Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed borrowing $1 billion in bonds to expand and preserve the state’s housing supply, pairing financing with renter protections and zoning changes.
The plan targets ongoing shortages and would affect leasing practices, screening, and approvals for owners and operators in Philadelphia.
State proposal and housing supply goals
Shapiro positioned the bond plan as a major investment to narrow the supply gap and protect existing units.
As of 2021, the state needed nearly 100,000 more homes, and he warned that failing to invest in preservation could widen the deficit by 185,000 homes by 2035.
Prior coverage includes the proposed $1 billion investment in Pennsylvania’s housing crisis.
Zoning reform, ADU standards, and approvals streamlining
The administration plans new state standards for accessory dwelling units, as well as transit-oriented and mixed-use development on main streets and commercial corridors.
It also seeks a catalog of municipal rules and modernization of the Municipalities Planning Code, which outlines local zoning and land-use powers and would require approval from municipalities and counties excluding Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
Current rules often privilege single-family homes over duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes, affecting the pipeline for smaller rental assets.
Application fee caps and ban on fees to view units
Shapiro proposed capping rental application fees to the actual screening cost and barring charges to view a property.
This would shape screening workflows and limit recoverable administrative costs for leasing teams.
In Philadelphia, City Council enacted a rule last year that allows fees only to cover background or credit checks and caps them at the screening cost or $50 within a 12-month period, with the law taking effect two months ago.
Sealing certain eviction records
The proposal includes sealing eviction records for certain renters, which would shift how operators evaluate tenant history.
Property managers may need to adjust screening criteria and recordkeeping to ensure compliance with restricted data.
Manufactured home community lot rent limits
The administration also wants limits on annual increases for lot rents in manufactured home communities, where residents own the home but not the land.
With 56,000 households in this arrangement, owners and operators would need to align revenue planning and resident communications with any state cap.