(a) The request may, without leave of court, be served upon the plaintiff after commencement of the action and upon any other party with or after service of the original process upon that party. The request shall describe with reasonable par- ticularity the property to be entered and the activities to be performed.
Rule 4009.32.Request for Entry upon Property of a Party.
Adopted April 7, 1997 · Last amended April 7, 1997 · Last verified June 30, 2026
In one sentenceA party may, without leave of court, request entry onto another party's property, and that party must allow the entry unless it objects within thirty days.
Full Text of Rule 4009.32
(b) The party upon whom the request is served shall allow the requested entry unless the request is objected to within thirty days after service of the request, in which event the reasons for objection shall be stated. If objection is made to part of a request, the part shall be specified. The party submitting the request may move for an order under Rule 4019(a) with respect to any objection to or failure to respond to the request or any part thereof, or any failure to permit entry as requested.
(c) A party may enter upon property one or more times to accomplish the activities set forth in the request.
Plain-English Summary
This rule sets the procedure for entering a party’s property. The request may be served without leave of court — on the plaintiff after the action begins and on any other party with or after service of the original process. The party served must allow the requested entry unless it objects within thirty days.
A party may enter the property one or more times to accomplish the activities the request describes. The Official Note notes that a protective order is available to the party whose property is entered. The request-and-objection structure mirrors document production, giving the property owner a chance to object before the entry occurs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get onto another party's property to inspect it?
By serving a request, without leave of court, describing the property and the activities; the party must allow entry unless it objects.
Can the party object?
Yes, by objecting within thirty days of service; a protective order is also available.
Official Note
Official Note: The remedy of a protective order is available to the party to whom the request is directed to prevent abuse.
Amendment History
The provisions of this Rule 4009.32 adopted April 7, 1997, effective July 1, 1997, 27 Pa.B. 1921.
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
Also known as: request for entry upon property