How long does a tenant have to respond to an eviction case in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, the time a tenant has to respond to an eviction case is governed by 68 P.S. §§ 250.501, 250.502, 250.503; Pa. R.C.P.M.D.J. 501–521. A hearing is scheduled 7 to 15 days after the complaint is filed. There is no separate written answer.

WhatPennsylvania
CourtMagisterial District Court for the district where the property is. In Philadelphia, the Municipal Court.

Notes

The ten-day notice for nonpayment may be waived by the lease, and many Pennsylvania leases do waive it. Read the lease before serving.

Source

68 P.S. §§ 250.501, 250.502, 250.503; Pa. R.C.P.M.D.J. 501–521 — last checked 2026-09-16.

This is a summary of the published procedure, not legal advice. Courts, local rules and the facts of a tenancy change what applies, and a defect in a notice or a filing can end a case. Have a lawyer review anything before it is served or filed.

How Seayora uses this rule

Seayora does not file, serve or appear in an eviction, and is not anybody’s lawyer. When a tenant has stopped paying, it lays out these steps for the property’s own state and city with the statute beside each one, holds back any step that would come too early, keeps an append-only record of the case — and shows the resident what would end it, legal-aid links included.

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