In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation to improve transparency and due process for property owners who receive municipal zoning enforcement notices.

Under current Pennsylvania law, municipalities must provide written notice when they initiate zoning enforcement proceedings. These notices must identify the property, describe the alleged violation, cite the applicable ordinance, state compliance deadlines, and inform the recipient of their right to appeal to the zoning hearing board. The notice must also state that failure to comply may result in sanctions.

However, current law does not clearly require the notice to explain that failure to appeal within the required timeframe may make the alleged violation final and unappealable, nor does it require municipalities to clearly explain that penalties may accrue for each successive day the violation continues. This gap can create serious consequences for homeowners and property owners who are attempting to understand and resolve a local zoning issue without legal counsel.

My legislation would amend the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code to require zoning enforcement notices to clearly state, where applicable, that an additional penalty may accrue for each successive day of the violation. The proposal would preserve municipal enforcement authority while ensuring that residents receive plain, complete notice of the potential consequences before deadlines expire.

This is a modest, commonsense reform. Property owners should not need to hire an attorney simply to understand the stakes of a zoning notice. Clearer notices will help residents make informed decisions, reduce confusion, and promote fairer interactions between municipalities and the people they serve.

Please join me in cosponsoring this legislation to strengthen due process and improve transparency in local zoning enforcement.