11 Pa.C.S. Ch. 126

in effect

11 Pa.C.S. § 12601 Licensing and regulatory powers.

In addition to all other powers granted by this part and other laws, a city shall have the specific licensing and regulatory authority provided by this chapter.

11 Pa.C.S. § 12601.1 Registration of businesses or occupations.

(a) Registration.--Council may, by ordinance, designate the types or kinds of businesses or occupations located or carried out within the city that are subject to annual registration with the city. (b) Annual fee.--Unless otherwise provided in this chapter, an ordinance requiring registration in accordance with this section may provide for an annual fee on businesses and occupations in an amount reasonably related to the administration of the registration program, not to exceed $100.

11 Pa.C.S. § 12602 Regulation of motor vehicles.

(a) General rule.--Subject to subsection (b), a city may regulate transportation by motor vehicle. (b) Exception.--A city shall have no authority to and shall not regulate transportation by motor vehicle in a manner that is preempted by or is inconsistent with applicable Federal and State laws and regulations, policies or orders of Federal and State regulatory agencies. (c) Definitions.--The following words and phrases when used in this section shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "Regulate." Licensing and making regulations for transportation by motor vehicle, including the designation of streets for transportation by motor vehicle. "Transportation by motor vehicle." The transportation for pay of passengers and property, within the limits of the city or from points in the city to points beyond the limits of the city, by a motor vehicle that is not operated on tracks.

11 Pa.C.S. § 12603 Licensing of plumbers.

Council may, as provided by ordinance or the laws of this Commonwealth, license and provide for the collection of a license fee from all persons certified as being qualified to engage in the business of plumbing or house drainage.

11 Pa.C.S. § 12604 Power to regulate and license transient merchants.

(a) General rule.--With regard to transient merchants, a city shall have power, by ordinance, to regulate and license the transient merchant, including requiring that a license be procured prior to commencement of transient merchant activity. (b) Penalty.--An ordinance adopted pursuant to subsection (a) may impose a penalty of not more than $500 for a violation of its provisions and may provide for other means of enforcement. (c) License fee.--The fee for a transient merchant license shall not exceed $250 for each month during which any sale or solicitation is continued. (d) Definition.--As used in this section, the term "transient merchant" shall: (1) include all of the following: (i) Transient wholesale and transient retail businesses for the sale of goods, wares or merchandise within the city. (ii) Transient charitable solicitors for the solicitation of charitable contributions within the city. (2) not include any of the following: (i) Farmers selling their own produce. (ii) Persons selling donated goods, wares and merchandise if the proceeds of the sale are to be applied to any charitable or philanthropic purpose. (iii) A person selling bakery products, meat and meat products or milk and milk products, if that person is the manufacturer or producer of the products sold.

11 Pa.C.S. § 12605 Regulation of special events.

(a) Special events.--In addition to other licensing and regulatory powers authorized by this chapter, council shall have the authority, by ordinance, to require a permit for and to reasonably regulate the conduct of a special event, which may include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) Music festivals. (2) Concerts. (3) Dances. (4) Circuses. (5) Carnivals. (6) Arts and craft shows. (7) Parades. (8) Public assemblies. (9) Demonstrations. (10) Performances. (11) Exhibitions. (12) Community events. (13) Block parties. (b) Purpose of regulation.--Regulation of a special event pursuant to this section shall be for the purpose of protecting and preserving city and public property or for the purpose of promoting or protecting public health, safety or welfare. (c) Permit requirement.--Pursuant to this section, a city may reasonably regulate and require a permit for any of the following: (1) A special event that will result in the obstruction of a city street or sidewalk or that would compromise the ability of the city to respond to a public safety emergency. (2) A special event on any property wholly or partially owned or maintained by the city. (3) A special event on private property if, in connection with the event, the city will be providing city services, including those relating to public safety, fire and sanitary facilities, beyond what is routinely provided by the city.

11 Pa.C.S. § 12650 Regulation of parking lot and parking garage operators.

(a) General rule.--For the purpose of protecting the public, a city may enact suitable ordinances regulating the business of operating for-profit parking lots and for-profit parking garages within the city. Ordinances shall be consistent with 75 Pa.C.S. (relating to vehicles). A city may require for-profit parking lots and for-profit parking garages to reserve areas exclusively for parking by handicapped individuals. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the protections and prohibitions contained in section 202 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-336, 104 Stat. 327), the act of October 27, 1955 (P.L.744, No.222), known as the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, and Federal and State rules and regulations implementing those acts. License and permit requirements may be imposed on for-profit parking lots and for-profit parking garages, and license or permit fees may be charged and collected from the operators of the parking lots and parking garages. (b) Liability insurance.--A city adopting a regulatory plan applicable to for-profit parking lots and for-profit parking garages shall have the authority to require that each operator maintain insurance from an insurer legally authorized to conduct business in this Commonwealth in amounts not less than that which are prescribed by council for the protection of the public from loss of or damage to the vehicles parked, stored or placed under the jurisdiction of the operator and against liability arising out of the ownership or use of the parking lot or parking garage.

11 Pa.C.S. § 12651 Farmers.

A city may not levy or collect a license fee from a farmer upon sales of the farmer's own produce in or about the streets of the city. This section shall not restrict a city's power to regulate the conduct of a farmer's business.

11 Pa.C.S. § 12652 Insurance business.

A city may not levy or collect a license fee upon an insurance company or its agents or an insurance broker authorized to transact business under the laws of this Commonwealth.

11 Pa.C.S. § 12653 Persons taking orders by samples.

A city may not levy or collect a license fee or mercantile tax upon a person taking orders for merchandise by sample from a dealer or merchant for persons who pay a license or mercantile tax at their primary places of business. Nothing in this section shall authorize a person to sell by retail to persons other than dealers or merchants without payment of a license or permit fee.

11 Pa.C.S. § 12654 Commonwealth licenses.

This chapter shall not be construed to relieve a person from the duty of taking out a license or from the payment of any license tax or fee imposed or authorized by any other statute, nor shall any Commonwealth license tax or fee preempt the registration, licensure or regulatory powers of a city in accordance with this chapter, unless the preemption is expressly authorized.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.palegis.us/statutes/consolidated/view-statute?txtType=HTM&ttl=11Fetched: 10/16/2026