11 Pa.C.S. Ch. 112

in effect

11 Pa.C.S. § 11201 Qualifications.

The qualifications for office of mayor shall be as follows: (1) An individual must be at least 18 years of age. (2) An individual must be elected at large by the qualified electors of the city. (3) An individual must be a resident of the city where the individual was elected for not less than one year before the date of the individual's election. (4) Before being sworn into the office of mayor, an individual elected to mayor must present a signed affidavit to the city clerk certifying that the individual is in accordance with the requirement under paragraph (3). (5) An individual elected to the office of mayor must reside in the city for the duration of the individual's term of service. References in Text. Act 54 of 2017 added 53 Pa.C.S. § 1142, which provides that "active military duty" shall not disqualify a person from fulfilling residency requirements for municipal elective office and that one who is a resident of a municipality for at least one year immediately prior to the person's absence due to active military duty shall be deemed to be an ongoing resident of the municipality for purposes of any residency requirement of office unless and until the person demonstrates an intent to establish a new domicile outside the municipality. Cross References. Section 11201 is referred to in section 10701 of this title.

11 Pa.C.S. § 11202 Inauguration.

The mayor shall be the chief executive of the city. The mayor shall be inaugurated and take the oath of office in accordance with sections 10904 (relating to offices to be held until qualification of successors) and 10905 (relating to oath of office, violation of oath and penalty) on the first Monday of January after the regular municipal election. If the first Monday is a legal holiday, the mayor shall be inaugurated and take the oath the first day after that day or as soon after that day as possible.

11 Pa.C.S. § 11203 Execution of laws, powers of sheriff conferred and emergency powers.

(a) Execution.--The mayor shall execute and enforce the ordinances of the city and all general laws applicable to the ordinances. (b) Report.--The mayor shall submit an annual report to council and the public that includes recommendations on ways to improve efficiency of the city government based on the prior fiscal year and any other recommendations the mayor deems to be in the public interest. (c) Police powers.--In order to enable the mayor to effectively preserve the public peace within the city, all the powers conferred by the law upon sheriffs to prevent and suppress mobs, riots and unlawful and tumultuous assemblies shall be conferred upon the mayor. (d) Emergency proclamations issuance.--If the mayor determines that a state of emergency exists, the mayor may issue a proclamation in writing declaring a state of emergency. The mayor shall provide notice of the contents of the proclamation to council and to the news media within the city. (e) Emergency proclamations contents.--Upon the issuance of a proclamation declaring a state of emergency under subsection (d), the following shall apply: (1) The state of emergency shall not exceed five days, unless extended by council. (2) In the case of a declaration of a state of emergency by the mayor for a citywide or site-specific emergency, a city department may temporarily implement the department's emergency assignments without complying with procedures required by law pertaining to the incurring of obligations and the employment of temporary workers. (3) The proclamation may prohibit, for all or any part of the city where there is a clear and present danger to life or property through civil disorder: (i) an individual from being on public streets, in public parks or at any other public place during the hours declared by the mayor to be a period of curfew; (ii) the assembling or gathering of a group of individuals, in numbers to be designated by the mayor, upon public streets, parks or other public places; (iii) the entry or departure of an individual into or from any restricted area; (iv) the sale, purchase or dispensing of any commodities or goods designated by the mayor; (v) the transportation, possession or use of gasoline, kerosene or other combustible, flammable or explosive liquids or materials, except in connection with the normal operation of motor vehicles, normal home use or legitimate commercial use; and (vi) any other activities as the mayor reasonably believes would cause a clear and present danger to the preservation of life, health, property or the public peace. (f) Time and location.--A proclamation declaring a state of emergency shall describe any restricted area with particularity and specify the hours when the restrictions are to be in effect. (g) Penalties.--An individual who violates a proclamation declaring a state of emergency commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced as provided by law. Cross References. Section 11203 is referred to in section 11901.4 of this title.

11 Pa.C.S. § 11204 Official seal of mayor.

Council shall provide an official seal for the mayor in a form, as reasonably requested by the mayor, which shall not be changed during the mayor's term of office.

11 Pa.C.S. § 11205 Supervision of conduct of city officers.

(a) Supervision.--The mayor shall supervise the conduct of all city officers, examine the grounds of all reasonable complaints against them and cause all of their violations or neglect of duty to be promptly punished or reported for correction as council may direct. (b) Implementation.--In order to implement the provisions of subsection (a), the mayor may issue subpoenas and compulsory processes, under the mayor's official seal, for the attendance of individuals and the production of documentation. A subpoena shall be enforced in the manner as provided for council under section 11015 (relating to attendance of witnesses and production of books before council or committee of council).

11 Pa.C.S. § 11206 City government reports.

The mayor may request a report from a city official or department director containing information pertaining to administrative functions under the control and management of the city official or department director. The mayor may submit a report pertaining to all matters of city government to council as the mayor deems necessary.

11 Pa.C.S. § 11207 Acknowledgments and oaths.

The mayor may take acknowledgments of any instruments in writing pertaining to the business of the city, solemnize marriages and administer oaths and affirmations as to city business and shall attest all the mayor's acts with the mayor's official seal.

11 Pa.C.S. § 11208 Salary.

(a) Payment.-- (1) The mayor shall receive for the mayor's services during the term of service an annual salary to be fixed by ordinance, payable in equal installments as council shall provide. (2) Council shall, by ordinance, fix the amount of salary to be paid to the mayor for the mayor's services and may provide for the assessment and retention from the salary of reasonable fines for absence from regular or special meetings of council or committees of council. (3) The amount of the mayor's salary shall be at least $2,500 annually. (b) Amounts.--Until changed by ordinance, the salary of mayors in newly created cities shall be as follows: (1) In cities with a population of less than 5,000, a maximum of $2,500 per year. (2) In cities with a population of 5,000 or more but less than 10,000, a maximum of $5,000 per year. (3) In cities with a population of 10,000 or more but less than 15,000, a maximum of $7,500 year. (4) In cities with a population of more than 15,000, a maximum of $500 per every thousand residents per year as determined by the most recent census data provided by the United States Census Bureau. (c) Administration.-- (1) The salary to be received by a mayor in a city other than a newly created city shall be fixed by ordinance of council enacted not less than two days before the last day fixed by law for candidates to withdraw their names from nominating petitions. (2) The compensation to be received by the mayor shall not be increased or diminished after the mayor's election unless the increase or decrease was included in an ordinance enacted not less than two days before the last day fixed by law for candidates to withdraw their names from nominating petitions. (d) Marriage ceremonies.-- (1) Subject to paragraph (2) and notwithstanding any other provisions of law, a mayor may receive a honorarium, fee or reimbursement of expenses related to the performance of a marriage ceremony in this Commonwealth if the mayor first notifies council in writing of the mayor's intention to perform a marriage ceremony. Notice under this paragraph shall remain in effect for the term of the mayor or until the notification is rescinded by the mayor. (2) The honorarium, fee or reimbursement under paragraph (1) shall not exceed $150 for each ceremony performed. The mayor shall keep accurate accounts of the fees received relating to the performance of marriage ceremonies and submit a quarterly report of money received for that period to council. The quarterly report shall include the amount of money received, the names of individuals from whom money was received and the date and location of the performed ceremony. The quarterly report shall be a public record in accordance with the act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), known as the Right-to-Know Law. (3) The receipt of a honorarium, fee or reimbursement under this subsection shall not be a violation of 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 11 (relating to ethics standards and financial disclosure) and shall not be part of a salary received in accordance with this section. Cross References. Section 11208 is referred to in section 11209 of this title.

11 Pa.C.S. § 11209 Powers and duties of acting mayor.

(a) Absence or inability to act.--During the absence of the mayor or the inability of the mayor to act, the vice president of council shall be the acting mayor who shall exercise all the rights and powers of the mayor. (b) Death, resignation or otherwise.--In the event of a vacancy in the office of the mayor by reason of death, resignation or otherwise, the vice president of council shall be the acting mayor. The vice president of council shall receive the salary of mayor as specified under section 11208 (relating to salary) but may not receive a salary as a council member until the successor of the mayor is duly appointed and qualified in accordance with section 10901 (relating to appointment, removal and prohibition). (c) Acting mayor designation.--During the absence or inability of the vice president of council to act as mayor, council shall designate another one of its members to act as mayor.

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