Do this today
- Write the date, time, and how they entered.
- Ask in writing for notice next time, if that is the rule.
- If it felt like harassment, Philadelphia Licenses & Inspections or legal aid — not a group chat.
Can a landlord in Philadelphia enter whenever they want?
Generally no — except that emergencies and the lease can change the picture. Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 is the Pennsylvania starting point. Write down any entry you believe was improper. L&I is the Philadelphia conditions and rental-license door. Municipal Court is where possession is heard.
What if they keep coming in?
A pattern of unannounced entry can be a harassment or privacy problem. Philadelphia Licenses & Inspections may take a complaint. Legal aid can tell you whether Pennsylvania gives a specific remedy. Do not change the locks without advice.
What does Philadelphia add on top of Pennsylvania law?
Pennsylvania’s Landlord and Tenant Act is the floor. Philadelphia Licenses and Inspections, the Fair Housing Commission, and local just-cause / good-cause rules for many tenancies are the City layer. Coverage is a unit question. L&I is not a substitute for Municipal Court.
The Philadelphia layer
L&I is the Philadelphia conditions and rental-license door. Municipal Court is where possession is heard.
Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 (68 P.S. §§ 250.101 to 250.602) is the Pennsylvania floor. We name it. We do not paraphrase a day-count or a dollar cap out of it.
Philadelphia questions
How much notice does a landlord in Philadelphia have to give before entering?
That hour-count or day-count is in Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 and sometimes in a city rule. This desk does not invent it. Write down what happened and take it to legal aid or Philadelphia Licenses & Inspections.
What does Philadelphia add on top of Pennsylvania law?
Pennsylvania’s Landlord and Tenant Act is the floor. Philadelphia Licenses and Inspections, the Fair Housing Commission, and local just-cause / good-cause rules for many tenancies are the City layer. Coverage is a unit question. L&I is not a substitute for Municipal Court.
What number should I call in Philadelphia?
Danger: 911. Mental-health crisis: 988. City services: 311. Court papers: LawHelp.org the same day. Philadelphia Licenses & Inspections does not replace legal aid when a case is filed.
National answers on this desk
Last reviewed 8 September 2026. Legal information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. hello@renterprotection.org