Pennsylvania has more than 1,700 self storage facilities, serving a statewide population of 12,807,060 (2018). The Pennsylvania Self Storage Association has helped spearhead several changes to lien laws in the Keystone State but some priorities remain.

The PASSA is ever vigilant in protecting the industry from unnecessary laws or regulations. If you have questions or concerns regarding the industry’s relationship with the government, please feel free to contact us.
 

Legislative Update - April 2026

SSA members Alyssa Quill (back right) and Brian Davison (back left) and PASSA lobbyist Ted Mowatt (back center) recently joined Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and State Representative Scott Conklin for a ceremonial signing of Act 51. The new law modernizes Pennsylvania’s self storage law, including by providing a process for operators to resolve non-monetary defaults. The new law took effect in January. 

SSA and PASSA thank Governor Shapiro and Representative Conklin for their support of this common sense, bipartisan legislation.

Legislative Update - February 2026

The PASSA recently heard from several members that the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette will close in early May. This closure, and others like it, have led members to ask how they continue to comply with the newspaper advertising requirement mandated by the Pennsylvania Self Storage Act. 
 
The PASSA continues to support additional reform to eliminate the newspaper advertising requirement. Nevertheless, to ensure that members meet the advertising requirement in the current law, the PASSA requested the assistance of the Pennsylvania Press Association. The Press Association provided the PASSA with the following list of publications in Allegheny County that are eligible for public notices:
 
·        New Pittsburgh Courier;
·        Pittsburgh Business Times;
·        Mon-Valley Independent; and
·        Tribune-Review (Valley News Dispatch edition). 
 
Additionally, members in other areas of the state may consult this list for “daily” newspapers of general circulation that may be used. Keep in mind that these publications may serve as newspapers of general circulation outside of the county where they are headquartered. Members should confirm a publication’s reach with that publication. Additionally, your community may have a weekly newspaper that qualifies as a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Please contact Joe Doherty or Daniel Bryant with any questions or additional newspapers you use to comply with the newspaper advertising mandate.  

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE NEWSPAPER LIST

Legislative Update - December 2025

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro recently signed an update to the state’s self storage law. The changes in House Bill 1359 include a reduction in the timeline to deny access from 20 days to 10 days and adoption of processes to handle nonmonetary defaults and unsigned rental agreements. The new law takes effect on January 24, 2026.

The SSA and PASSA thank Representative Scott Conklin for serving as the bill’s prime sponsor and the many operators who asked their elected officials to support this important legislation.

 A summary of the bill’s amendments can be accessed HERE.  

Legislative Update - October 2025

House Commerce Committee Chairman Scott Conklin (D-Centre) sponsor of HB1359, which amends the Self Storage lien law legislation passed last session, addressing issues with newspaper advertising and adjusting the timeframe for storage auctions, reported the bill out of his committee on May 6. The bill was then considered by the full House on June 3, by an overwhelming 194-9 vote. The bill now moves to the Senate for further consideration.

PASSA members are encouraged to contact their Senators and ask them to support the bill as it continues through the process. Click and send an editable email to your state Senator. If you use both your home address and your business addresses, you can cover multiple legislators.

Legislative Update -  January 2023

Pennsylvania Lien Law Updated

SSA-backed Pennsylvania HB 1103 took effect on January 3, 2023. The bill amends the lien law in several ways. First, the bill expressly states that an owner may charge the occupant a reasonable late fee for each month the occupant fails to pay rent or other charges within five (5) days of the due date. The bill further provides that a late fee of $20 per month or 20% of the monthly rent for the leased space, whichever is greater, is deemed reasonable and does not constitute a penalty. Finally, to lawfully impose the fee, an owner must disclose in the rental agreement the amount of the fee and the timing for charging the fee.

The bill provides much needed flexibility to owners when advertising lien sales. Once effective, Pennsylvania operators are only required to publish the sale once in a newspaper of general circulation. The amendment allows the second advertisement to be published on a publicly accessible Internet website that regularly advertises or conducts online sales of personal property. This results in a 50 percent reduction in advertising expenses.

The bill also amends the lien law to provide an owner’s right to tow trailers after the occupant is in default for a continuous 60-day period. Existing law permits towing of motor vehicles and watercraft. Finally, the bill expressly permits owners to conduct lien sales online as opposed to exclusively in-person at the facility.

The updated annotated Pennsylvania Lien Law Book that explains all of the new amendments and provides recommendations for implementation is available on the SSA’s website.