Eviction in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania
Where eviction cases are filed in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh), what it costs, local rent levels and where to get help — with the official court, county and HUD sources.
Quick facts: eviction in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh)
- Eviction court
- Allegheny County Magisterial District Courts (46 districts), Fifth Judicial District of Pennsylvania — Magisterial District Court Court page
- Filing fee
- 2026 MDJ costs: $102.50 (claim $2,000 or less); $125.50 (over $2,000 to $4,000); $171.00 (over $4,000 to $12,000). Order of execution $51.50. 204 Pa. Code § 29.402 (42 Pa.C.S. § 1725.1 costs, calendar year 2026)
- Notice before filing (state law)
- 10-day written notice to quit. Pennsylvania rules
- HUD Fair Market Rent, 2-bedroom (FY2026)
- $1,299/month HUD
- Renter households
- 190,128 (35% of households) Census ACS 2020–2024
Last verified against official sources: 2026-10-22
Where eviction cases are filed in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh)
Eviction cases in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh) are heard by the Allegheny County Magisterial District Courts (46 districts), Fifth Judicial District of Pennsylvania (Magisterial District Court).
- Magisterial District Court office directory — 46 district offices across the county — see directory · website
Court eviction page · Search court records
File in the magisterial district where the property is located; use the court's Search for Filing Locations tool (https://www.alleghenycourts.us/magisterial-district-courts/search-for-filing-locations/). Landlord/tenant claims up to $12,000.
How much it costs to file an eviction in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh)
2026 MDJ costs: $102.50 (claim $2,000 or less); $125.50 (over $2,000 to $4,000); $171.00 (over $4,000 to $12,000). Order of execution $51.50.
Statewide magisterial district judge cost schedule. Postage/registered mail is borne by the plaintiff; constable service fees and any surcharges may be additional — confirm total with the district court. Tenants may seek in forma pauperis status.
Source: 204 Pa. Code § 29.402 (42 Pa.C.S. § 1725.1 costs, calendar year 2026)
How eviction cases work locally
| Pre-filing mediation | Just Mediation Pittsburgh (412-228-0730) schedules mediation for tenants who received a pre-filing notice; landlord participation is required for the mediation to proceed; it cannot guarantee rental assistance. Source: Official source |
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The Pennsylvania eviction process
Pennsylvania state law sets the notice periods and court steps everywhere in the state, including Allegheny County (Pittsburgh):
- Written notice to quit: 10 days (nonpayment), 15 or 30 days (lease end/breach) unless waived in the lease (68 P.S. § 250.501)
- Landlord files a landlord-tenant complaint with the magisterial district judge
- Summons issued for a hearing not less than 7 nor more than 10 days from the date of the summons; served personally, by mail, or by posting (68 P.S. § 250.502)
- Hearing; judgment for possession, damages and rent (68 P.S. § 250.503(a))
- Tenant may appeal to the Court of Common Pleas within 10 days of judgment (residential); appeal stays eviction only if rent/judgment amount is deposited (68 P.S. § 250.513)
- After the 5th day following judgment (court rules: 10 days), landlord requests writ/order of possession; it is served within 48 hours and executed on the 11th day after service (68 P.S. § 250.503(b))
- Removal by constable or sheriff; nonpayment-only tenants can stop the writ by paying rent in arrears and costs before execution (§ 503(c))
Full Pennsylvania eviction rules with sources →
Rent in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh)
HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Pittsburgh, PA HUD Metro FMR Area (the rent levels used for Section 8 vouchers):
| Studio | $1,001 |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $1,077 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,299 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,661 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,789 |
Source: HUD Fair Market Rent documentation
Median gross rent in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh): $1,153/month (Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
HUD designates this area for Small Area FMRs: Housing Choice Voucher programs here use ZIP-code-level FMRs. Figures shown are the area-wide FY2026 FMRs from HUD's metro calculation page: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/fmr/fmrs/FY2026_code/2026summary.odn?cbsasub=METRO38300M38300&year=2026&fmrtype=Final&dallas_sa_override=TRUE&selection_type=hmfa
Allegheny County Code Ch. 885, Residential Tenant Protections from Retaliation (Ordinance No. 06-26-OR, Council File 13863-26; effective March 26, 2026)
Applies: Countywide, including the City of Pittsburgh. The ordinance applies to residential tenancies in Allegheny County and does not exclude any municipality.
- Anti-retaliation: A landlord may not end a lease, refuse to renew it, or add, change or remove lease terms because a tenant took part in protected activity: organizing or joining a tenant association, asking for repairs, lawful rent withholding or repair-and-deduct, complaining to a housing, health or building agency, speaking to the media or a community group about conditions, testifying, bargaining collectively, or using any other legal right. In an eviction case, if the tenant shows (by a preponderance of the evidence) protected activity within one year before the filing, the landlord must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the eviction is not retaliation. A finding that the tenant unjustifiably failed to pay rent, caused significant damage, or seriously harmed other tenants or the property overcomes this presumption. Tenant organizers may meet tenants on the premises, use common areas for meetings, and distribute habitability literature.
Eviction help in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh)
Free legal help
- Neighborhood Legal Services — 412-255-6700 (nlsa.us); contact after an eviction action has been filed; income-eligible tenants.
Rental assistance
- Allegheny Housing Stabilization Collaborative (ACTION-Housing) — Rental assistance eligibility check after an eviction is filed, for City of Pittsburgh renters (412-248-0021, rentalassistance@actionhousing.org); renters elsewhere in the county should call 2-1-1 or Just Mediation.
City rules in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh)
Other Pennsylvania counties
- Eviction in Philadelphia County (Philadelphia)
- Eviction in Montgomery County (Norristown)
- Eviction in Delaware County (Media)
- Eviction in Lancaster County (Lancaster)
- Eviction in Bucks County (Doylestown)
- Eviction in Chester County (West Chester)
- Eviction in Lehigh County (Allentown)
- Eviction in Berks County (Reading)
- Eviction in Dauphin County (Harrisburg)
- Eviction in Luzerne County (Wilkes-Barre)
- Eviction in York County (York)
- Eviction in Northampton County (Easton)
- Eviction in Erie County (Erie)
- Eviction in Westmoreland County (Greensburg)
- Eviction in Lackawanna County (Scranton)
- Eviction in Cumberland County (Carlisle)
Related
- Pennsylvania landlord-tenant law
- How long an eviction takes in Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania eviction notice periods
- Notice deadline calculator
- How to evict a tenant in Pennsylvania (landlords)
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file an eviction in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh)?
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh)?
Where can I get help with an eviction in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh)?
What is the fair market rent in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh)?
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.