Pennsylvania Code Title 13 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
Pennsylvania Code – Title 13: Commerce & Trade primarily consists of reserved chapters, with the active portions comprising the state’s Commercial Code (Title 13A), which governs commercial transactions like sales, leases, negotiable instruments, secured transactions, and more.
📚 Overview of Title 13 - Commerce & Trade
✅ What’s Active:
Title 13 – Commercial Code is structured into the following Divisions and Chapters (effective as of February 22, 2025) :
Division 1 – General Provisions:
Ch. 11: General Provisions (e.g., short titles, scope, construction)
Ch. 12: General Definitions & Principles of Interpretation
Ch. 13: Territorial Applicability & General Rules (legis.state.pa.us)
Division 2 – Sales: Chapters 21–27 (contracts, performance, remedies)
Division 2A – Leases: Chapters 2A1–2A5
Division 3 – Negotiable Instruments: Chapters 31–36
Division 4 – Bank Deposits & Collections: Chapters 41–45
Division 4A – Funds Transfers: Chapters 4A1–4A5
Division 5 – Letters of Credit: Chapter 51
Division 7 – Warehouse Receipts & Bills of Lading: Chapters 71–76
Division 8 – Investment Securities: Chapters 81–85
Division 9 – Secured Transactions: Chapters 91–98
Division 12 – Controllable Electronic Records
Division 91 – Transitional Provisions (e.g., Division 9 & 12 amendments) (legis.state.pa.us)
These are codified in the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (13 Pa.C.S.A.) (law.justia.com).
🚫 What’s Reserved:
Part I (Department of Commerce) and many chapters in Parts II–IV are currently reserved, meaning they hold no active regulatory text .
📄 Key Features of the Commercial Code
| Division | Subject | Content Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Definitions/Law Interpretation | Includes §§ 1101–1109 on scope, applicability, and liberal statutory construction (legis.state.pa.us) |
| 2 | Sales | Rules on contract formation, breach, remedies |
| 2A | Leases | General provisions (e.g., definition of “lease”) |
| 3 | Negotiable Instruments | E.g., § 3603 on tender of payment |
| 4, 4A | Banking Transactions | Uniform rules around clearing and funds transfers |
| 5 | Letters of Credit | Standards for issuance and enforcement |
| 7 | Documents of Title | Warehouse receipts/bills of lading |
| 8 | Investment Securities | Covers registration and transfer |
| 9 | Secured Transactions | Collateral perfection, priority |
| 12 | Electronic Records | E‑commerce modernization |
| 91 | Transitional | Covers transitions in law (e.g., 2022 amendments) |
🔎 Accessing the Text
To view full code provisions:
Pennsylvania Code website (Sec. thru Feb 2025): includes reserved listings and active chapters (pacodeandbulletin.gov)
PDF Table of Contents: shows chapter structure and section breakdown
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (13 Pa.C.S.A.): official statutory text for active Commercial Code divisions (e.g., Divisions 1, 2, 2A, 3 etc.) (law.justia.com)
✅ Summary
Title 13 serves two main roles:
Reserved space for regulatory assignments to the Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Authority, Navigation Commission, and Industrial Development Authority.
Houses the Commercial Code, which is the operative body of law for commercial transactions in Pennsylvania across a broad spectrum—from sales and leases to secured transactions, financial instruments, and electronic commerce.
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