26 Pa.C.S. § 305
This is the official text of 26 Pa.C.S. § 305, part of Pennsylvania’s Pa.C.S — part of the compiled statutory law of Pennsylvania, published by the state as "Pa.C.S." Browse the sections below, each linked to its official government source.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Notice to condemnee.
Official statutory text
(a) Written notice.--Within 30 days after the filing of the declaration of taking, the condemnor shall give written notice of the filing to the condemnee, to any mortgagee of record and to any lienholder of record.
(b) Service.--
(1) The notice shall be served, within or without this Commonwealth, by any competent adult in the same manner as in a civil action or by registered mail to the last known address of the person being served.
(2) If service cannot be made in the manner set forth under paragraph (1), then service shall be made by posting a copy of the notice upon the most public part of the property and by publication of a copy of the notice, omitting the plot plan required by subsection (c)(9), one time each in one newspaper of general circulation and the legal journal, if any, published in the county.
(c) Contents.--The notice to be given the condemnee shall state:
(1) The caption of the case.
(2) The date of filing of the declaration of taking and the court term and number.
(3) The name of the condemnee to whom it is directed.
(4) The name and address of the condemnor.
(5) A specific reference to the statute and section under which the condemnation action is authorized.
(6) A specific reference to the action, whether by ordinance, resolution or otherwise, by which the declaration of taking was authorized, including the date when the action was taken and the place where the record may be examined.
(7) A brief description of the purpose of the condemnation.
(8) A statement that the condemnee's property has been condemned and a reasonable identification of the property.
(9) In the case of a partial taking, a plot plan showing the condemnee's entire property and the area taken.
(10) A statement of the nature of the title acquired.
(11) A statement specifying where a plan showing the condemned property may be inspected in the county in which the property taken is located.
(12) A statement of how just compensation has been made or secured.
(13) A statement that, if the condemnee wishes to challenge the power or the right of the condemnor to appropriate the condemned property, the sufficiency of the security, the procedure followed by the condemnor or the declaration of taking, the condemnee must file preliminary objections within 30 days after being served with notice of condemnation.
(d) Compliance.--Service of a copy of the declaration of taking, together with the information and notice required by subsection (c)(2), (8), (9) and (13), shall constitute compliance with the notice requirements of this section.
(e) Proof of service.--The condemnor shall file proof of service of the notice. Cross References. Section 305 is referred to in section 310 of this title.
(b) Service.--
(1) The notice shall be served, within or without this Commonwealth, by any competent adult in the same manner as in a civil action or by registered mail to the last known address of the person being served.
(2) If service cannot be made in the manner set forth under paragraph (1), then service shall be made by posting a copy of the notice upon the most public part of the property and by publication of a copy of the notice, omitting the plot plan required by subsection (c)(9), one time each in one newspaper of general circulation and the legal journal, if any, published in the county.
(c) Contents.--The notice to be given the condemnee shall state:
(1) The caption of the case.
(2) The date of filing of the declaration of taking and the court term and number.
(3) The name of the condemnee to whom it is directed.
(4) The name and address of the condemnor.
(5) A specific reference to the statute and section under which the condemnation action is authorized.
(6) A specific reference to the action, whether by ordinance, resolution or otherwise, by which the declaration of taking was authorized, including the date when the action was taken and the place where the record may be examined.
(7) A brief description of the purpose of the condemnation.
(8) A statement that the condemnee's property has been condemned and a reasonable identification of the property.
(9) In the case of a partial taking, a plot plan showing the condemnee's entire property and the area taken.
(10) A statement of the nature of the title acquired.
(11) A statement specifying where a plan showing the condemned property may be inspected in the county in which the property taken is located.
(12) A statement of how just compensation has been made or secured.
(13) A statement that, if the condemnee wishes to challenge the power or the right of the condemnor to appropriate the condemned property, the sufficiency of the security, the procedure followed by the condemnor or the declaration of taking, the condemnee must file preliminary objections within 30 days after being served with notice of condemnation.
(d) Compliance.--Service of a copy of the declaration of taking, together with the information and notice required by subsection (c)(2), (8), (9) and (13), shall constitute compliance with the notice requirements of this section.
(e) Proof of service.--The condemnor shall file proof of service of the notice. Cross References. Section 305 is referred to in section 310 of this title.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Need a lawyer in Pennsylvania?
Find a Pennsylvania lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.