Reading's Landscaping Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles landscaping rules a little differently. In Reading, Pennsylvania, there are 7 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.

Grass Height Limits

The City of Reading regulates grass and weed height through its Property Maintenance Code and the public-nuisance provisions of the City Code (ecode360 portal RE1294). Grass, weeds, and rank vegetation on improved residential lots must be kept under approximately 10 inches; once a violation is observed, Property and Codes Enforcement issues a written notice giving the owner a short cure period, after which the City may mow at the owner's expense and lien the cost to the parcel under Pennsylvania municipal-lien authority.

Key details: Code Portal: ecode360.com/RE1294 (General Code). Standard: ~10-inch grass/weed height (IPMC §302.4). Enforcement: Property & Codes Enforcement Division. Cost Recovery: Municipal lien (53 P.S. §7101+). Complaint Line: Citizens Service Center 1-877-727-3234.

Failure to mow after notice triggers City-performed abatement plus all associated costs assessed as a municipal lien on the property under 53 P.S. §7101+. Code violations are typically prosecuted before the Magisterial District Court with summary-offense fines ranging from approximately $100 to $1,000 per occurrence, with each day of continuing violation a separate offense under standard Reading City Code penalty provisions. Persistent violations on rental properties can affect rental-license renewal under Reading's residential rental licensing program.

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees

Tree removal in the City of Reading is governed by a combination of Reading Shade Tree Commission authority (over street trees and trees in the public right-of-way) and the City's land development/subdivision ordinance for development sites. Removal of a street tree without Commission approval is prohibited. Removal of healthy trees on development sites typically requires inclusion in the approved land-development plan, with replacement planting required by the Commission's policies.

Key details: Street Tree Removal: Shade Tree Commission approval required. City Arborist: 610-655-6035. Development Sites: Land development plan review. Soil Erosion: PA DEP NPDES + Berks Conservation Dist.. Hazardous Trees: Generally exempt on private lots.

Removing a street tree without Shade Tree Commission authorization is a violation of the Reading City Code, prosecutable as a summary offense before a Magisterial District Judge with fines and restitution for the appraised value of the tree (often several thousand dollars per mature specimen using ISA appraisal methodology). Unpermitted clearing on a land-development site can trigger stop-work orders, PA DEP NPDES enforcement under 25 Pa. Code Chapter 102, and required replacement planting. Damage to county or state park trees is enforced separately.

Native Plants

The City of Reading does not mandate native-plant landscaping on residential property. The Reading Environmental Advisory Council (established April 2007 under the Pennsylvania Environmental Advisory Council Act, 53 P.S. §11304) promotes native-plant use through voluntary programs including Adopt-a-Tree and rain-barrel distribution. PA DCNR's PA Native Plant program and the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Berks County provide free design guidance. Pennsylvania's Right to Farm Act (3 P.S. §951-957) protects agricultural operations from nuisance suits.

Key details: EAC Established: April 2007 (53 P.S. §11304). EAC Membership: 7 members, 3-year terms. Residential Mandate: None — voluntary. Right to Farm Act: 3 P.S. §951-957. Resources: PA DCNR + Penn State Extension Berks.

Reading imposes no penalties on homeowners for choosing non-native landscaping. Failure to install required plantings shown on an approved Reading land-development plan can trigger withholding of the Certificate of Occupancy and standard code-enforcement procedures. Pennsylvania's Right to Farm Act preempts most nuisance suits against established agricultural operations, including those raising native-meadow or pollinator-habitat concerns, when the operation predates the complaint by more than one year (3 P.S. §954).

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

Tree Trimming

Trimming a wholly private tree on a Reading property generally does not require a City permit. Street trees in the public right-of-way fall under the jurisdiction of the Reading Shade Tree Commission, established by Bill No. 42 (September 12, 1973), and any pruning, trimming, or removal of a street tree must be coordinated with the City Arborist (610-655-6035). Reading is a recognized Tree City USA community. Pennsylvania common-law self-help allows trimming a neighbor's overhanging branches up to the property line.

Key details: Shade Tree Commission: Bill No. 42 (Sept. 12, 1973). City Arborist: 610-655-6035. Street Tree Pruning: Commission/Arborist approval required. Private Tree Pruning: No City permit if wholly on lot. Recognition: Tree City USA community.

Trimming or topping a Reading street tree without Shade Tree Commission authorization is a violation of the Reading City Code's tree-protection provisions, prosecutable as a summary offense before a Magisterial District Judge, with fines and required restitution for damage to the public tree (commonly calculated using ISA tree-appraisal methodology). Damaging or killing a neighbor's tree through improper self-help trimming exposes the trimmer to civil liability and potential treble damages for timber trespass under Pennsylvania case law. Utility clearance pruning is statutorily authorized.

Weed Ordinances

Weed control in Reading combines City-level property-maintenance enforcement with Pennsylvania's noxious-weed regulatory framework. The Reading City Code treats noxious weeds and rank vegetation on private property as maintainable nuisances subject to notice-and-abate procedures. Pennsylvania law historically codified noxious-weed control at 3 Pa.C.S. §255 (Noxious Weed Law), now administered through the PA Department of Agriculture's Controlled Plant and Noxious Weed Committee, which maintains a statewide list of regulated invasive species.

Key details: Local Authority: Reading Property Maintenance Code. State Noxious Weed Law: 3 Pa.C.S. §255. Listed Invasives: Knotweed, Tree-of-Heaven, hogweed. Pesticide Law: 3 Pa.C.S. §6101+ (licensed applicators). Conservation Partner: Berks County Conservation District.

Failure to abate weeds after Reading's notice triggers City-performed abatement and a municipal lien under 53 P.S. §7101+, with summary fines before a Magisterial District Judge. Cultivating or distributing a Class A noxious weed violates Pennsylvania's noxious-weed framework (3 Pa.C.S. §255) and is subject to civil penalties and quarantine/destruction orders by the PA Department of Agriculture. Unlicensed commercial pesticide application violates 3 Pa.C.S. §6101+ with PA Department of Agriculture civil penalties.

Water Restrictions

Water restrictions in Reading flow from a combination of Pennsylvania Drought Emergency Act declarations (3 P.S. §1701 et seq.) issued through PA DEP and the Commonwealth's emergency-management framework, plus the operating rules of the Reading Area Water Authority (RAWA), Reading's municipal water supplier. PA DEP declares Drought Watch, Drought Warning, or Drought Emergency status for each county; declared drought triggers voluntary or mandatory outdoor-watering restrictions.

Key details: State Authority: PA Drought Emergency Act 3 P.S. §1701+. Drought Stages: Watch / Warning / Emergency. Declaring Agency: PA DEP + Drought Task Force. Local Utility: Reading Area Water Authority (RAWA). Reservoir: Lake Ontelaunee / Maiden Creek.

Violating a Pennsylvania Drought Emergency order is enforced under 3 P.S. §1701+ and the Governor's proclamation, with summary fines (typically $100–$300 per first offense, escalating for repeat violations) prosecuted before the Magisterial District Court. RAWA can impose drought-tier surcharges and, for repeated violations, restrict or terminate service under its tariff. Essential uses (firefighting, construction-site dust control, healthcare) remain permitted. PA DEP can impose civil-administrative penalties on commercial violators.

Composting

Backyard composting in Reading is permitted and encouraged. The City participates in the Pennsylvania Act 101 (Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act, 53 P.S. §4000.101+) yard-waste recycling framework that requires Pennsylvania municipalities over 5,000 population to provide leaf-and-yard-waste collection. PA DCNR and Penn State Extension provide composting guidance. Compost bins should be setback from property lines, kept rodent-resistant, and avoid meat, dairy, and pet waste. Open burning of leaves is prohibited statewide under 25 Pa. Code Chapter 129.

Key details: State Mandate: PA Act 101 (53 P.S. §4000.101+). Curbside Yard Waste: Seasonal (typically Oct–Dec). Backyard Compost: Permitted, no specific permit. Setback (best practice): 5–10 ft from property line. Open Burning: Prohibited (25 Pa. Code §129.14).

Improper composting that creates a documented vermin or odor nuisance is enforceable under Reading's property-maintenance and public-nuisance provisions, with summary fines before the Magisterial District Court. Placing yard waste in trash bound for landfill instead of the mandatory yard-waste stream violates Act 101 (53 P.S. §4000.1502) and is enforceable by Reading Recycling Coordinator citation. Burning leaves or brush violates 25 Pa. Code §129.14 and is enforced by PA DEP and the Reading Bureau of Fire with fines up to $300 per occurrence for residential violations, escalating for commercial open burning.

The rules around composting in Reading lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Reading gives residents more room on landscaping rules. 2 of the 7 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

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.