Animal hoarding is prosecuted under Pennsylvania's cruelty statute (Title 18, Chapter 55). Neglect — failing to provide food, water, shelter, or vet care to numerous animals — is a criminal offense enforced countywide by police and humane officers; there is no separate county ordinance.
Hoarding cases in Berks County are handled under Pennsylvania's animal-cruelty law (18 Pa.C.S. §5532–§5534) rather than a county ordinance. 'Neglect of an animal' — failing to provide necessary food, water, shelter, sanitary conditions, ventilation, or veterinary care — is a summary or misdemeanor offense, and 'aggravated cruelty' causing serious injury or death is a felony. Statewide humane society police officers and local police investigate and may seize animals kept in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions. The county district attorney prosecutes. Anyone keeping so many animals they cannot properly care for them can be charged, and the animals surrendered or forfeited.
Neglect is graded from summary offense to misdemeanor; aggravated cruelty is a felony of the third degree. Courts can order forfeiture of the animals and bar future ownership.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
berks-county-pa
Backyard composting is legal and encouraged in Berks County. No county permit is needed for a home compost pile. Nuisance limits (odor, rodents) and setbacks...
berks-county-pa
Berks County does not regulate artificial turf. Whether synthetic lawn is allowed, and any stormwater or impervious-surface conditions, are set by your munic...
berks-county-pa
Berks County does not regulate native-plant or meadow landscaping. Whether a wildflower meadow is allowed — versus a tall-grass violation — depends on your m...
berks-county-pa
Rain barrels and cisterns are legal in Berks County — Pennsylvania places no restriction on collecting rainwater. The county encourages it as a stormwater be...
berks-county-pa
Berks County sets no routine watering schedule. Statewide, when the Governor declares a drought emergency, 4 Pa. Code §119.4 bans nonessential outdoor water ...
berks-county-pa
Berks County has no countywide weed ordinance. Noxious-weed and tall-vegetation rules are municipal — in Reading, weeds (with grass) must stay under 6 inches...
See how Berks County's animal hoarding rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.