# Pennsylvania — Vehicle emissions testing: which counties require it, in which states

For Pennsylvania, counties where testing is required is Chester, Delaware, Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties constitute the Philadelphia Region; Allegheny, Beaver, Washington and Westmoreland Counties constitute the Pittsburgh Region, verified against its source on 2026-08-19.

- **State:** Pennsylvania _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_
- **Counties where testing is required:** Chester, Delaware, Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties constitute the Philadelphia Region; Allegheny, Beaver, Washington and Westmoreland Counties constitute the Pittsburgh Region _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Vehicles covered / exempt:** gasoline-powered motor vehicles with a model year of 1975 and newer with a GVWR of 9,000 pounds or less _(per pacodeandbulletin.gov, not stated by the source above)_
- **How often:** emission inspected annually in coordination with a safety inspection _(per pacodeandbulletin.gov, not stated by the source above)_

## What the source says

> Currently, in accordance with § 177.51(d), Chester, Delaware, Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties constitute the Philadelphia Region; Allegheny, Beaver, Washington and Westmoreland Counties constitute the Pittsburgh Region. Pending certification in accordance with § 177.51(d), Berks, Dauphin, Cumberland, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Northampton and York Counties shall constitute the South Central Region; Blair, Cambria, Centre, Erie, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming and Mercer Counties shall constitute the Northern Region.

## What pacodeandbulletin.gov says

> Subject gasoline-powered motor vehicles with a model year of 1975 and newer with a GVWR of 9,000 pounds or less and registered in an I/M county or region are subject to an emission inspection. Current model year vehicles and vehicles driven less than 5,000 miles per year are exempt from this requirement.

Source: https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?file=/secure/pacode/data/067/chapter177/s177.51.html

## What pacodeandbulletin.gov says

> Subject vehicles shall be emission inspected annually in coordination with a safety inspection according to procedures established by the Bureau, subject to paragraphs (1)—(3).

Source: https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?file=/secure/pacode/data/067/chapter177/s177.51.html

## Source

- https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?file=/secure/pacode/data/067/chapter177/s177.3.html
- https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?file=/secure/pacode/data/067/chapter177/s177.51.html
- https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?file=/secure/pacode/data/067/chapter177/s177.51.html

Last verified: 2026-08-19. Review by: 2027-08-19.
Part of [Vehicle emissions testing: which counties require it, in which states](https://referencesource.org/vehicle-emissions-testing-by-state/).