New Pennsylvania Law Requires Contact Information for Non-Owner-Occupied Property Owners

By: Andrew J. Schellhammer, Esq.

Summary:

  • Development: Effective September 18, 2026, Pennsylvania Act 29 requires county chief assessors to maintain a Property Contact Information List for certain non-owner-occupied properties.
  • Why it matters: Owners of rental, commercial, vacant, investment, and entity-held properties may be required to provide current contact information so municipalities can reach the appropriate owner or responsible representative about maintenance, repairs, code violations, blight-related concerns, and similar issues.
  • Action point: Submit required contact information to the county within 30 days after purchasing property and update any changes within 30 days.

Pennsylvania Act 29 of 2026 creates a new requirement for owners of non-owner-occupied real estate to provide and maintain contact information with the county assessment office. The law became effective on September 18, 2026.

What the Law Does

The law requires each county chief assessor to establish and maintain a Property Contact Information List for real properties located within the county. The purpose is to provide municipalities with a reliable means of contacting property owners or responsible representatives regarding property maintenance, code enforcement, and similar issues. This is an attempt to combat blight in Pennsylvania municipalities.

Who Must Comply?

The law applies broadly to owners of real property that are not owner-occupied residential properties, including:

  • Individuals who own rental or investment properties
  • Corporations
  • Partnerships
  • Limited liability companies (LLCs)
  • Trusts, estates, foundations, and other business entities

Exemption

The law does not apply to “owner-occupant real property,” meaning property owned and occupied by an individual as that person’s principal residence and domicile.

What Information Must Be Provided?

Individual Owners must provide:

  • Name
  • Residential address
  • Telephone number
  • Email address

Business Entities must provide:

  • Business name
  • Business address
  • Business telephone number
  • Email address of an owner or employee
  • Contact information for an individual who has authority and ability to address repairs, maintenance issues, or municipal code violations, including:
    • Name
    • Address
    • Telephone number
    • Email address

Key Filing Deadline

A property owner must submit the required contact information to the county chief assessor within 30 days after purchasing real property in the county. In addition, if any required contact information changes, the owner must update the information with the chief assessor within 30 days of the change.

Municipal Access to Information

Municipalities may request information from the county’s property contact list when they have a reasonable need for the information, such as communicating with owners regarding property maintenance and code compliance issues. The information may not be used for commercial purposes.

Penalties

Counties may impose fines of up to $500 against an owner or owner’s representative who:

  • Intentionally or knowingly provides false information; or
  • Intentionally or knowingly fails to update required information.

Recommended Action

Owners of rental, commercial, vacant, and other non-owner-occupied properties should review their real estate holdings and ensure that current contact information is provided to the appropriate county assessment office. Property owners using LLCs or other entities should also confirm that a responsible individual has been designated to receive communications regarding maintenance, repairs, and code compliance matters.

A few county assessment offices have uploaded forms or provided an online portal for owners to comply with Act 29 on their websites:

Leech Tishman has extensive experience advising property owners, businesses, and real estate investors on real estate ownership, operations, and compliance matters. Our team is prepared to help clients assess Pennsylvania Act 29 obligations and address required contact-information filings and updates. For assistance or additional information, please contact Andrew J. Schellhammer, Partner in Leech Tishman’s Real Estate Practice Group.