In January 2013, Pennsylvania enacted land bank enabling legislation, allowing local governments in the Commonwealth to establish land banks as a new tool to address vacant, blighted and tax delinquent properties. Building upon earlier models in other states, Pennsylvania put in place one of the most thoughtful formats for local land banks to act with goals and administrative structures that specifically address the scope and causes of blight in their communities.
This legislation provides a powerful new tool for local communities, at the county or municipal level, to address blight, and access delinquent property more easily to aid reuse and speed up the process of putting abandoned property back on the tax roles, or to convey the land for public use.
Right-Sized Places has produced a comprehensive guide for locally implementing Pennsylvania’s new land bank law, including understanding the scope, powers and limitations of the law, and an analysis of factors to take into account when first establishing a land bank, administering a land bank, and managing property acquired, held and disposed of by the land bank.
Follow the link below to the four page summary of the handbook. To receive the full handbook in pdf form, please email a request directly to David Feldman at dfeldman@right-sized-homes.com
Introduction to Land Banks in Pennsylvania