PennsylvaniaResidential landlords would face a $20 cap on application fees
Pennsylvania landlords would have to keep residential application fees at $20 or less and use them only for background checks covering criminal history and credit scores.
What it does
Landlords and their agents could charge no more than $20 to apply for residential housing. The limit would not cover commercial or other nonresidential property.
Landlords and their agents could use residential application fees only for background checks. Those checks would have to include the applicant's criminal history and credit score.
Argument forThe $20 limit could protect people seeking rental housing from large application charges, especially when they apply for several homes.
Argument againstRestricting fees to background checks could prevent landlords from using that money to cover other work involved in processing applications.
More detail
Landlords and their agents would have to keep residential rental application fees at $20 or less. The limit would cover applications to rent residential housing in Pennsylvania. This section would not prohibit application fees for commercial or other nonresidential property. The limit would take effect 60 days after enactment.
Landlords and their agents would be allowed to spend application fees only on applicant background checks. The restriction would apply to fees charged for residential rental applications. The background check would have to include both the applicant's criminal history and credit score. These requirements would take effect 60 days after enactment.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Oct 22Act No. 67 of 2026Latest
- Oct 22Approved by the Governor Josh ShapiroBecame Law
- Oct 22Presented to the GovernorTo Governor
- Oct 22Signed in Senate
- Oct 21Signed in House
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE. Result: pass.Upper
- Oct 21Third consideration and final passagePassed Senate
- Oct 19Re-reported as committedMinor
- Vote recorded Committee vote (Appropriations): Re-Reported as Committed. Result: pass.Upper
- Oct 19Re-referred to AppropriationsMinor
- Oct 19Second considerationMinor
- Oct 7First considerationMinor
- Vote recorded Committee vote (Urban Affairs & Housing): Reported as Committed. Result: pass.Upper
- Oct 7Reported as committedMinor
- May 7Referred to Urban Affairs & HousingMinor
- May 4Third consideration and final passagePassed House
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Committee vote (Appropriations): Re-report Bill As Committed. Result: pass.Lower
- May 4Re-reported as committedMinor
- Apr 29Re-committed to AppropriationsMinor
- Apr 29Second considerationMinor
- Apr 28Removed from table
- Apr 13Laid on the table
- Vote recorded Committee vote (Housing & Community Development): Report Bill As Amended. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Committee vote (Housing & Community Development): Adopt Amendment A02832. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 13First considerationMinor
- Apr 13Reported as amendedMajor
- 2025
- Feb 12Referred to Housing & Community DevelopmentIntroduced
HousingConsumer Protection