Small claims in Pennsylvania
The court
- Magisterial District Court
- For every county except Philadelphia. The magisterial district judge's office for the area where the other side lives or where the dispute happened.
- Philadelphia Municipal Court, Small Claims
- For disputes inside the City of Philadelphia.
The most you can claim
| Court | Claiming as | Most you can claim | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magisterial District Court | An individual | $12,000 | 42 Pa.C.S. §1515(a)(3) |
| Magisterial District Court | A business | $12,000 | 42 Pa.C.S. §1515(a)(3) |
| Magisterial District Court | A public agency | $12,000 | 42 Pa.C.S. §1515(a)(3) |
| Philadelphia Municipal Court, Small Claims | An individual | $12,000 | 42 Pa.C.S. §1123(a)(4) |
| Philadelphia Municipal Court, Small Claims | A business | $12,000 | 42 Pa.C.S. §1123(a)(4) |
| Philadelphia Municipal Court, Small Claims | A public agency | $12,000 | 42 Pa.C.S. §1123(a)(4) |
What it costs to file
The fee runs from $68.50 to $171, set by the size of the claim.
204 Pa. Code §29.402 (42 Pa.C.S. §1725.1) · For 2026 the filing cost is $68.50 for claims up to $500, $91.00 up to $2,000, $114.00 up to $4,000, and $171.00 up to $12,000. Service costs are added.
How long you have
The shortest window in this state is 2 years from the day the damage happened.
42 Pa.C.S. §5524(3) · A claim for damage to your property must be filed within two years of the damage.
Also worth knowing
- A claim against a city, county, township, school district, or state agency usually needs a written notice filed with that body within six months of the event before it can go to court. 42 Pa.C.S. §5522(a)(1)
Does small claims fit your dispute in Pennsylvania?
Pick what it is about. The next screens ask the amount and the dates. Nothing is saved, and no account is needed.
The detail
- The limit
The limit is the most the court can award on one claim. It depends on who is claiming, and in some states on which court hears it.
- What it costs
The court charges this when you hand in the claim. It is separate from the amount you are claiming.
- How long you have
Every kind of claim has its own window, counted from the day the clock started. Miss it and the court usually cannot hear the claim.
Common questions
- How much can you claim in small claims court in Pennsylvania?
- In the Magisterial District Court, an individual can claim up to $12,000. In the Magisterial District Court, a business can claim up to $12,000. In the Magisterial District Court, a public agency can claim up to $12,000. In the Philadelphia Municipal Court, Small Claims, an individual can claim up to $12,000. In the Philadelphia Municipal Court, Small Claims, a business can claim up to $12,000. In the Philadelphia Municipal Court, Small Claims, a public agency can claim up to $12,000. That comes from 42 Pa.C.S. §1515(a)(3), 42 Pa.C.S. §1123(a)(4).
- What does it cost to file a small claims claim in Pennsylvania?
- $68.50 for a claim up to $500. $91 for a claim up to $2,000. $114 for a claim up to $4,000. $171 for a claim up to $12,000. That comes from 204 Pa. Code §29.402 (42 Pa.C.S. §1725.1).
- How long do you have to bring a small claims claim in Pennsylvania?
- The shortest window is 2 years, counted from the day the damage happened, under 42 Pa.C.S. §5524(3). Other kinds of claim run longer; the time-limit page lists each one.
- Do you have to ask for the money before filing in Pennsylvania?
- No, Pennsylvania does not require it, per 246 Pa. Code Rule 303. Sending a demand letter first is still the usual first step, and it is often what gets the money paid.
- Which court handles small claims in Pennsylvania?
- Magisterial District Court. For every county except Philadelphia. The magisterial district judge's office for the area where the other side lives or where the dispute happened. Philadelphia Municipal Court, Small Claims. For disputes inside the City of Philadelphia.
Verify with your court
Numbers change, and a court can post its own variation. Open Pennsylvania's small claims page and confirm anything you are about to rely on.
Open the court's small claims pageVerified on 2026-09-05, sources:
Verified on 2026-09-05, sources: Rules effective from 2026-09-05.
- 42 Pa.C.S. §1515(a)(3) · effective 2011-01-22 · A magisterial district judge can hear a money claim of up to $12,000, not counting interest and costs. Claims against a state agency go elsewhere.
- 42 Pa.C.S. §1123(a)(4) · effective 2011-01-22 · In Philadelphia, the Municipal Court hears money claims of up to $12,000, not counting interest and costs. Claims against a state agency go elsewhere.
- 204 Pa. Code §29.402 (42 Pa.C.S. §1725.1) · effective 2026-01-01 · For 2026 the filing cost is $68.50 for claims up to $500, $91.00 up to $2,000, $114.00 up to $4,000, and $171.00 up to $12,000. Service costs are added.
- 42 Pa.C.S. §5524(3) · effective 2002-02-15 · A claim for damage to your property must be filed within two years of the damage.
- 246 Pa. Code Rule 303 · effective 1979-05-25 · A case starts when you file a complaint. Pennsylvania does not require a written demand before filing a small claim. Asking first is still the usual first step.
- 42 Pa.C.S. §5522(a)(1) · effective 2019-11-26 · Before a claim for injury to person or property can go to court against a city, county, school district, or state agency, a signed written statement has to be filed with that body within six months of the event.
FairSquare assembles documents and explains your court's rules. It is not a substitute for advice about your situation.