How Reading Handles Business Licensing & Operations: A Practical Guide
Reading maintains 123 local ordinances across all categories, and 7 of those deal specifically with business licensing & operations. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Reading falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.
Tattoo & Body Modification
Reading requires a City health permit before any tattoo, body piercing, or body art establishment can operate, with mandatory inspections, insurance, and minor-consent rules enforced by the Property Maintenance Division.
Key details: Permit required: Before any tattoo/piercing work. Inspections: At least twice yearly, unannounced. Insurance minimum: $150,000 liability coverage. Minors: Signed parental/guardian consent required. First-offense fine: $50 to $300.
Operating without a health permit, blocking inspections, or violating chapter rules draws fines of $50-$300 for a first offense or $200-$1,000 for repeat offenses, plus up to 90 days' imprisonment for unpaid fines; permits can be suspended or revoked.
Towing Companies
Reading caps what a private towing company can charge to remove an unauthorized vehicle from posted private property: $100 to tow, $50 to drop the car without towing, and $10 a day for storage.
Key details: Tow charge cap: $100 maximum. Drop fee cap: $50, no tow. Storage cap: $10 per day. Signage required: at every lot entrance. Enforced by: Reading Police Department.
Violating § 576-803 draws a fine of $100 to $1,000 plus costs, with up to 30 days in jail for nonpayment; each day of violation counts as a separate offense.
Auto Repair on Residential Property
Running an auto repair business from a house in Reading isn't allowed as a home occupation: the zoning code's home-occupation rules flatly exclude commercial motor vehicle repair from permitted activities.
Key details: Home auto repair: prohibited outright. Applies to: minor and major home occupations. Also barred: manufacturing beyond crafts, sewing. Legal alternative: commercial-zone auto service station.
Operating a vehicle repair business from a residence violates § 600-1006 and can be cited as an unpermitted home occupation by the City's Zoning/Codes Enforcement Office, which can order it stopped.
This is one of the stricter rules in Reading's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.
Adult Entertainment
Reading confines sexually oriented businesses to HM Heavy Manufacturing zoning and bars them within 1,000 feet of churches, schools, parks, residential district boundaries, or another such business: operating outside those limits is a misdemeanor.
Key details: Allowed zoning: HM Heavy Manufacturing only. Buffer distance: 1,000 feet from sensitive uses. Licensing authority: Director (Chief of Police). Penalty: Misdemeanor. Grandfathered businesses: 3, location-only under § 473-114.
Operating outside HM Heavy Manufacturing zoning, within the 1,000-foot buffer, or without a valid operator's or employee license is a misdemeanor; the City's Director (Chief of Police) can also suspend or revoke a license for cause.
Compared to other cities, Reading takes a harder line on adult entertainment. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.
Pawnbrokers
Reading levies an annual $400 municipal license tax on every pawnbroker operating in the city, collected by the Finance Director under the License Tax Ordinance before a pawnbroker can lawfully open for business.
Key details: Annual license tax: $400 per year. Issuing office: Finance Director. License expires: December 31 annually. Max penalty: $600 fine, 30 days jail.
Conducting a pawnbroker business without paying the annual license tax or posting the license is a summary offense punishable by a fine up to $600 plus costs, or up to 30 days in jail for nonpayment (§ 339-111).
Massage Establishments
Reading requires anyone who acts as a massage therapist to hold a City permit issued by the Health Officer under Chapter 364, with permits denied or revoked for disqualifying criminal convictions. Operating without one, or violating any permit condition, is punishable by a fine of $600 to $1,000.
Key details: Governing law: Reading Codified Ordinances Chapter 364. Permit administrator: City Health Officer. Decision window: 60 working days, or deemed approved. Minimum fine: $600 per violation, up to $1,000. Appeal deadline: 30 days from denial notice.
Operating as a massage therapist, or as a massage business, without a valid permit, or breaking any other provision of Chapter 364, is punishable on conviction by a fine of not less than $600 and not more than $1,000 plus costs, or up to 30 days in jail if the fine goes unpaid, under Section 364-111. Each day of continued violation counts as a separate offense.
Compared to other cities, Reading takes a harder line on massage establishments. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.
Secondhand Dealers
Every pawnbroker, junk dealer and secondhand-goods dealer in Reading must deliver a daily written report of all items taken in pawn or purchased to the Chief of Police before 10 a.m., or face fines up to $600.
Key details: Report deadline: daily before 10:00 a.m.. Filed with: Chief of Police. Covers: pawnbrokers, junk & secondhand dealers. Max penalty: $600 fine, 30 days jail.
Failing to file the daily pawn/purchase report with the Chief of Police is punishable by a fine up to $600 plus costs, or up to 30 days in jail for nonpayment (§ 403-102).
The Bottom Line
Reading is tougher than many cities when it comes to business licensing & operations. Out of the 7 rules covered here, 3 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Reading, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.
All of the above reflects Reading's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.