Lancaster County, Pennsylvania: Where to File a Security Deposit Claim and What It Costs

Listed court is Magisterial District Court (MDJ) - 19 district judges in Lancaster. Check venue on the court's official page or with the clerk. Filing fee: see the fee table. Claims up to $12,000. Pennsylvania return time: 30 days. ACS two-bedroom rent: $1,315. Enter your dates below and send the dated letter first.

Court listed	Magisterial District Court (MDJ) - 19 district judges
City	Lancaster
Statewide filing fee	Statewide MDJ tiered filing fee, approx. $58.25-$99.25 depending on claim amount (secondary-sourced)
E-filing	No
Small claims limit	$12,000 (statewide)
State deposit return deadline	30 days after termination of the lease or upon surrender and acceptance of the leasehold premises, whichever first occurs.
Time limit to sue	4 years
Deposit statute	68 P.S. §§ 250.511a (Escrow Funds Limited, codified from Section 511.1 of the Act), 250.511b (Interest on Escrow Funds, Section 511.2), 250.511c (Bond in Lieu of Escrowing, Section 511.3), 250.512 (Recovery of Improperly Held Escrow Funds) - The Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, Act of Apr. 6, 1951, P.L. 69, No. 20, as amended

Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk.

Details

Limits: $12,000 (statewide).

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Details of the return rules

Pennsylvania statutory deadlines
When it applies	Deadline	Starts from
Deposit return	30 days	termination of the lease or upon surrender and acceptance of the leasehold premises, whichever first occurs

Pennsylvania return rule: 30 days. Check the dates you entered above.

Court listed for this county: Magisterial District Court (MDJ) - 19 district judges. Check venue on the official court page or with the clerk.

Free dated DOCX by email. Print-ready state PDF kit: $29. Letter preparation and mailing: $49.

Who do you name in the claim?

Find and compare the legal names

Find and compare the legal names in these records:

The lease: the Landlord or Owner line and who signed.
The deposit receipt or the account your rent went to.
The owner of record in the property records of Lancaster County.
The Pennsylvania business registry for an LLC or management company: its exact legal name and registered agent. Pennsylvania Department of State

A registered agent receives court papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

This page shows where the names are recorded; it does not decide who is legally liable.

What to bring to the clerk

Your lease.
Deposit receipt or payment record.
The demand letter and proof of delivery.
Move-out photos and an inventory or condition report.

Check the Pennsylvania filing procedure before you go.

Court forms

Service methods: certified mail by clerk; constable or sheriff.

Service fee: Said costs shall not include, however, the cost of postage and registered mail which shall be borne by the plaintiff..

Procedure source (high confidence): In calendar year 2026, the costs to be charged by magisterial district judges in every civil case, except as otherwise provided in this section, shall be as follows: (1) Actions involving $500 or less ........................................................................... $68.50

Is it worth filing here?

Illustration: a deposit equal to one month's ACS median gross rent (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) for a home in Lancaster County. This is calculated from rent, not measured deposits. The statutory amount requires the rule's conditions.

Bedrooms

Bedrooms	Deposit owed	Statutory amount	Total illustration	Limit check
1	$1,062	$1,062	$2,124	Fits under the $12,000 limit for this illustrated claim
2	$1,315	$1,315	$2,630	Fits under the $12,000 limit for this illustrated claim
3	$1,450	$1,450	$2,900	Fits under the $12,000 limit for this illustrated claim
4	$1,496	$1,496	$2,992	Fits under the $12,000 limit for this illustrated claim

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070; accessed 2026-09-21. Penalty rule.

How does Lancaster County compare with other Pennsylvania counties?

The two-bedroom median gross rent is $1,315: rank 9 of 67 counties with this metric in U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. 30.1% of households rent in Lancaster County.

Lancaster County two-bedroom rent $1,315, rank 9 of 67 counties

Nearby counties in the two-bedroom rent ranking
County	Median gross rent
Northampton County	$1,374
Monroe County	$1,324
Lancaster County	$1,315
Pike County	$1,238
Centre County	$1,215
Cumberland County	$1,204

Ranking uses the same ACS metric and period within this state; ties share a rank. Coverage is 67 of 67 listed counties. Census source.

Places in Lancaster County

Adamstown
Akron
Christiana
Columbia
Denver
East Petersburg
Elizabethtown
Ephrata
Lancaster
Lititz
Manheim
Marietta
Millersville
Mount Joy
Mountville
New Holland
Quarryville
Strasburg
Terre Hill

These are Census places in the county. Check the rental's address with the clerk to find the court.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file

Free legal help

MidPenn Legal Services: Free civil legal help for eligible low-income residents, including housing and landlord-tenant problems.

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Lancaster County?

Statewide filing fee: Statewide MDJ tiered filing fee, approx. $58.25-$99.25 depending on claim amount (secondary-sourced).

Where do I file a deposit claim in Lancaster County?

Magisterial District Court (MDJ) - 19 district judges is listed. Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk. Court page

Who should I name in the claim?

Compare the legal names on the lease, deposit receipt, property records and business registry. A registered agent receives papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

What should I bring to the clerk?

Bring your lease, deposit receipt, demand letter, proof of delivery, photos and any move-out inventory.