Title 11, CITIES

This part shall not be construed to repeal an act relating to: (1) The collection of municipal and tax claims by lien. (2) The method of incurring and increasing city indebtedness. (3) The conduct of an election. (4) A public school, except for the collection of a school tax by t…

(a) Existing law.-- (1) The provisions of this part that are the same as the provisions of existing laws are intended as a continuation of the existing laws and not as new enactments. (2) The repeal under this part of a statutory provision shall not revive a repealed or supersede…

The provisions of this part are severable. If any provision of this part or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this part which can be given effect without the invalid provision or appl…

(a) Applicability.--This part shall apply to: (1) All cities which have been incorporated under or which have accepted the provisions of the act of May 23, 1874 (P.L.230, No.152), entitled "An act dividing cities of this State into three classes; regulating the passage of ordinan…

(a) General newspaper.-- (1) If advertisement, notice or publication is required to be published in a newspaper under this part, the publication must be made one time, unless the provision requiring publication specifies other times, in at least one newspaper of general circulati…

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "Incorporation resolution." A resolution to submit at a general or municipal election a referendum question to the regis…

A city shall be chartered as follows: (1) A single municipal corporation having a population of at least 10,000 according to the last preceding United States census may be incorporated as a city in accordance with this chapter if a majority of the registered voters in the municip…

(a) Governing body.--The governing body of a municipal corporation may adopt an incorporation resolution. (b) Petition.--If at least 200 registered voters of a municipal corporation petition the governing body of the municipal corporation for the adoption of an incorporation reso…

The governing body of a municipal corporation that adopts an incorporation resolution shall certify the incorporation resolution to the county board of elections of each proper county. The county board of elections shall, at the general or municipal election in the manner require…

Notice of the election at which registered voters of a municipal corporation will be voting on a referendum question shall be given by the secretary or other person designated by the municipal corporation. The notice required under this section shall be published once a week for …

In each county in which a referendum question is submitted to the registered voters of a municipal corporation, the county board of elections shall return the vote cast on the referendum question to the following: (1) The clerk of the court for the county. (2) The governing body …

If the returns of an election under section 10204.1 (relating to notice of election) show that a majority of registered voters in a municipal corporation voted "no" on the referendum question, further proceedings may not occur, and another election on the referendum question may …

If the returns of an election under section 10204.1 (relating to notice of election) show that a majority of registered voters in a municipal corporation voted "yes" on the referendum question, within 60 days after the election, the governing body of the municipal corporation sha…

The property and estates of the municipal corporations which have become a city in accordance with this chapter are severally and respectively vested in the corporation or body politic of the city for the use and benefit of the citizens of the city.

(a) Existing government.--The government of the municipal corporation shall continue in full force and operation until the first Monday of January next succeeding the municipal election under section 10702 (relating to first elections in newly created cities). On the first Monday…

If a municipal corporation is incorporated as a city in accordance with this part, the following shall apply: (1) Each suit, prosecution, debt and claim shall be transferred to the newly incorporated city. (2) Each pending suit involving the municipal corporation shall be under t…

Council may initiate proceedings to change the corporate title of a city by doing all of the following: (1) Adopting a resolution proposing to make the change in the corporate title of a city. (2) Presenting to the court of common pleas of the county in which the city is located …

(a) Date and publication.--Upon presentation to the court of the petition and resolution under section 10301 (relating to resolution and petition), the court shall set a day for a hearing on the question of the change in the corporate title of the city and shall direct that notic…

A change in the corporate title of a city that is ordered in accordance with section 10302(c) (relating to hearing and decree) may not take effect until a certified copy of the decree of court is filed in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth and is recorded in the offi…

A change in the corporate title of a city shall not affect any of the following: (1) A liability incurred. (2) A right accrued or vested. (3) An obligation issued or contracted. (4) A suit or prosecution pending or instituted to enforce a right or penalty accrued or to punish an …

(a) Power.--In addition to reapportionment of wards under 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 9 (relating to municipal reapportionment) and section 11 of Article IX of the Constitution of Pennsylvania, a council may, with or without a petition as provided under section 10401.1 (relating to petition o…

(a) Initiation of proceedings.--Registered voters may petition council to initiate proceedings under section 10401 (relating to general power of council) to create new wards, divide a ward or wards or detach part of a ward and attach it to another ward as follows: (1) One hundred…

(a) Report and recommendation.--If council initiates proceedings under section 10401 (relating to general power of council), council shall appoint as commissioners five impartial registered voters who are residents of the city to make a report and recommendation concerning the ne…

Council must make an appropriation for reasonable expenses incurred by commissioners for service under this chapter. Each commissioner shall submit for approval an itemized account of the commissioner's expenses to the city controller.

(a) Contents.-- (1) The commissioners appointed by council under section 10403(a) (relating to appointment of commission) shall examine the premises and prepare a report which shall include a draft of each ward affected by the proposed creation, division or detachment showing the…

(a) Certification.--If, based upon the report under section 10403.2 (relating to report), council decides to proceed, council shall certify to the county board of elections the question of the creation, division or detachment of the ward to be submitted to the registered voters o…

(a) Publication.--A city must publish a notice of election in a newspaper of general circulation at least 15 days prior to the date that the question of approving the creation, division or detachment of a ward is to be presented at the specified general or municipal election. (b)…

Each matter relating to the election at which the question of approving the creation, division or detachment of a ward or is to be presented to the voters shall be governed by the Pennsylvania Election Code.

(a) Publication.--The county board of elections must tabulate and publish the results of the referendum in a newspaper of general circulation within 30 days of the election. A certified copy of the results shall be placed on record with the minutes of council. (b) Positive vote.-…

If council determines during proceedings for the division or creation of a ward that any of the boundaries or divisions are uncertain, council must determine the relocation of the line to conform as nearly as possible to the previously determined boundary lines so that each ward …

Nothing under this chapter shall be construed as affecting the powers and duties of the court of common pleas or the county board of elections and restrictions on alteration of election districts as provided under Article V of the Pennsylvania Election Code.

2022 Repeal. Section 10601 was repealed July 7, 2022, P.L.455, No.41, effective in 60 days.

2022 Repeal. Section 10602 was repealed July 7, 2022, P.L.455, No.41, effective in 60 days.

2022 Repeal. Section 10603 was repealed July 7, 2022, P.L.455, No.41, effective in 60 days.

2022 Repeal. Section 10604 was repealed July 7, 2022, P.L.455, No.41, effective in 60 days.

2022 Repeal. Section 10605 was repealed July 7, 2022, P.L.455, No.41, effective in 60 days.

2022 Repeal. Section 10606 was repealed July 7, 2022, P.L.455, No.41, effective in 60 days.

(a) Elected officer and term.-- (1) Except as provided under subsection (c), the elected officers of a city shall be a mayor, four council members, a controller and a treasurer. (2) Except as provided under section 10702 (relating to first elections in newly created cities) with …

(a) Election.--At the first municipal election occurring at least 90 days after the date of the letters patent issued by the Governor incorporating the city, the registered voters of the city shall elect city officials as provided under section 10701(a)(1) (relating to elected of…

Each matter relating to a nomination of a candidate and election of a city officer shall be governed by the Pennsylvania Election Code.

After the election of city officers under this chapter, the county board of elections must issue and the officer-elect must procure a certificate of election. The officer-elect must present the certificate of election to council on the date and time provided under law for council…

(a) Appointment.--Within 30 days of a vacancy in the office of mayor or other member of council or if an elected mayor or council member has failed to qualify under section 10701 (relating to elected officers, term, reelection and vacancy) prior to taking office, council must, by…

(a) Appointment.--Within 30 days after a vacancy occurs in the office of city controller or in the office of city treasurer or if an elected city controller or city treasurer has failed to qualify under section 10701 (relating to elected officers, term, reelection and vacancy) pr…

(a) Powers and duties.--Council: (1) May appoint and dismiss any city officer and employee, except for an elected officer. (2) Shall provide for the removal of an officer of the city whose office is established by ordinance, except as provided under this chapter. (b) Elective cit…

(a) Prescription.--Except as otherwise provided under this chapter, council may prescribe, by ordinance, the number, duties and compensation of the officers and employees of the city. (b) Limitations.--The following shall apply to compensation paid to an officer or employee of th…

(a) Prohibition.--A city may not increase or diminish the salary, compensation or emoluments of an elected officer after the officer's election. A change in salary, compensation or emoluments of an elected office shall take effect at the beginning of the next term of the member o…