If you buy a rental property, second home or certain other real estate in Pennsylvania, a new state law may require you to give the county assessment office contact information within 30 days of the purchase.
Act 29 of 2026 took effect September 18, 2026. It created a county property contact-information list and established requirements for covered property owners.
What does Act 29 require?
A covered purchaser must submit the required contact information to the chief assessor for the county where the property is located. The deadline is within 30 days of purchasing the property.
If that contact information later changes, the property owner or the owner’s representative must provide the updated information within 30 days of the change.
The county determines the manner and form used to collect the information. If you are buying a covered property, check the instructions from that property’s county assessment office instead of assuming every county uses the same process.
Is an owner-occupied home exempt?
Yes. Act 29 does not apply to an “owner-occupant real property,” which the law defines as property owned and occupied by an individual as that person’s principal residence and domicile.
That distinction matters. A house purchased by an individual to use as a principal residence is treated differently from a rental property, second home or other property that is not the purchaser’s principal residence and domicile.
What information may an individual need to provide?
For an individual buyer or owner of a covered property, the law calls for the person’s name, residential address, telephone number and email address.
Businesses and limited liability companies have additional requirements. They must provide business or company information and contact information for a person with the authority and ability to address property maintenance or municipal-code problems.
What does the penalty actually cover?
The law allows a county to levy a fine of up to $500 when a property owner or representative intentionally or knowingly provides false or incorrect contact information, or intentionally or knowingly fails to update required contact information.
That is not the same as saying there is an automatic $500 late-filing charge. The wording of the law matters.
What should a Pennsylvania buyer do?
If you are buying a rental property, second home or property through a business or LLC, add this question to your closing checklist:
What does the county assessment office require from me under Act 29, and how do I submit it?
Check directly with the assessment office for the county where the property is located. You can also ask your attorney or another qualified professional how the law applies to your ownership structure and circumstances.
You can read the official requirements in Chapter 25 of Pennsylvania Title 68.
Understand the requirement before closing
This is one more reason to understand the full process before buying a property. The Buying a Home page explains the Pennsylvania buying process and the questions that usually come up along the way.
If you are considering a purchase in Philadelphia, Montgomery County or Bucks County and want to talk through the real estate side, you can ask Jess a question or start a Clarity Conversation.
This article provides general educational information. Jess Carpenter is a Realtor®, not an attorney, and this is not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the appropriate county assessment office and seek legal advice when needed.