PRINTER'S NO. 1100
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1020
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY TWARDZIK, POWELL, RABB, KHAN, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ AND
NEILSON, MARCH 24, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT,
MARCH 24, 2025
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, in neighborhood blight reclamation and
3 revitalization, further providing for definitions and
4 providing for vacant and blighted property registration; and
5 imposing penalties.
6 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
7 hereby enacts as follows:
8 Section 1. Section 6103 of Title 53 of the Pennsylvania
9 Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a definition to read:
10 § 6103. Definitions.
11 The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
12 shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
13 context clearly indicates otherwise:
14 * * *
15 "Vacant and blighted property." A blighted property that is
16 vacant.
17 Section 2. Section 6141 of Title 53 is amended to read:
18 § 6141. [(Reserved).] Vacant and blighted property
19 registration.
 1 (a) Authorization.--
2 (1) A municipality may impose and collect, by ordinance,
3 a vacant and blighted property registration fee consistent
4 with this section on properties deemed vacant and blighted.
5 (2) A municipality choosing to enact an ordinance under
6 paragraph (1) may contract with a third-party entity to
7 execute the vacant and blighted property registry and to
8 collect the registration fees and fines allowed under this
9 chapter.
10 (3) A municipality with a vacant and blighted property
11 registration ordinance in place prior to the effective date
12 of this subsection shall not be required to amend the
13 ordinance to comply with the provisions of this section.
14 (4) A municipality with an existing program for vacant
15 and blighted property registration may continue to operate
16 the program without impacting any other law authorizing the
17 municipality to regulate vacant or blighted property.
18 (5) A municipality that elects to impose an ordinance
19 under paragraph (1) shall establish a process for the removal
20 of properties from the registry and shall disclose the
21 process for removal to the property owner at the time of
22 listing, including any requirement to bring the property up
23 to municipal code existing under other applicable State law.
24 (b) Listing required.--A municipality that elects to impose
25 and collect a registration fee under this section shall compile
26 and maintain a vacant and blighted properties list that
27 identifies by address and owner all vacant and blighted
28 properties in the municipality. Each listing shall contain the
29 date each vacant and blighted property was listed.
30 (c) Amount of registration fee.--A registration fee shall be
20250HB1020PN1100 - 2 -
 1 imposed on the owner of a vacant and blighted property for each
2 year that the vacant and blighted property is not in compliance
3 with the municipal code, subject to the following:
4 (1) If the property owner brings the property into
5 compliance with the municipal code within 12 months or sells
6 the property to an entity that brings the property into
7 compliance with the municipal code, the fee shall be waived
8 in accordance with section 3 of the act of December 20, 2000
9 (P.L.724, No.99), known as the Municipal Code and Ordinance
10 Compliance Act.
11 (2) The fee shall be $500 one year from the date on
12 which the property was listed on the registry.
13 (3) The fee shall be $1,000 two years from the date on
14 which the property was listed on the registry.
15 (4) The fee shall be $2,000 three and four years from
16 the date on which the property was listed on the registry.
17 (5) The fee shall be $3,500 five through eight years
18 from the date on which the property was listed on the
19 registry.
20 (6) The fee shall be $5,000 nine or more years from the
21 date on which the property was listed on the registry.
22 (7) Property owned by the Federal or State Government or
23 a county, municipality, redevelopment authority, housing
24 authority or land bank, including one of their
25 instrumentalities, which is required to register under this
26 section is exempt from the registration fees under this
27 subsection.
28 (d) Exempt vacant and blighted properties.--A vacant and
29 blighted property shall be exempt from inclusion on the vacant
30 and blighted properties list under subsection (b), except as
20250HB1020PN1100 - 3 -
 1 otherwise provided in paragraph (3), and from the registration
2 fees under subsection (c) if the vacant and blighted property
3 is:
4 (1) Under active construction or undergoing active
5 rehabilitation, renovation or repair and a permit to make the
6 property fit for human occupancy was issued, renewed or
7 extended within 12 months of the required registration date.
8 (2) In compliance with all Federal, State and local laws
9 and the owner or the owner's agent has been actively seeking
10 in good faith to rent or sell the property. The time frame
11 for rent or sale may not exceed:
12 (i) one year from the initial listing, offer or
13 advertisement of sale, in the case of a residential
14 property;
15 (ii) two years from the initial listing, offer or
16 advertisement of sale, in the case of a commercial
17 property; or
18 (iii) one year from the initial listing, offer or
19 advertisement to rent, provided that any leased property
20 exempt under this paragraph has a valid certificate of
21 occupancy from the municipality.
22 (3) Exempted by the municipality upon a showing of
23 economic hardship by the owner and that the owner is working
24 with the municipality to bring the property into compliance
25 with all Federal, State and local codes. An exemption under
26 this paragraph shall be subject to the following provisions:
27 (i) The exemption may be granted for a time frame
28 not to exceed 12 months from the required registration
29 date, subject to renewal on the basis of continuing
30 economic hardship. The municipality may withdraw the
20250HB1020PN1100 - 4 -
 1 exemption at any time.
2 (ii) The exemption may be granted for a time frame
3 not to exceed 24 months, if the property is subject to a
4 probate proceeding or the title is the subject of
5 litigation, not including a foreclosure of the right of
6 redemption action.
7 (iii) The exemption may be granted for a time frame
8 not to exceed 12 months, if the property is subject to a
9 pending application for a necessary approval for
10 development before State, regional or municipal planning
11 or zoning authorities and is maintained according to all
12 Federal, State and local laws.
13 (iv) The cumulative time frame for an exemption from
14 registration as provided under this paragraph for a
15 vacant and blighted property under the same,
16 substantially similar or related ownership shall not
17 exceed 36 consecutive months.
18 (4) Owned by a member of the United States military
19 presently on active duty if the property is in compliance
20 with all Federal, State or local codes.
21 (e) Right of appeal.--An ordinance adopted under this
22 section shall provide an opportunity for an appeal under 2
23 Pa.C.S. § 752 (relating to appeals) by the owner of property
24 that is deemed vacant and blighted property.
25 (f) Penalties.--
26 (1) An owner of vacant and blighted property who fails
27 to pay the registration fees required by this section shall
28 be assessed a penalty of $25 per day if the vacant and
29 blighted property is residential and $50 per day if the
30 vacant and blighted property is commercial or industrial for
20250HB1020PN1100 - 5 -
1 each day that the owner fails to pay the registration fee.
2 The owner shall also be subject to penalties assessed under
3 all other applicable Federal, State and local laws.
4 (2) The amount of any unpaid fee authorized under this
5 section shall constitute a lien against the property and
6 shall be collected in the same manner as municipal claims by
7 the municipality.
8 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20250HB1020PN1100 - 6 -


Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 1100: 53-6103