Pennsylvania is home to est. 10,000+ homeowners associations ranging from small 10-unit townhome communities to large master-planned developments. Self-managed HOAs in PA face the same core challenges as those everywhere - collecting dues, managing violations, coordinating maintenance - but operate under Pennsylvania-specific laws that shape what boards can and can't do.
This guide covers what Pennsylvania HOA boards should look for in management software and how Pennsylvania's legal framework affects your operations.
The core operational needs are consistent regardless of state: online dues collection, a resident portal, violation tracking, maintenance request management, and email communications. These solve the day-to-day pain points for any self-managed board in PA.
In Pennsylvania, a few things are worth paying attention to:
Pennsylvania adopted the Uniform Planned Community Act (UPCA), providing a comprehensive governance framework for planned community HOAs modeled on national model law. The UPCA requires financial record maintenance, annual disclosures, open board meetings, and gives associations a 6-month super-priority assessment lien over first mortgages. Pennsylvania also has a separate Uniform Condominium Act with a parallel structure, and condominium associations benefit from the same super-priority lien provision.
Key things Pennsylvania HOA boards should know:
Note: This is a general overview, not legal advice. Pennsylvania HOA law changes regularly and varies by community type and governing documents. Consult a Pennsylvania-licensed HOA attorney for guidance specific to your community.
For a self-managed HOA in Pennsylvania, expect to pay $49–$99/month for full-featured software on a flat-tier plan. That covers communities from 10 to 150 units, with every feature included at a fraction of what a property manager would cost in PA (typically $300–$700/month for communities of that size).
Starting at $49/month, AffordableHOA serves communities across Pennsylvania from 10 units to 1,000 units, with every feature included at every tier.
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Start free →The Pennsylvania UPCA (68 Pa. C.S. § 5101 et seq.) requires HOA boards to maintain financial records and make them available to members on request, hold annual meetings with proper notice, conduct elections in accordance with the act and governing documents, and follow specified procedures for assessment lien recording and enforcement. The UPCA is based on a national model law and provides a comprehensive governance framework for Pennsylvania planned community HOAs.
Under 68 Pa. C.S. § 5315, a Pennsylvania HOA's assessment lien has a limited super-priority over first mortgages for a specified amount -- generally 6 months of assessments. For the super-priority portion, the HOA lien ranks ahead of the first mortgage in a foreclosure. For amounts beyond the super-priority cap, the HOA lien is subordinate to the first mortgage. This structure affects lender practices in Pennsylvania planned communities.
No. Pennsylvania has separate statutes for planned community HOAs (the UPCA, 68 Pa. C.S. § 5101) and condominium associations (the Uniform Condominium Act, 68 Pa. C.S. § 3101). Both are based on national model laws and have similar structures, but condominiums have additional provisions specific to shared-ownership units and common elements. The applicable statute depends on how the community was legally organized at the time of creation.
The Pennsylvania UPCA encourages reserve planning and financial transparency, but does not impose a strict statutory mandate for planned community HOAs to maintain a specific reserve fund level. Condominium associations under the Uniform Condominium Act have similar reserve planning expectations. Financial advisors recommend that Pennsylvania HOAs conduct reserve studies and fund reserves adequately for their common element needs.
Pennsylvania has no dedicated state agency for HOA dispute resolution. Homeowners with complaints must use whatever internal dispute resolution procedures appear in their governing documents, pursue mediation or arbitration if available, or file a civil lawsuit in the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas. A Pennsylvania real estate attorney familiar with the UPCA can help evaluate the best approach for a specific dispute.