Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania: Small Claims for a Security Deposit

Limits: $12,000 (statewide). Court: Philadelphia Municipal Court, Small Claims Division (Civil, up to $12,000; First Judicial District of Pennsylvania). Statewide filing fee: Tiered by claim amount, in the same general statewide-published $58-$100+ range plus $27 (in-Philadelphia) or $45 (elsewhere in PA) per-defendant service fee; see official fee PDF at courts.phila.gov/pdf/municipal/resources/small-claims/filings-fees.pdf - not independently line-item verified in this pass.

Filing facts

State small claims limits	$12,000 (statewide)
Statewide filing fee	Tiered by claim amount, in the same general statewide-published $58-$100+ range plus $27 (in-Philadelphia) or $45 (elsewhere in PA) per-defendant service fee; see official fee PDF at courts.phila.gov/pdf/municipal/resources/small-claims/filings-fees.pdf - not independently line-item verified in this pass
E-filing	Not verified
Time limit to sue in Pennsylvania	4 years.
State deposit return deadline	30 days after termination of the lease or upon surrender and acceptance of the leasehold premises, whichever first occurs.
Penalty formula	Two separate penalties, no bad-faith/willfulness requirement: (1) failure to provide the written itemized damage list within 30 days = forfeiture of ALL rights to withhold any portion of the escrowed sum (i.e., must return 100% of deposit + any unpaid interest); (2) if landlord fails to pay the tenant the difference between the deposit (plus unpaid interest) and actual damages within 30 days, landlord is liable in assumpsit for DOUBLE the amount by which the deposit exceeds actual damages, with burden of proof on actual damages resting on the landlord. Bad faith required: No.
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

The fee depends on how much you claim; the court's schedule above shows the tiers.

Where to file

Philadelphia Municipal Court, Small Claims Division (Civil, up to $12,000; First Judicial District of Pennsylvania)

Courthouse city: Philadelphia

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.

Official court website

Court page check not recorded

See how to file in Pennsylvania for the state filing procedure.

Rent and deposits in Philadelphia County

County median gross rent: $1,323 per month.

County median gross rent by bedroom count
Bedrooms	Monthly rent
Studio	$1,126
1 bedroom	$1,189
2 bedrooms	$1,394
3 bedrooms	$1,406
4 bedrooms	$1,546

Illustrative deposit example computed from the county median rent: one month of the Census two-bedroom median is $1,394; two months is $2,788. This is an example computed from the county median, not a legal cap or a survey of deposits. The calculations below use the one-month deposit of $1,394.

State legal maximum deposit in Pennsylvania: Year 1 of lease: max 2 months' rent ($2,788 at the example rent) (68 P.S. §250.511a(a)). Year 2+ / renewals: max 1 month's rent ($1,394 at the example rent) (§250.511a(b)). No increase permitted after 5 years' tenancy (§250.511a(d)).

Total households in Philadelphia County: 669,222.

Renter households: 319,081 (47.7% of all households).

Renters spending more than half their household income on rent: 6.6%. A delayed deposit refund can leave these households with less money for their next rent payment.

County rent and household source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070. Accessed 2026-09-21.

Will my deposit claim fit the limit?

Using the county Census figure: two-bedroom median gross rent for Philadelphia County, $1,394 per month.

The deposit range does not include penalties, interest, or other amounts you may claim.

Compared with $12,000 (statewide), the whole deposit range fits.

A claim above the applicable limit must either be reduced to that limit or go to a different court.

Towns this court serves

A deposit claim is usually filed where the property sits or where the landlord is.

Philadelphia

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

Free help in Philadelphia County

Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
Free tenant legal assistance for eligible Philadelphia residents with eviction, illegal lockouts, repairs, utility shutoffs and subsidized housing; phone is the Philly Tenant Hotline.
Phone: (267) 443-2500
Philadelphia Legal Assistance
Free assistance for Philadelphia tenants through the Eviction Diversion Program; phone is the program's Tenant Hotline.
Phone: (215) 523-9501

These are independent organisations, not DemandLetterLab.

From letter to filing

Send a Pennsylvania security deposit demand letter stating the deposit amount supported by your records. Give the landlord your forwarding address in writing.
Before you file: review the deposit return deadlines above and allow the typical response window of 14 days after your letter.
Time limit to sue in Pennsylvania: 4 years.
Check the court's filing instructions. Keep your lease, payment records, photos, letter, and proof of delivery ready.

This template uses Pennsylvania law. Your county decides where you file, not which law applies.

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Document preparation and mailing, not legal advice. We do not assess your claim, choose a strategy, or promise a recovery.

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A print-ready PDF of the Pennsylvania letter template, ready to download after payment.

Certified-mail instructions: what to ask for at the counter and what it costs.
Pennsylvania small-claims details: the limit, the deadline to sue, and where to file.

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I rented [rental property address] from [lease start date] to [move-out date]. I paid a security deposit of $[amount]. I returned the keys on [date] and gave you my forwarding address in writing on [date]. Under Pennsylvania law (68 P.S. §§ 250.511a, 250.511b, 250.511c, 250.512), a landlord must return the deposit or send a written, itemized list of deductions within 30 days after termination of the lease or upon surrender and acceptance of the leasehold premises, whichever first occurs.

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Philadelphia County?

Statewide filing fee: Tiered by claim amount, in the same general statewide-published $58-$100+ range plus $27 (in-Philadelphia) or $45 (elsewhere in PA) per-defendant service fee; see official fee PDF at courts.phila.gov/pdf/municipal/resources/small-claims/filings-fees.pdf - not independently line-item verified in this pass

How long do I have to sue?

Time limit to sue in Pennsylvania: 4 years.

Where do I file?

Philadelphia Municipal Court, Small Claims Division (Civil, up to $12,000; First Judicial District of Pennsylvania). Courthouse city: Philadelphia. Check the court's instructions for the right filing location.