Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup
Building Setbacks & Zoning

Reading's Building Setbacks & Zoning: The Rules That Matter

By CityRuleLookup Editorial Team

Every city handles building setbacks & zoning a little differently. In Reading, Pennsylvania, there are 3 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Setback Rules

Building setbacks in Reading are set by Chapter 600 (Zoning) of the Codified Ordinances and vary by zoning district. The City's principal residential districts are R-1A (§600-801, lowest density), R-1 (§600-802), R-2 (§600-803) and R-3 (§600-804, highest density). Front, side and rear yard requirements scale with district density and are listed in the bulk schedule for each district. The 2014 comprehensive zoning rewrite (amended through about 2023) is the governing document.

Key details: Code: Reading Code Chapter 600 (Zoning). Residential Districts: R-1A, R-1, R-2, R-3 (§§600-801 to 600-804). Rowhouse Rule: §600-904 (R-3/C-R side yards). Front-Yard Exception: §600-909 (average alignment). Variance Board: Reading Zoning Hearing Board (MPC §910.2).

Building within a required yard or otherwise violating the bulk schedule in Chapter 600 is a zoning violation enforceable by the Reading Zoning Office and the City Codes / Building Inspections office. The Building Code Official can issue stop-work orders, deny a Certificate of Occupancy, and refer cases to the District Justice for fines (typically up to $1,000 per violation plus costs in PA third-class cities). Each day of continuing violation may be charged separately under the MPC enforcement framework at 53 P.S. §10617.2.

Lot Coverage Limits

Lot coverage in Reading is regulated by Chapter 600 (Zoning) of the Codified Ordinances and is set district-by-district in the bulk schedule of each zoning district. Reading's traditional rowhouse fabric in R-3 and the central districts allows much higher building coverage than the lower-density R-1A and R-1 districts. Impervious-surface and stormwater impacts on larger projects are also reviewed under the City's stormwater ordinance and the Pennsylvania DEP NPDES Phase II MS4 program.

Key details: Code: Reading Code Chapter 600 (Zoning). Coverage Source: District bulk schedules. Higher-Density Districts: R-3 / C-C - higher building coverage allowed. Stormwater (E&S): 25 Pa. Code Ch. 102 + local SWM ordinance. Plan Review: Reading Codes Office (plot plan).

Exceeding the lot-coverage maximum in Chapter 600 is a zoning violation; the Building Code Official will not issue a Certificate of Occupancy until the parcel is brought into compliance. The Reading Zoning Office can issue notices of violation and refer cases to the District Justice for fines (typically up to $1,000 per violation plus costs in PA third-class cities) under the MPC enforcement framework. Failure to comply with the City's stormwater ordinance or the underlying 25 Pa. Code Chapter 102 erosion-control requirements is separately enforceable by Berks County Conservation District and PA DEP.

Structure Height Limits

Building height in Reading is regulated by Chapter 600 (Zoning) of the Codified Ordinances and is set district-by-district in the bulk schedule for each zoning district (R-1A, R-1, R-2, R-3, the C and M series, and the planned-development districts). Single-family residential districts impose lower height caps than the central commercial and manufacturing-commercial districts. Variances are heard by the Reading Zoning Hearing Board under the PA Municipalities Planning Code (53 P.S. §10910.2).

Key details: Local Code: Reading Code Chapter 600 (Zoning). Height Source: District bulk schedules (§§600-801 to 600-811). PA UCC: 34 Pa. Code §§401-405 (IBC height/area). Variance: Reading Zoning Hearing Board (MPC §910.2). Penalty Framework: MPC 53 P.S. §10617.2.

Building above the height limit set by Chapter 600 is a zoning violation; the Building Code Official will not issue a Certificate of Occupancy until the structure is brought into compliance. The Reading Zoning Office can issue notices of violation and refer to the District Justice for fines (typically up to $1,000 per violation plus costs in PA third-class cities) under the MPC enforcement framework at 53 P.S. §10617.2, with each day of continuing violation a separate offense. Building Code height limits under the PA UCC are enforceable separately with stop-work orders.

The Bottom Line

Reading's building setbacks & zoning rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Reading is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Reading's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.