Reading's Code of Ordinances Chapter 141 (Animals), Part 2 (Animal Control), at Section 141-215 makes it unlawful to own, harbor, or permit at large any 'domestic agricultural animal' — including chickens, ducks, turkeys, goats, sheep, swine, and other livestock — within City limits without a permit issued by the Reading Animal Control Board. The permit is processed through the Property Maintenance Division and is valid for up to three years or for the duration of the animal's rabies vaccination.
Reading (population about 95,000, the seat of Berks County and a 3rd-class city under Pennsylvania's Optional Third Class City Charter Law) regulates poultry and other agricultural animals through Chapter 141 of its Code of Ordinances at https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/readingpa/latest/reading_pa/0-0-0-6316. Section 141-215 (https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/readingpa/latest/reading_pa/0-0-0-6507) states that no person may own, harbor, or permit at large any exotic animal, domestic agricultural animal, or native wildlife animal in the City without a permit from the Animal Control Board, which is established under Section 141-220. The application is filed with the Property Maintenance Division along with a fee set in Chapter 212 (Fees); the Board may grant the permit only after determining the animal will not pose a threat to public health or safety, and may attach conditions such as setbacks, enclosure standards, and limits on the number of birds. Permits are valid up to three years or until the animal's rabies vaccination lapses. Pennsylvania has not preempted municipal authority over livestock keeping — under the Third Class City Code and home-rule authority each municipality sets its own rules, and Reading's rule is more restrictive than several neighboring Berks County townships such as Caernarvon and Muhlenberg that allow limited backyard flocks by right.
Keeping a domestic agricultural animal without a Reading Animal Control Board permit is a violation of Section 141-215 enforceable as a summary offense under Chapter 141 with fines, costs, and abatement orders requiring removal of the animal. Penalties typically run $100 to $1,000 per occurrence with daily continuing-violation penalties under the Reading Code general-penalty provision. Failure to obey an abatement order can also trigger separate Property Maintenance citations.
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See how Reading's chickens & livestock rules stack up against other locations.
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