Reading, PA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Free limit
- Up to six dogs/cats, no permit
- Above limit
- Registration plus permit required
- Cost
- Free; separate City fee applies
- Permit valid for
- Up to three years
- Exempt
- Kennels, pet shops, vet shelters
Summary
Reading caps households at six dogs, six cats, or a combination of six before requiring City registration and a permit for animals over three months old.
It shall be unlawful in any dwelling unit for a person to harbor, house, own, or possess more than six cats, or more than six dogs, or a combination of more than six such animals, over the age of three months without registration with the City Property Maintenance Division, or designated Animal Control Officer and the issuance of a permit.
B. The application for such permit shall be on a form supplied by the City and shall be submitted to the Property Maintenance Division along with a fee for the first calendar year in an amount as set by ordinance, as provided in
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-8: Current through August 10, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Under § 141-214, no one may harbor, house, own, or possess more than six cats, six dogs, or a combination of more than six such animals over three months old in a Reading dwelling unit without registering with the Property Maintenance Division or Animal Control Officer and obtaining a permit. Registration and the permit itself are free, though a separate City fee applies under Chapter 212, Fees. The Animal Control Officer inspects the premises for odor, noise, sanitation, and animal health before issuing a permit valid up to three years. The rule does not apply to licensed kennels, pet shops, groomers, or veterinary shelters.
Violations & Fines
Keeping more than six dogs, cats, or a combination without registering and obtaining a permit violates § 141-214 and subjects the owner to the chapter's general penalty: $300 to $1,000 plus costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pets can I have in Reading without a permit?
Does the pet-limit registration cost money?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Reading
Compare Reading to another location·View the Pennsylvania animal ordinances overview
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