Key Legislative Priority Signed into Law

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro signed House Bill 1567 (Malagari, D-Montgomery) into law as Act 93 of 2024 on Oct. 2, 2024. 

Act 93 amends the Municipal Code and Ordinance Compliance Act to address and clarify how municipalities may issue certain types of temporary occupancy permits for multi-family properties that are transferring ownership. The bill makes clear that municipalities have the power to issue a temporary use certificate even for multi-family properties where tenants are currently in place. 

This legislation was a key priority for PAR during the 2023-2024 legislative session. The bill passed the Pennsylvania Senate in mid-September, after previously passing the Pennsylvania House at the end of 2023. 

Over the past several years, PAR has learned of instances where municipalities have interpreted MCOCA to only allow municipalities to issue temporary access certificates in cases of these types of property transfers. This key legislation seeks to make clear that temporary use certificates may be issued, provided that major health and safety violations are not present at the property. 

The Act also clarifies that both municipalities and municipal authorities must abide by MCOCA when implementing use and occupancy permit and inspections programs. 

HB 1567 is a commonsense approach to ensure that property transfers are not arbitrarily stopped by municipalities or their components or result in the displacement of renters from properties that are changing ownership. 

This key Realtor® victory caps off a terrific legislative session which also saw PAR’s other key legislative priority – licensing of residential wholesaling – signed into law.  

Act 93 goes into effect in 60 days.