Special assessment on your Pennsylvania condo — what does the UCA allow?

Pennsylvania at a glance

Documents control, certificate discloses

Under the Uniform Condominium Act (68 Pa.C.S. § 3314), special assessments are set by the declaration and bylaws — no statutory threshold or cap. But § 3407 requires the resale certificate to disclose unpaid and approved special assessments and planned capital projects for the next two years, and you get five days to cancel after receiving it. The only fee cap is on the resale capital-improvement fee (one year's dues).

No reserve mandate

Pennsylvania permits but doesn't require reserve studies or funding (§ 3302), so a board can run reserves to zero and special-assess later. The resale certificate must disclose reserve totals and designations — multiple recent special assessments in the history are a classic underfunding signal.

Super-lien and inspections

Pennsylvania gives the association a six-month super-lien over the foreclosing mortgage (§ 3315), so short delinquencies are low-risk to lenders. And Philadelphia (6+ stories) and Pittsburgh require periodic façade inspections — an 'unsafe' result there drives a repair assessment, so check the inspection status for a high-rise.

Sources

• 68 Pa.C.S. § 3407 — resale certificate (5-day cancellation)(High)
• 68 Pa.C.S. § 3315 — lien for assessments (6-month priority)(High)
• 68 Pa.C.S. § 3314 — budgets and assessments(High)

Educational only — not legal, financial, or engineering advice. Confirm against the current statute and, where it matters, a Pennsylvania-licensed professional.