(a) General rule.--The county commissioners may acquire real property by purchase for not more than the fair market value, gift, devise or eminent domain. The county commissioners may acquire, improve and maintain real property at the county seat or in other places as the county commissioners deem necessary for the purposes of a county courthouse, prison and other facilities necessary for county purposes. The fair market value of real property for a purchase valued in excess of $10,000 shall be determined by the county commissioners in consultation with two of the following: (1) The county assessor. (2) Licensed real estate brokers. (3) Licensed real estate appraisers doing business within the county. (b) Other uses of property.--The county commissioners may also use real property, as authorized by law, owned by the county and deemed suitable by the county commissioners for the purposes under subsection (a), except property that is bound by contract to another public use. (c) Land for county buildings.--The county commissioners may provide for the grading, filling, draining, gardening and otherwise improving and roperty that is bound by contract to another public use. (c) Land for county buildings.--The county commissioners may provide for the grading, filling, draining, gardening and otherwise improving and maintaining of all lands for county buildings, either by contract or by county employees, as the county commissioners deem proper. (d) Application.--This section shall not apply to an acquisition of real property by a county, either by tax sales or by other purchases, that is specifically provided for under another provision of law.
Pennsylvania Legal Code