are all permitted within the Chapter 445 height limits, with extra review in historic districts.
Outdoor swimming pools in Scranton must be enclosed by a barrier at least 4 feet high with openings no wider than 2 inches and self-latching gates. The Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (34 Pa. Code 401-405), which adopts IRC Appendix G and the 2018 ISPSC, layers on top of the city standard.
Under Scranton's Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 445, Ord. 54-2023), fence panels may not exceed 4 feet in a front yard or 6 feet 6 inches in side and rear yards. Fences abutting an alley are capped at 4 feet. Fences may be installed on the property line.
Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code sets the statewide permit threshold and engineering standards for retaining walls regardless of municipality.
Scranton requires a building permit for any swimming pool, hot tub, or spa deeper than 24 inches under Chapter 201 and the PA Uniform Construction Code. Permits are issued by the Bureau of Code Enforcement and fees follow the Chapter 203 schedule effective January 1, 2023.
Every outdoor pool in Scranton must be enclosed by a barrier at least 4 feet high with no opening wider than 2 inches and self-catching gate latches, under Chapter 445 Article V. The PA UCC layers on the 48-inch, self-closing, self-latching standard of IRC Appendix G and the 2018 ISPSC.
Pools in Scranton must comply with the federal Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (15 USC 8003) requiring anti-entrapment drain covers, plus the PA UCC adoption of the 2018 ISPSC for circulation, electrical bonding, alarms, and barriers. Public and apartment-complex pools also need a PADEP Bathing Place permit.
Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code applies the same permit and barrier requirements to above-ground pools deeper than 24 inches as in-ground pools.
Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code requires permits for hot tubs and spas, with locking covers acceptable as a barrier alternative under the ISPSC.
Scranton is a Home Rule city in Lackawanna County (population approximately 76,000) operating under a Home Rule Charter adopted in 1976 pursuant to Pennsylvania Act 62 of 1972 (the PA Home Rule Charter and Optional Plans Law). The Scranton Zoning Ordinance is maintained as a separate document from the codified Scranton Code on eCode360 at https://ecode360.com/SC1148; the last comprehensive zoning amendment dates from approximately 2015. Pennsylvania has no statewide accessory dwelling unit preemption statute, so ADU permissibility, density, owner-occupancy requirements, and design standards in Scranton are determined entirely by the Scranton Zoning Ordinance under the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (53 P.S. §10101 et seq.). Property owners must consult the Zoning Ordinance and the Scranton Department of Licensing, Inspections and Permits (LIP) for whether ADUs (variously called accessory apartments, in-law suites, or second dwelling units) are permitted by right, by special exception, or by conditional use in the applicable residential district.
Sheds and similar accessory structures in Scranton are regulated through two layers: (1) the Scranton Zoning Ordinance, which sets dimensional standards (size, height, setbacks, lot coverage, location relative to the principal dwelling) by district; and (2) the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code at 34 Pa Code §403.1, which exempts non-residential utility sheds under 1,000 square feet from UCC permitting but does not exempt them from local zoning compliance. Scranton property owners typically need a zoning permit from the Department of Licensing, Inspections and Permits even when no building permit is required, especially on Scranton's older narrow lots in the Hill Section, West Scranton, and Green Ridge neighborhoods where rear-yard space is constrained.
Converting a Scranton garage into habitable space (a bedroom, in-law suite, home office, or ADU) requires both (1) zoning approval under the Scranton Zoning Ordinance for the change of use (because the converted space is no longer accessory parking and may count toward floor area or trigger an ADU classification) and (2) a building permit under the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code at 34 Pa Code §401.7. Conversions must meet the 2018 International Residential Code for habitable spaces (egress windows under IRC R310, ceiling height under IRC R305, ventilation, smoke and CO alarms under IRC R314/R315), and Scranton's local off-street parking minimums in the Zoning Ordinance must still be satisfied.
An accessory dwelling unit in Scranton requires permits from two municipal offices: a zoning permit from the Scranton Department of Licensing, Inspections and Permits (LIP) confirming the ADU is permitted in the district under the Scranton Zoning Ordinance, either by right or by special exception/variance through the Scranton Zoning Hearing Board, and a building permit from the Scranton Building Code Official under the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code at 34 Pa Code §401.7 for the construction itself. Pennsylvania has no statewide ADU preemption like California's SB 9 or Oregon's HB 2001, so timelines, fees, and approval criteria are set by Scranton and the PA UCC.
Pennsylvania municipalities have limited statutory authority to impose impact fees on new development. Under the Municipalities Planning Code Article V-A (53 P.S. §§10502-A through 10503-A), the only authorized impact fee is a transportation impact fee, and even that requires a multi-year traffic study, an adopted impact fee ordinance, and impact-fee districts. Scranton has not adopted a transportation impact fee ordinance under Article V-A as of mid-2024. Other typical "impact" charges (water/sewer connection fees, school district contributions, recreation fees) operate under separate authorities. ADU applicants in Scranton generally face only standard zoning and building permit fees, water/sewer tap-in charges through Pennsylvania American Water and the Scranton Sewer Authority (now part of Pennsylvania American Water following the 2016 acquisition), and any school district enrollment-related charges if dwelling-unit count increases.
Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code applies the IRC Appendix Q tiny house standards universally, governing minimum safety requirements for permanent tiny homes statewide.
Scranton regulates home occupations through the Scranton Zoning Ordinance under authority of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (53 P.S. §10603) and the city's Home Rule Charter (adopted 1976 under PA Act 62 of 1972). Home occupations are typically permitted as accessory uses in residential districts subject to limits on floor area devoted to the business, exterior changes to the dwelling, non-resident employees, customer traffic, signage, outdoor storage, and noise. Pennsylvania has no statewide home occupation preemption, so the precise standards (often categorized as "no-impact" home occupations, "minor" home occupations, or "major" home occupations requiring special exception) are entirely set by Scranton.
Signage for home occupations in Scranton is governed by the Scranton Zoning Ordinance sign regulations. Typical home-occupation rules in Pennsylvania municipalities limit on-premises signs to one non-illuminated wall sign of small area (commonly 1 to 2 square feet) identifying the business. The PA no-impact home-based business statute (53 P.S. §10107) explicitly precludes external evidence of the business, including signs visible from outside, so the no-impact tier typically allows no sign at all. Major home occupations approved by special exception may allow modest signage subject to the Zoning Ordinance's sign schedule. All sign regulations must be content-neutral under Reed v. Town of Gilbert, 576 U.S. 155 (2015).
Scranton limits customer traffic to home occupations to preserve residential character. Typical Pennsylvania home-occupation rules cap daily customer visits (commonly 4 to 8 per day for customary home occupations), restrict client hours (often 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.), require off-street parking for clients, and prohibit deliveries by tractor-trailer or other commercial vehicles inconsistent with residential use. The PA no-impact home-based business definition at 53 P.S. §10107 itself contains a customer-traffic floor: such businesses must have no clients visiting the premises. Major home occupations with significant customer traffic require special-exception approval from the Scranton Zoning Hearing Board.
Pennsylvania regulates home-based cottage food producers as Limited Food Establishments under the PA Department of Agriculture, requiring registration, inspection, and labeling for non-potentially hazardous foods sold direct to consumers.
Pennsylvania requires Department of Human Services certification for family child day care homes serving four to six unrelated children, with statewide background checks, training, and ratio standards that apply regardless of municipal zoning labels.
Loud parties in Scranton are reached through Chapter 317 (Noise), Chapter 336 (Peace and Good Order), 18 Pa.C.S. Section 5503 (PA disorderly conduct), and - for rental occupants - Chapter 373 (Rental Property), which lets the city CLOSE a rental unit after three or more disruptive-conduct reports within six months. There is no civil social-host statute in Pennsylvania, but 18 Pa.C.S. Section 6310.1 (selling/furnishing alcohol to minors) and Section 5503 give prosecutors a criminal hook.
Scranton has not codified a stand-alone outdoor-smoking ordinance for parks, sidewalks, or public spaces. Smoking restrictions in the city are governed primarily by the Pennsylvania Clean Indoor Air Act at 35 P.S. §637.1 et seq., which bans smoking in most indoor workplaces and public places statewide but leaves outdoor areas largely unregulated at the state level. The Scranton Department of Public Works and Parks may post no-smoking rules at specific facilities (notably playgrounds, splash pads, and youth-sports areas at Nay Aug Park, Connell Park, and similar venues) under its general park-rules authority. The Clean Indoor Air Act at §637.11 contains a partial-preemption provision that limits some stricter local rules.
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 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 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'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.
Scranton's mandatory recycling program is codified at Chapter 400 Article V (Recycling) of the Code of the City of Scranton, the local implementation of PA Act 101 of 1988 (Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act, 53 P.S. §4000.101 et seq.), which requires every PA municipality of 10,000+ population (Scranton ~76,000) to operate curbside recycling. Residents separate materials into two bins: BLUE bin for plastic bottles/containers, glass bottles/containers, and aluminum/steel/tin bottles/containers; RED bin for corrugated cardboard, paperboard, cereal/tissue boxes, newspaper, magazines, copy paper, and all writing paper. Starting July 7, 2025, cardboard and paper are collected together every other week. Violations of Chapter 400's recycling sections are subject to fines not to exceed $300.
Scranton operates city-run residential refuse collection through the Bureau of Refuse and Recycling within the Department of Public Works under Chapter 400 (Solid Waste) of the Code of the City of Scranton. Pickup is weekly per published route. Garbage may be set at the curb no earlier than the night before scheduled pickup. When a holiday falls on a weekday, all refuse and recycling collections are delayed by one day for that week. Observed holidays: New Year's Day, MLK Day, Easter Monday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Service is limited to residential customers; commercial properties must contract with private haulers and recycle at least once monthly.
Chapter 400 (Solid Waste) of the Code of the City of Scranton directs receptacles to be placed by the owner, tenant, housekeeper, or other occupant in the yard where they are easily accessible to the collectors, kept covered at all times. For curbside set-out (no earlier than the night before pickup), the City's Bureau of Refuse and Recycling instructs residents that recycling and refuse must be 'always curbside on front or side of home.' No keeping of rubbish or garbage in trucks, trailers, or motor vehicles on streets, sidewalks, or any City lands for more than one hour. Multi-family commercial properties must contract privately and present materials per their hauler's instructions while still respecting the right-of-way obstruction rules.
Yard waste, brush, and bulk-item pickups in Scranton are operated by the Department of Public Works through the Bureau of Refuse and Recycling, separate from regular weekly refuse. Residents call 570-348-4180 or email recycle@scrantonpa.gov to schedule and confirm rules. Electronics (TVs, monitors, laptops, peripherals) cannot be set out curbside under the PA Covered Device Recycling Act (73 P.S. §1727.1 et seq.); appliances containing refrigerants (refrigerators, AC units) require EPA Section 608 freon evacuation before any landfill accepts them. Hazardous materials and construction debris are not eligible. The City also runs periodic electronics-recycling collection events announced through the DPW.
Scranton's Bureau of Refuse and Recycling operates a separate yard-waste, brush, and bulk pickup stream apart from regular weekly refuse, authorized under PA Act 101 (53 P.S. §4000.101 et seq.) which directs municipalities to divert leaf and yard waste from landfills. Residents call 570-348-4180 or email recycle@scrantonpa.gov to confirm the seasonal schedule and acceptable container/sizing rules (typically open rigid containers, compostable bags, or kraft paper yard-waste bags). Open burning of leaves and yard debris within City limits is generally prohibited; PA DEP regulates open burning statewide at 25 Pa. Code §129.14. Significant Pocono-region snow may shift fall leaf routes.
Illegal dumping in Scranton is enforced under three layered authorities: (1) 18 Pa.C.S. §6501 (Scattering Rubbish), Pennsylvania's criminal statute making it a summary offense to deposit waste paper, ashes, household waste, glass, metal, refuse, or rubbish onto roads, streets, alleys, railroad rights-of-way, the land of another, or waters of the Commonwealth ($50-$300 first offense plus 5-30 hours mandatory cleanup; third-degree misdemeanor with $300-$1,000 and 30-100 hours cleanup for subsequent offenses); (2) Chapter 400 (Solid Waste) of the Code of the City of Scranton with general penalty up to $300 per violation including the >1-hour ban on garbage stored in vehicles on streets/sidewalks; and (3) the PA Solid Waste Management Act (35 P.S. §6018.101) for larger-scale dumping referred to PA DEP.
Scranton tobacco retailers are licensed primarily at the state level. Pennsylvania Act 112 of 2020 (codified at 18 Pa.C.S. §6305) raised the minimum sales age to 21 for all tobacco products including e-cigarettes and vapes, and the PA Department of Revenue issues the Cigarette Dealer License. Scranton retailers must also hold a city Mercantile/Business Privilege License from the Single Tax Office; Scranton has not enacted a separate municipal tobacco license.
Scranton secondhand dealers and pawnbrokers are regulated primarily under Pennsylvania state law - the Pawnbrokers License Act (63 P.S. §281-1 et seq.) and the Precious Metals Sales Act (73 P.S. §1932 et seq.) - and must hold a Scranton Mercantile/Business Privilege License. PA requires precious-metals dealers to register with the Pennsylvania State Police, keep transaction records for 4 years, and hold purchased items for at least 7 days before resale.
Food truck operators in Scranton need a Mobile Food Facility license from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (because Lackawanna County does NOT have a state-delegated local health authority), a Scranton Mercantile/Business Privilege License from the Single Tax Office, a current food-safety certification for the person in charge, and zoning compliance for each operating location. PA Dept of Ag sanitarians conduct inspections.
Scranton has not codified a citywide map of designated food-truck vending zones. Mobile-food operation in Scranton is governed by the city's peddler/vendor and itinerant-merchant licensing provisions in the Scranton City Code at ecode360.com/SC1148, by the Lackawanna County / Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture licensing framework under the Pennsylvania Food Code at 7 Pa. Code Chapter 46, and by the city's zoning provisions on where mobile-food operations may locate. PennDOT controls vending on state highway right-of-way within Scranton (including portions of I-81, I-84, I-380, US 6, US 11, PA 307, and PA 347). Operators select sites case by case and confirm them with the Department of Licensing, Inspections, and Permits before operating.
Scranton does not have a rent-control ordinance and Pennsylvania law does not authorize a home-rule city of the second class A like Scranton to enact one. Pennsylvania has no statewide rent-control enabling statute outside the Philadelphia-specific framework, and rent levels at Scranton apartments, duplexes, and multi-unit conversions are set by free agreement between landlord and tenant under the Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 at 68 P.S. §250.101 et seq. The Scranton City Code at ecode360.com/SC1148 does not cap rent increases, does not require advance notice of rent increases beyond what the lease specifies, and does not require landlord registration of rent rolls.
Scranton does not have a just-cause eviction ordinance, and Pennsylvania law does not require landlords to state a cause to terminate a residential tenancy. Under the Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 at 68 P.S. §250.501, a landlord may terminate a month-to-month tenancy on 15 days' written notice and may decline to renew a fixed-term lease at its end without stating a reason. Cause-based grounds (non-payment, lease breach, illegal use) carry shorter notice periods. Evictions proceed in the Magisterial District Court that serves Scranton within Lackawanna County; the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas hears appeals.
Scranton operates a mandatory Residential Rental Registration Program codified in the Scranton City Code at ecode360.com/SC1148 and administered by the Department of Licensing, Inspections, and Permits (LIP). Every residential rental property in the city must be registered with the City, the owner must designate a local agent for service of process if the owner does not reside in or near Lackawanna County, and rental units are subject to periodic inspection under the City's property-maintenance framework, which adopts the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) as the substantive habitability standard. Operating an unregistered rental is enforceable through code-enforcement citations and, under PA Act 90 of 2010, through Scranton's Quality of Life Ticketing Program.
Scranton has not codified a separate local security-deposit ordinance; deposits are governed by the Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 at 68 P.S. §250.511a et seq. The statute caps the deposit at two months' rent during the first year of the tenancy and at one month's rent during the second and subsequent years. Deposits over $100 held for more than two years must be placed in an escrow account at a federally or state-regulated banking institution, and the tenant must be given written notice of the institution's name and address. The landlord must return the deposit (less itemized deductions) within 30 days of the tenant's vacating; failure to do so exposes the landlord to a doubled-deposit penalty plus attorney fees under 68 P.S. §250.512.
Scranton's Residential Rental Registration Program, codified in the Scranton City Code at ecode360.com/SC1148, authorizes the Department of Licensing, Inspections, and Permits (LIP) to conduct periodic interior and exterior inspections of every registered residential rental in the city. The substantive standard is the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), adopted by reference in the Scranton City Code. Where the owner or tenant withholds consent, Pennsylvania law authorizes the City to obtain an administrative warrant from a Magisterial District Judge before entry. Violations documented at inspection are issued as notices of violation with a stated correction deadline; non-compliance leads to citation under the general-penalty schedule and under Scranton's Quality of Life Ticketing Program (PA Act 90 of 2010).
Recreational drone operation in Scranton is governed by the FAA federal framework: 14 CFR Part 107 for non-recreational flight and 49 U.S.C. §44809 for limited recreational flight (TRUST test, line-of-sight, under 400 feet AGL, registered above 0.55 lb at faa.gov/uas). Scranton has not codified a stand-alone drone ordinance. The southern and southeastern portions of the city lie within the Class D and Class E veils for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (KAVP) in Pittston Township, which requires LAANC authorization before flight. Pennsylvania state law adds a criminal layer at 18 Pa.C.S. §3505 (criminal use of an unmanned aircraft) for surveillance and harassment offenses and preempts most local drone regulation.
Commercial drone operators in Pennsylvania must comply with FAA Part 107 certification and any state offenses under Act 78 of 2018, which preempts local commercial drone ordinances and centralizes regulation at state and federal levels.
Pennsylvania repealed the statewide mandate for sprinklers in new one- and two-family dwellings effective retroactively to January 1, 2011 (Act 1 of 2011, HB 377). Scranton does not impose a local residential sprinkler mandate. New townhouses, commercial buildings, and existing buildings undergoing significant renovation remain subject to the sprinkler triggers in the IBC and IFC adopted through Chapter 201 (Construction Codes, Uniform) and Chapter 243.
The City of Scranton does not have a stand-alone municipal lead ordinance. Lead hazards in Scranton are addressed through the federal Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act (42 U.S.C. Section 4851), EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR Part 745), the Pennsylvania Lead Certification Act (35 P.S. Section 5901), and the Pennsylvania Department of Health Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program enforced locally through Scranton's Chapter 373 rental inspections.
Scranton regulates rodent and insect infestation through Chapter 360 (Property Maintenance) of the Codified Ordinances, which adopts the International Property Maintenance Code, and through Chapter 373 (Rental Property) inspections. IPMC Section 309 requires extermination of pests by the owner of structures and shared infestations in multifamily buildings; Sections 304.5 and 308 require rodent-proofing of exterior openings and approved garbage containers.
Building setbacks in Scranton are set by the Scranton Zoning Ordinance (referenced in the City Code on eCode360 portal SC1148, adopted as a separate document) and vary by zoning district. The City's principal residential districts (R-1A lowest density through R-3 highest density) each have their own front, side and rear yard requirements. Setback variances are heard by the Scranton Zoning Hearing Board under the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (53 P.S. §10101 et seq.).
Building height in Scranton is regulated by the Scranton Zoning Ordinance (separately adopted, referenced in the City Code on eCode360 portal SC1148) and is set district-by-district in the bulk schedule for each zoning district. Lower-density R-1A and R-1 residential districts impose stricter height caps than the higher-density R-3 and Central Business District. The Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (34 Pa. Code §§401-405) adopts the IBC and adds height/area limits based on construction type.
Lot coverage in Scranton is regulated by the Scranton Zoning Ordinance (referenced in the City Code on eCode360 portal SC1148) and is set district-by-district in the bulk schedule of each zoning district. Higher-density R-3 and the Central Business District allow much higher building coverage than the lower-density R-1A and R-1 districts. Impervious-surface and stormwater impacts on larger projects are reviewed under the City's stormwater ordinance and PA DEP NPDES Phase II MS4 requirements (25 Pa. Code Chapter 102).
Scranton's Code of Ordinances does not contain a dedicated garage-sale or yard-sale permit chapter, and no City of Scranton garage-sale permit is required for occasional residential sales of household items on private property. Sales that grow in frequency, volume, or commercial character can be reviewed as unlicensed business or secondhand-dealer activity under the Scranton Code. Occasional residential sales remain exempt from Pennsylvania sales-tax licensing under PA Department of Revenue isolated-sale guidance.
Scranton does not cap the number of garage or yard sales a household may hold per year. The Code of Ordinances contains no dedicated garage-sale chapter, so there is no codified frequency limit and no permit requirement for occasional residential sales inside the City of Scranton. Sales that become recurring or commercial in character may be treated as unlicensed business or secondhand-dealer activity under Scranton Code Chapter 333. Pennsylvania state law retains an isolated-sale sales-tax exemption administered by the PA Department of Revenue.
Tree-removal permitting in the City of Scranton runs through the Shade Tree Commission and City Forester under Chapter 434 Article I (Trees) and Chapter 358 (Shade Tree Commission). Permission from the Commission and/or City Forester is required to remove any tree in the public right-of-way, on public parks, or on any City-owned grounds. The Code does not impose a separate, standalone permit for routine private-lot tree removals outside the right-of-way. Removal of a Planning-Commission-conditioned tree within a subdivision or site-plan approval area requires Planning Commission consent.
The City of Scranton does not maintain a separately codified heritage-tree registry. Specimen and notable trees are protected indirectly through Chapter 434 Article I (Trees) and Chapter 358 (Shade Tree Commission), which together make it unlawful to remove or top any tree in the public right-of-way, parks, or other City-owned grounds without Shade Tree Commission or City Forester permission. Notable mature-tree resources include Nay Aug Park, Lake Scranton Watershed land, and Lackawanna State Park (Lackawanna County). Tree City USA designation acknowledges Scranton's commitment to its urban forest under Arbor Day Foundation criteria.
Tree replacement in the City of Scranton is imposed through Shade Tree Commission and City Forester conditions on right-of-way and park-tree removal permits under Chapter 434 Article I and Chapter 358, and through City Planning Commission conditions on subdivision and site-plan approvals. The Code does not impose a fixed numeric replacement ratio town-wide; replacement species, caliper, and survivability are set case by case. State-funded support is available through the PA DCNR Urban and Community Forestry program (C2P2 grants) and TreePennsylvania (the City received $30,000 for 250 bare-root trees through PA Environmental Justice Forests).
Scranton's Stormwater Management Ordinance (Chapter 405, adopted March 9, 2006) governs runoff, infiltration, and BMP maintenance under PA Act 167 and the PADEP NPDES MS4 permit. All stormwater in the City drains to the Lackawanna River and then the North Branch of the Susquehanna.
Scranton's Floodplain Management Requirements are codified at Section 445.51 of the Zoning Ordinance, last amended July 28, 2020 by Ordinance No. 16-2020. New construction in a Special Flood Hazard Area along the Lackawanna River or Roaring Brook must be elevated or flood-proofed at least 18 inches above base flood elevation.
Pennsylvania's federally approved Coastal Zone Management Program covers the Lake Erie shoreline and Delaware Estuary, requiring DEP review and consistency determinations for development affecting state coastal resources.
Under the Clean Streams Law and 25 Pa. Code Chapter 102, anyone conducting earth disturbance in Pennsylvania must implement written erosion and sediment control plans, with permits required for projects disturbing one acre or more.
The Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act establishes statewide siting rules for dispensaries, including a 1,000-foot setback from schools and daycares, while allowing reasonable local zoning that does not effectively prohibit permitted facilities.
Pennsylvania prohibits home cultivation of cannabis by patients, caregivers, and recreational users. The Medical Marijuana Act limits production to state-permitted growers, and unauthorized cultivation remains a criminal offense under state drug law.
Pennsylvania's minimum wage remains $7.25 per hour, matching the federal floor under the PA Minimum Wage Act (43 P.S. §333.101 et seq.). State law preempts local minimum wage ordinances — Philadelphia attempted a $10.88 city wage in 2014 that was struck down by Commonwealth Court. The tipped minimum is $2.83. Pennsylvania has not raised the state wage since 2009.
Pennsylvania does not have a statewide paid sick or family leave mandate, and state courts have largely permitted home-rule cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh to adopt local paid sick leave laws.
Pennsylvania has no statewide predictive scheduling law and has not preempted municipal action, allowing Philadelphia's Fair Workweek Ordinance to require advance schedules and predictability pay for certain employers.
Pennsylvania is a shall-issue state requiring a License to Carry Firearms (LTCF) issued by the county sheriff for concealed carry or carry in a vehicle, with statewide rules under 18 Pa.C.S. Section 6109.
Pennsylvania law comprehensively preempts local regulation of firearms under 18 Pa.C.S. §6120. Cities and counties cannot regulate lawful ownership, possession, transfer, or transportation of firearms or ammunition. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Allentown have all attempted local gun ordinances and lost in PA appellate courts.
Open carry of firearms is generally legal in Pennsylvania for adults 18 or older without a permit outside Philadelphia, but a License to Carry Firearms is required statewide for vehicle and concealed carry.
Under 18 Pa.C.S. Section 6106, carrying a firearm in a vehicle anywhere in Pennsylvania generally requires a valid License to Carry Firearms, with limited exceptions for unloaded transport between specified lawful locations.
Pennsylvania protects agricultural land through Agricultural Security Areas under Act 43 of 1981 and the Agricultural Area Security Law, working alongside municipal zoning to limit development pressure on working farms.
Pennsylvania's Right to Farm Act (Act 133 of 1982, 3 P.S. §951 et seq.) protects established agricultural operations from local nuisance lawsuits and overly restrictive municipal ordinances. Operations in existence for at least one year and following normal agricultural practices are presumed not to be a nuisance. Municipalities cannot enact ordinances that restrict normal ag activities.
Act 87 of 2024 ended Pennsylvania's multi-year moratorium preempting local plastic bag and single-use plastic ordinances, restoring municipal authority to regulate or ban single-use carryout bags.
Pennsylvania has no statewide ban on expanded polystyrene foam food containers, and after Act 87 of 2024 ended single-use plastic preemption local governments may regulate foam packaging.
Pennsylvania has no statewide ban or upon-request rule for plastic straws, and following the lapse of single-use plastic preemption in 2024 cities may again adopt straw-on-request or ban policies.
Pennsylvania Act 112 of 2019 raised the minimum age to purchase tobacco and e-cigarettes to 21, aligning with the federal Tobacco 21 law (Dec 2019). The state law covers all tobacco products including vapes, hookah, and nicotine pouches. Cities cannot lower the age, and flavored vape regulation is handled at the state retail license level.
Pennsylvania does not currently impose a statewide ban on flavored tobacco or menthol cigarettes, though federal FDA marketing rules restrict which flavored vape products and cigarettes can be lawfully sold.
Pennsylvania regulates electronic cigarettes and vape products under Act 84 of 2016, imposing a 40 percent wholesale tax on e-liquids and devices and requiring tobacco product retailers to comply with state Department of Revenue licensing.