Pennsylvania Public Notices

Public notices are official advertisements required to be published in printed newspapers of general circulation. They are mandated by statutes, regulations, court rules, and court orders. Public notices are important because they inform citizens about tax increases, zoning changes, school closures, environmental proposals impacting health and property, and other critical issues before local governments take action. Public notices are published in newspapers because newspapers are an independent, third party whose constitutional role is to hold government accountable. Public notices have been published in newspapers in Pennsylvania for centuries; in fact, the Declaration of Independence was a public notice published in the Pennsylvania Evening Post on July 6, 1776.

Public notices in Pennsylvania are governed by the Newspaper Advertising Act, which requires that public notices be published in printed newspapers of general circulation. More specific statutes dealing with a variety of subjects often contain more detailed notice requirements. PNA is currently monitoring bills in the General Assembly that would seek to amend the Newspaper Advertising Act, as well as many other pieces of legislation that would touch on public notices.

Pennsylvania’s newspapers remain the most reliable place to read and establish legal proof of public notices, with nearly 7 in 10 Pennsylvania adults reading a print or digital newspaper each week.¹ Moreover, 92% of Pennsylvania registered voters agree that public notices should be published in print by local newspapers and favor current state law that requires this process.²