Pennsylvania Reserve Study
Pennsylvania does not require one, yet buyers, lenders and next year's budget all lean on a reserve study. We connect boards with providers statewide.
Pennsylvania and its neighbors
New Jersey and Maryland require a study every five years. Pennsylvania requires none.
| State | Study required? | How often | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| PA Pennsylvania | No | None set | 68 Pa.C.S. 3407 and 5407 |
| NJ New Jersey | Yes | Every 5 years | N.J.S.A. 45:22A-44.2 |
| MD Maryland | Yes | Every 5 years | Md. Real Prop. 11-109.4 and 11B-112.3 |
| DE Delaware | Unclear | Unclear | 25 Del. C. ch. 81 (DUCIOA)CAI lists a requirement for condominiums; ask the association's attorney how it applies. |
| NY New York | No | None set | No study statute (per CAI) |
| OH Ohio | No | None set | Ohio Rev. Code 5311.081 |
Sources: the statutes linked and CAI, Summary of State Reserve Fund Laws (June 2026). Not legal advice.
Where a thin reserve shows
Pennsylvania sets no reserve amount, but the resale certificate must state the balance (section 3407, section 5407). Pick a number to see what a buyer reads.
- Monthly assessment for the unit, and any amount unpaid
- Capital expenditures approved for this year and the next two
- Reserves for capital expenditures: total held and any amount earmarked
- Balance sheet, income statement and current operating budget
- Unsatisfied judgments and pending lawsuits
Buyers are protected against a higher assessment than shown, so the figure must be right on the day it is issued.
Roof or paving work the board has voted on. Projects nobody has priced stay off the page; a study prices them.
The only place Pennsylvania law makes the reserve public. It gives the amount, not whether the amount is enough.
Lenders compare the yearly reserve contribution with the balance. A study gives them a target to compare against.
Suits over defects or deferred repairs show here and raise the question of whether reserves were planned.
What a full study costs
Typical national ranges for a full study. A guide, not a quote.
- Up to 40 homes
- $1,500 to $4,500
- 40 to 120 homes
- $2,500 to $7,500
- 120 to 300 homes
- $4,500 to $18,000
- Condominium tower
- $7,500 to $15,000+
Pricing by level of studyLocal notes: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Lehigh Valley and Poconos
From request to proposal
Request
ZIP, size, contact details and the last study date.
Introduction
Within a business day we name a provider for your county.
Proposal
With your go-ahead, they send a written scope and fee.
Proposals for your community start here
Three short steps. Tell us the size of the community, where to reach you, then a little about its history. Proposals are free and you are under no obligation to accept one.
This is a free introduction service, not a reserve study firm. We find a provider who works in your part of Pennsylvania and tell you who it is before anyone contacts you.
Your request is logged.
- Expect a call or email from us within one business day, naming a provider who covers your county.
- Nothing is passed on until you tell us to go ahead.
- The provider asks for your documents and sends a written proposal. Your contact details serve this one request and are not used to send you marketing.