Rule 422.The Commonwealth and Political Subdivisions.

Adopted July 5, 1985 · Not amended since adoption · Last verified June 30, 2026

In one sentenceRule 422 sets how to serve the Commonwealth and political subdivisions, requiring service on the Commonwealth or its officers and agencies as the rule directs, and service on a political subdivision by handing a copy to an authorized agent, the person in charge of the office, or a designated official.

Full Text of Rule 422

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c)

(a) Service of original process upon the Commonwealth or an officer of the Commonwealth, or a department, board, commission or instrumentality of the Commonwealth, or a member thereof, shall be made at the office of the defendant and the office of the attorney general by handing a copy to the person in charge thereof.

(b) Service of original process upon a political subdivision shall be made by handing a copy to

(1) an agent duly authorized by the political subdivision to receive service of process, or

(2) the person in charge at the office of the defendant, or

(3) the mayor, or the president, chairman, secretary or clerk of the tax levyinig body thereof, and in counties where there is no tax levying body, the chairman or clerk of the board of county commissioners.

(c) This rule shall not apply to an appeal from an administrative determination, order or decree of such officer, department, board, commission or instrumentality.

End

Plain-English Summary

This rule governs serving government defendants. Service of original process on the Commonwealth, or an officer, department, board, commission, or instrumentality of the Commonwealth, is made as subdivision (a) directs.

Service on a political subdivision — a county, city, township, and the like — is made by handing a copy to an agent authorized to receive service, the person in charge at the office of the defendant, or a designated official such as the mayor or the president, chairman, secretary, or clerk of the tax-levying body. The rule does not apply to an appeal from an administrative determination.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you serve a city, county, or township?

By handing a copy to an authorized agent, the person in charge at the office, or a designated official such as the mayor or the clerk of the tax-levying body.

Official Note

Official Note: See Rule 76 for the definition of ‘‘political subdivision.’’

Amendment History

The provisions of this Rule 422 adopted July 5, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B. 2452; rescinded June 14, 1999, effective September 1, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3191. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (256958). (Editor’s Note: The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has suspended its order of June 14, 1999, published at 29 Pa.B. 3191 (June 26, 1999). See 29 Pa.B. 4859 (September 18, 1999).)

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. This rule has not been amended since its adoption. Last verified June 30, 2026. · Official text

Also known as: service on the commonwealthpolitical subdivision servicegovernment defendant