Key Resources

Looking for links to state laws? Go to the Pa. Local Government Commission’s website.
Looking for links to state regulations? Go to the Pennsylvania Code and Bulletin website.
Looking for links to federal laws and regulations? Go to the usa.gov website.

Following are links to specific resources:

• 2020 Census Data for Pennsylvania Townships
  2020 Census Data for Pennsylvania is available through the Pennsylvania State Data Center, which has a page dedicated to Pennsylvania’s 2020 Census results and contains additional data and breakdowns for all Pennsylvania municipalities. As of May 2022, the Data Center now has Census tabulation block data available, as well as important guidance about the Census Count Question Resolution Program, which allows municipalities to identify errors that may have occurred while processing the 2020 Census results. Any challenge must be filed by June 30, 2023.
   
• Common Level Ratios: Realty transfer tax common level ratio real estate valuation factors.

• Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania site includes information and links to state agencies, online services, and the latest news.
   
• COSTARS: COSTARS is the state’s cooperative purchasing program that townships can participate in to purchase goods and services from state contracts as well as through state and federal surplus programs. The program is overseen by the Department of General Services.
   
• DCED Publications: The state Department of Community and Economic Development maintains a library of publications on local government issues. Included in this library are handbooks for elected and appointed officials, such as township supervisors, solicitors, secretaries, and auditors, as well as information on planning and zoning.
   
• Document Retention and Disposition Schedules from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission: These schedules, approved by the Local Government Records Commission, tell townships how long they must retain various kinds of records. These schedules play a key role in local government records management.
   
• Land Use eLibrary: The Pennsylvania eLibrary is an electronic database and clearinghouse of planning and land use documents for the commonwealth’s municipalities. Documents include comprehensive plans, zoning ordinances, and subdivision and land development ordinances.
   
• Emergency Management Handbook for Local Officials: The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) produced this handbook to help elected officials comply with the emergency management program requirements.
   
• Environmental Protection Agency: The purpose of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is to protect human health and the environment. It develops regulations for environmental laws enacted by Congress and sets national standards that states and tribes enforce through their own regulations.
  
• FBI Cyber Warnings: Click here to find FBI-issued cybercrime warnings.

• Federal and State Employer Posters: Townships are required to post certain notices in their worksites so employees have access to and information about applicable labor laws. These posters can be downloaded from this site free of charge.
   
• Incorporation Dates for Municipalities: This will take you to a Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission map where you can click on your county and find all the incorporation dates for the municipalities in that county. (Technically, townships were “formed” or “established,” not “incorporated,” but that is the term that is used on this site.)
   
• Local Government Commission: The Local Government Commission is a bipartisan legislative service agency that is charged with providing research assistance to the General Assembly, as well as proposing legislation that would enable local governments to be more effective and efficient in providing services. Resources provided by the commission include the Pennsylvania Legislator’s Municipal Deskbook, and links to the frequently cited municipal laws of Pennsylvania. You can purchase the Second Class Township Code here. 

• Local Government Environmental Assistance Network: The Local Government Environmental Assistance Network (LGEAN) provides environmental management, planning, funding, and regulatory information for elected and appointed municipal officials, managers, and staff.
   
• Local Government Law Library: The Department of Community and Economic Development’s  Local Government Law Library provides links to primary laws enacted by the state legislature that affect local governments, including the Local Tax Enabling act, Municipal Authorities Act, Right-to-Know Law, and Sunshine Act.
   
• Municipal Records Retention Manual
   
• Municipalities Planning Code
   
• Natural Gas–Penn State Cooperative Extension: Marcellus shale information from the Penn State Cooperative Extension
   
• Pennsylvania DEP Library
• PennDot Forms and Information
• Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Request for Appointment of Municipal EMC Form

• Pennsylvania General Assembly: The General Assembly is Pennsylvania’s legislative branch of government, commonly referred to as the State Legislature, that consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The General Assembly’s site includes information on the members of the legislature, proposed and enacted legislation, and the Pennsylvania Code.
   
• Pennsylvania Office of Open Records: The Office of Open Records is a key source of information on Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law and has information for townships, including the fee schedule for providing copies of records, the regulations for filing an appeal, and copies of the office’s final determinations.
   
• Road Sign Specifications: State regulation requires that signs purchased for use on local roads comply with PennDot Publication 236M, Handbook of Approved Signs.
   
• Township Supervisors Handbook: This manual produced by the state Department of Community & Economic Development spells out the duties of township supervisors.
  
• U.S. Flag Code: This report presents the United States “Flag Code” as found in Title 4 of the United States Code and the section of Title 36 which designates the “Star-Spangled Banner” as the national anthem and provides instructions on how to display the flag during its rendition. The “Flag Code” includes instructions and guidelines on such topics as the Pledge of Allegiance, display and use of the flag by civilians, time and occasions for display, position and manner of display, and how to show respect for the flag.
   
• The White House: The official White House site presents issue positions, news, Cabinet members, appointments, and offices as well as major speeches.