Pennsylvania Rent control / state preemption

Can cities in Pennsylvania pass rent control?

No state statute preempts local rent control in Pennsylvania. In Warren v. City of Philadelphia, 382 Pa. 380 (1955), the Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld local rent control under home-rule powers. 53 Pa.C.S. § 2962(f) may limit home-rule ordinances that impose duties on landlords: a home rule municipality "shall not determine duties, responsibilities or requirements placed upon businesses, occupations and employers" except as state law allows. Scope: 53 Pa.C.S. § 2962 reviewed by full-text search; other titles were not searched.

Verified Source: 53 Pa.C.S. § 2962(f); Warren v. City of Philadelphia, 382 Pa. 380 (1955) · last checked 2026-10-23