Reading's Landscaping Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles landscaping rules a little differently. In Reading, Pennsylvania, there are 5 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.

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees

Reading's City Arborist can order a property owner to prune or remove a hazardous private tree; if the owner refuses, the city may do the work itself and bill the owner, with a lien for unpaid costs.

Key details: Trigger: Arborist hazard inspection. Owner duty: abate or remove tree. City backstop: removes, bills owner. Unpaid cost: becomes property lien.

Failure to abate a hazardous tree after notice can result in city-ordered removal billed to the owner (a lien if unpaid), plus enforcement penalties of up to $600 plus costs or up to 30 days' imprisonment under § 555-114.

Rainwater Harvesting

Reading permits rain barrels for property owners and consenting tenants, capped at 75 gallons and six feet tall, but the collected water may only go to lawns, gardens, irrigation and washing -- never for drinking, cooking or bathing.

Key details: Maximum capacity: 75 gallons per barrel. Maximum height: 6 feet including platform. Allowed use: Lawns, gardens, irrigation, washing. Prohibited use: Drinking, cooking or bathing. Historic districts: Certificate of appropriateness required.

The Property Maintenance Division enforces on complaint: a first violation draws a warning, a second within 12 months a $25 notice plus mandatory education, a third $50, and a fourth or later $100.

Weed Ordinances

Reading caps grass, weeds and plant growth on any property at six inches; the City can serve a notice of violation and, if ignored, send a crew to cut the weeds and bill the owner.

Key details: Height limit: 6 inches (152.4 mm). Governing code: IPMC § 302.4. Exempt: cultivated flowers, gardens. Non-compliance: City cuts and bills owner.

Ignoring a weed notice of violation exposes the owner to prosecution under the Property Maintenance Code's general penalty: $75-$500 for the first two uncorrected violations, $150-$1,000 for later ones, plus the City's cutting costs and a $50 Neighborhood Mitigation Penalty.

Tree Trimming

Reading requires shade trees to be trimmed to at least 14 feet above the street and 8 feet above the sidewalk, and lets the City Arborist trim any branches that block a streetlight, sign or traffic flow.

Key details: Minimum clearance: 14 ft over street, 8 ft sidewalk. Who trims: Arborist or nearest property owner. Emergency trim: No notice needed if hazardous. Penalty: Up to $600 fine or 30 days.

Failing to keep a shade tree trimmed to code violates the shade tree ordinance, punishable by a fine up to $600 plus costs or 30 days in jail, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense.

Native Plants

Reading's property-maintenance code caps weeds and grass at six inches, but cultivated and managed plantings, including native, pollinator and ornamental gardens, are expressly excluded from that limit and from Quality-of-Life weed citations.

Key details: Weed height limit: 6 inches (152.4 mm) max. Exempt: Cultivated gardens, shrubs, flowers, trees. Fine: $25 first, up to $100. Governing code: Ch. 180, Pt. 12, QOL.004.

Weeds, grass or plant growth over six inches on any premises draws a QOL.004 ticket: $25 first offense, $50 second, $100 third and subsequent, plus City abatement/cleanup costs.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Reading gives residents more flexibility on native plants.

The Bottom Line

Reading's landscaping rules 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.

Keep in mind that Reading can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.