If you own a rental home in Montgomery County, the rules that decide whether you can legally lease it are not written by the county. They are written by each borough, township and municipality, and they change from one town line to the next. One community licenses every unit every year, another every three years, and another ties the license to each new tenant.
This guide compares the rental inspection requirements in six communities where First Lock Property Management works with owners: Collegeville, Norristown, King of Prussia, Pottstown, Royersford and Phoenixville.
Last reviewed: October 2026. Municipal rental programs and fee schedules are updated regularly, often every January. Always confirm the current requirements with the municipality before you lease. This guide is general information for owners, not legal advice.
Why Rental Inspection Requirements Differ Across Montgomery County
There is no single countywide rental licensing or inspection program in Montgomery County. Each local government decides whether to license rentals, how often to inspect them, what the inspection covers and what it charges. That leads to two practical issues for owners.
Your mailing address may not tell you which rules apply
A Collegeville 19426 mailing address does not always mean the property is inside Collegeville Borough, and only properties within the Borough fall under the Borough's rental program. King of Prussia is not a separate municipality at all: it is part of Upper Merion Township, so Upper Merion's rental ordinance is the one that applies. Phoenixville sits just across the county line in Chester County, but we include it because many Montgomery County owners also own rentals there.
Check the municipality listed on your property tax bill or deed before you assume which program you fall under.
Different schedules, similar goals
Although the schedules and fees differ, every program in this guide has the same purpose: to confirm that a rental unit is safe and meets the local property maintenance and safety codes before and while someone lives in it. Norristown, for example, inspects against the International Property Maintenance Code with its own local amendments.
Rental Inspection Requirements Compared: Six Communities at a Glance
The table below summarizes the license term, inspection frequency, fee structure and re-inspection policy in each community. Fee amounts are set by each municipality's fee schedule and usually change every year, so we describe how each fee works rather than list amounts. Links to every official fee schedule are in the town sections below.
| Municipality | License term | Inspection frequency | Fee structure | Re-inspections |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collegeville Borough | 3 years, or until the occupant changes | Before each license is issued (every 3 years or at tenant change) | Rental license fee plus per-unit inspection fee (first unit and each additional unit) | Separate re-inspection fee |
| Norristown | 1 year (annual renewal) | As part of annual licensing | Annual per-unit license fee; owner-occupied units exempt; late and unlicensed penalties | Two inspections included; fee for each additional visit, late cancellation or no access |
| King of Prussia (Upper Merion Twp.) | 3-year occupancy certificate | At least once per 3-year term; certificate needed before a tenant moves in | Fee at application or renewal | One re-inspection covered by the certificate fee |
| Pottstown | 2 years (biennial license) | Every 2 years by rental zone; tenant list due Jan. 31 each year | One-time registration, biennial application fee, per-unit inspection fee by building type | Fee from the 3rd on-site visit; no-show fee |
| Royersford | Tied to 3-year inspection cycle | Every 3 years | Registration fee; inspection billed by time | Billed per 15 minutes |
| Phoenixville (Chester County) | 1 year (July 1 to June 30) | Every year | Annual per-unit fee; late fee and interest | Confirm with Code Enforcement |
Source: each municipality's official website, ordinance and current fee schedule, linked in the sections below.
Collegeville Borough Rental License and Inspection Requirements
Collegeville Borough runs a rental licensing and inspection program under Ordinance 608. Owners register each residential rental property with the Borough and arrange inspections of every rental unit on the property.
- License term: A license is issued only after the unit passes inspection with no Borough code violations. It is valid for three years or until the occupant changes, whichever comes first.
- What that means in practice: A new tenant generally means a new inspection and license, even if the three years have not passed.
- What is inspected: Compliance with safety and property maintenance codes. The Borough publishes a rental checklist you can use to prepare.
- Fees: The Borough fee schedule sets a rental license fee plus a per-unit inspection fee, with one rate for the first unit and a lower rate for each additional unit.
- Re-inspections: A separate re-inspection fee applies when a unit has to be inspected again.
Official documents: Collegeville Borough rental properties page, Ordinance 608, Rental Registration Application and Collegeville Rental Checklist.
Norristown Rental License and Inspection Requirements
The Municipality of Norristown has one of the largest rental markets in the county, with more than 7,500 residential rental units on record. Every unit must be licensed by the Municipality before it can be lawfully occupied. For a closer look at owning here, see our page on property management in Norristown.
- License term: Annual. The Municipality sends a renewal application and invoice each fall, and owners who have not received one by mid-October should contact the Department of Buildings & Code Enforcement. The fee schedule sets a mid-November deadline to license units for the following year.
- Inspections: Units may be inspected as part of the licensing process. The owner arranges a convenient time with the tenants, and the code officer lists any required corrections on a standard form. The license invoice is issued after the property passes, and the license follows payment.
- Fees: An annual per-unit license fee. Owner-occupied units are exempt. Late licensing adds a per-unit penalty, and renting without a license costs double the license fee plus penalties.
- Re-inspections: The license fee includes two inspections. Each additional re-inspection is charged separately, and there are added fees if the landlord cancels with less than 24 hours' notice or does not provide access.
- If repairs take longer: Owners can file a Rental Inspection Extension Request. Uncorrected violations can lead to non-traffic citations and, in some cases, license revocation.
- Other notes: Commercial and multi-unit properties need zoning approval before the license application is processed, and a separate Use & Occupancy application applies to property transfers and changes of tenant.
Official documents: Norristown Residential Rental Licensing & Inspections and Norristown Code Enforcement & Building Fee Schedule.
King of Prussia (Upper Merion Township) Rental Requirements
Rental properties in King of Prussia fall under Upper Merion Township's Residential Rental Housing Licensing and Inspection ordinance (Chapter 132 of the Township Code).
- Certificate required: Occupied regulated rental units need a residential rental occupancy certificate. The owner or the owner's agent applies before a tenant moves in.
- Term and inspections: Each certificate has a three-year term, and each regulated unit receives at least one inspection on a schedule set by the Township.
- Fees and re-inspections: The owner pays a fee when applying for or renewing the certificate. Under the ordinance, that fee covers the Township's administration, the inspection and one re-inspection.
Official documents: Upper Merion Township Code, Chapter 132, Section 132-5 and Upper Merion Code Enforcement.
Pottstown Rental License and Inspection Requirements
Pottstown Borough has a large and older rental housing stock, and every residential rental unit must be registered with the Borough, licensed and inspected. Learn more on our page about property management in Pottstown.
- Registration and license: Units are registered once, and the rental license is renewed every two years.
- Inspections: Every two years, scheduled by rental zone. After the application and payment are received, Licensing & Inspections sets the appointment and notifies the owner. A representative must meet the inspector at the front of the property.
- Annual tenant listing: Owners submit a tenant list each year by January 31.
- Fees: A one-time registration fee, a license application fee every two years and a per-unit inspection fee that varies by building type (single-family and duplex units are priced differently from apartment buildings).
- Re-inspections: The re-inspection fee applies from the third on-site appointment onward, so the initial inspection and the first follow-up visit do not carry it, and a separate fee applies for failing to appear at a scheduled inspection.
Official documents: Pottstown Licensing and Inspections, Pottstown Inspection Information and Pottstown 2026 Fee Schedule.
Royersford Rental License and Inspection Requirements
Royersford Borough uses a two-step process: register the rental, then schedule the inspection.
- Registration: Submit the Residential Rental License Application with the registration fee (payable online, by check or by money order).
- Inspection frequency: The rental inspection recurs every three years.
- Scheduling: Inspections are booked by appointment on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The Borough invoices the owner after the inspection.
- Fees: The inspection is billed by time, with a base charge for the first half hour and an added charge for each additional quarter hour. A well-prepared unit is usually a faster, less expensive inspection.
- Re-inspections: Also billed by time, per 15-minute increment.
Official documents: Royersford Code Enforcement (includes the application and the list of items inspected) and Royersford Fee Schedule.
Phoenixville Rental License and Inspection Requirements
Phoenixville is in Chester County, just across the county line from Montgomery County. Its program is the most frequent of the six towns in this guide.
- License term: Annual, running July 1 to June 30. The Borough mails the billing statement, and payment is due by July 31.
- Inspections: Every unit is inspected every year by the Borough Rental Inspector. Owners receive a letter with the date and time and must let tenants know so the inspector can get in.
- When you sell: Licenses do not transfer. A new owner needs a new license, and the cost is not prorated.
- Fees: An annual fee per rental dwelling unit, with a per-unit late fee and interest on late payments.
- Re-inspections: The rental section of the fee schedule does not list a separate re-inspection charge, so confirm with Code Enforcement how follow-up visits are handled.
Official documents: Phoenixville Inspections, Phoenixville Rental Inspection Checklist and Phoenixville 2026 Schedule of Fees.
How to Prepare a Rental for a Municipal Inspection
The details differ by town, but the same preparation helps almost everywhere. Most failed inspections come down to a short list of safety and maintenance items that can be fixed before the inspector arrives.
- Confirm the municipality. Check the tax bill, not the mailing address, and download that town's current checklist (Collegeville, Phoenixville, Pottstown and Royersford all publish one).
- Check life-safety items first. Smoke detectors on every floor and in every bedroom and working carbon monoxide detectors are part of First Lock's Rent Ready Requirements and common inspection items.
- Test the systems. Heat, plumbing, electrical, appliances, doors, windows and locks should all work. Pottstown, for example, also looks at bedroom sizes and egress.
- Give tenants proper notice. Missed or cancelled appointments can trigger extra fees in several towns, including Norristown and Pottstown.
- Plan for repairs and re-inspection. Line up vendors in advance so any violations are fixed inside the municipality's deadline.
- Keep records. Save the license, the inspection report and repair invoices for every unit.
Pre-1978 Rentals: Federal Lead Disclosure Still Applies
Local inspections are separate from federal lead rules. If your rental was built before 1978, federal law requires you to disclose known lead-based paint and lead hazards, share any available reports, give tenants the EPA pamphlet Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home and include a lead warning statement with the lease. This matters in older boroughs like Pottstown, where much of the housing was built before 1940. See the EPA Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Rule for details.
How First Lock Handles Rental Inspections for Owners
Municipal inspections are only one part of keeping a rental in good condition. Through our maintenance and inspections program, we:
- Confirm the correct municipality for your address and follow that town's licensing and inspection process before the property is listed.
- Walk the home against our Rent Ready Requirements before the code officer does, so common items are handled in advance.
- Schedule municipal inspections with your tenants and give proper notice.
- Include the local inspection language and disclosures your municipality requires in the lease through our lease management process.
- Coordinate repairs through our pre-screened vendor network so violations are corrected before the re-inspection. Routine repairs under your spending threshold are handled right away, larger ones come to you for approval first, and we follow up with the resident after every repair.
- Complete our own periodic exterior inspections and at least one full interior inspection each year, plus move-in and move-out inspections, with photos in your owner portal.
Our inspections do not replace the municipality's, but they catch problems early, so the official inspection is far more likely to go smoothly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rental Inspections in Montgomery County
No. Rental licensing and inspections are handled by each municipality, so the requirements depend on the borough, township or municipality where the property is located.
It depends on the town. Of the communities in this guide, Phoenixville inspects every unit every year, Pottstown inspects every two years, Royersford every three years and Upper Merion (King of Prussia) at least once during each three-year certificate term. Collegeville Borough licenses for three years or until the occupant changes, and Norristown licenses every year with inspections as part of the licensing process.
In some towns, yes. A Collegeville Borough license ends when the occupant changes, Upper Merion requires an occupancy certificate before a tenant moves in, and Norristown has a separate Use & Occupancy application for a change of tenant. Check with your municipality before each new lease.
You receive a list of required corrections and a deadline to fix them, followed by a re-inspection. Several towns include one or more re-inspections in the original fee and charge for additional visits. Leaving violations uncorrected can lead to citations, penalties or the loss of the rental license.
Check your property tax bill or deed. A Collegeville or King of Prussia mailing address does not always match the municipality that licenses the property.
Yes. At First Lock, licensing deadlines, inspection scheduling, tenant notice and repairs are part of full-service management for the properties we manage across Montgomery County and nearby communities. See every community we cover on our Areas We Serve page.
Talk to a Local Property Manager About Your Rental
Keeping up with six different rental programs is a lot to track, especially if you own in more than one town. First Lock Property Management is based at 400 Arcola Rd in Collegeville and works with owners across Montgomery County. Contact us or call (484) 222-0495 to talk about your property.