Rule 2179.Venue in an Action Against a Corporation or Similar Entity.
Adopted November 26, 1943 · Last amended February 18, 2026 · Last verified June 30, 2026
In one sentenceRule 2179 sets venue for a personal action against a corporation or similar entity, allowing the county of its registered office, where it regularly does business, or where the cause of action arose, among others.
(a)General Rule. Except as otherwise provided by an Act of Assembly or by subdivision (b) of this rule, a personal action against a corporation or similar entity may be brought in and only in a county where
(1)the registered office or principal place of business of the corporation or similar entity is located;
(2)the corporation or similar entity regularly conducts business;
(3)the cause of action arose;
(4)a transaction or occurrence took place out of which the cause of action arose; or
(5)the property or a part of the property, which is the subject matter of the action, is located provided that equitable relief is sought with respect to the property.
(b)Venue in Actions on an Insurance Policy. An action upon a policy of insurance against an insurance company, association or exchange, either incorpo- rated or organized in Pennsylvania or doing business in this Commonwealth, may be brought in a county
(1)designated in subdivision (a) of this rule;
(2)where the insured property is located; or
(3)where the plaintiff resides, in actions upon policies of life, accident, health, disability, and livestock insurance or fraternal benefit certificates.
Plain-English Summary
A corporation can be sued in several places connected to it. This rule sets venue for a personal action against a corporation or similar entity — generally the county of its registered office or principal place of business, a county where it regularly conducts business, where the cause of action arose, or where a transaction or occurrence took place — giving plaintiffs a practical choice tied to the corporation's activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can a corporation be sued?
In the county of its registered office or principal place of business, where it regularly does business, where the cause of action arose, or where the transaction or occurrence took place.
Official Note
Comment. : By Order of August 25, 2022, effective January 1, 2023 (‘‘2022 amendments’’), the Court rescinded Rule 1006(a.1), a special venue rule that applied to medical professional liability actions filed on or after January 1, 2002. Corresponding amendments removed references to Rule 1006(a.1) from Rule 2130, governing venue in an action against a partnership, Rule 2156, governing venue in an action against an unincorporated association, and Rule 2179, governing venue in an action against a corporation or similar entity. The 2022 amendments thus returned Rules 1006, 2130, 2156, and 2179 to their pre-2003 versions, pursuant to which medical professionals again governed by the same venue rules as all other non-governmental defendants. The 2022 amendments added a provision to each rule requiring the Civil Procedural Rules Com- mittee to ‘‘reexamine the 2022 rule amendments two years after their effective date.’’ Rules 1006(g), 2130(d), 2156(c), and 2179(c). The committee received commentary on behalf of medical profession- als asserting that the impact of the 2022 amendments could not yet be determined, and that more time was needed to develop the necessary data. By Order of February 18, 2026, the Court amended Rules 1006, 2130, 2156, and 2179 to remove the expired reexamination provisions. The Court will consider any future proposals as submitted through the Court’s usual rules committee processes.
Amendment History
The provisions of this Rule 2179 adopted November 26, 1943, effective August 1, 1944; amended March 27, 1956, effective July 1, 1956; amended December 29, 2000, effective July 1, 2001, 31 Pa.B. 137; amended January 27, 2003, effective immediately, 33 Pa.B. 751; amended December 16, 2003, effective July 1, 2004, 34 Pa.B. 9; amended August 25, 2022, effective January 1, 2023, 52 Pa.B. 5792; amended February 18, 2026, effective immediately, 56 Pa.B. 1106. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (411438) to (411439).
Source & verification. Rule text, the Official Note, and the amendment
history are reproduced verbatim from the Pennsylvania Code, Title 231, the official compilation
of rules adopted by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Last verified June 30, 2026. ·
Official text
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