A Resident's Guide to Reading's Local Ordinances

Reading, Pennsylvania may not be the biggest city in the state, but it has its own set of local rules that residents need to follow. With 100 tracked ordinances across 29 categories, there is more here than you might expect.

Animal Ordinances

Chickens & Livestock: Reading's Code of Ordinances Chapter 141 (Animals), Part 2 (Animal Control), at Section 141-215 makes it unlawful to own, harbor, or permit at large any 'domestic agricultural animal' — including chickens, ducks, turkeys, goats, sheep, swine, and other livestock — within City limits without a permit issued by the Reading Animal Control Board. The permit is processed through the Property Maintenance Division and is valid for up to three years or for the duration of the animal's rabies vaccination..

Also covered: Dog Leash Laws (moderate), Exotic Pets (strict), Wildlife Feeding (moderate). See the full animal ordinances guide for Reading for details.

Fire Regulations

Fireworks: Consumer fireworks in Reading, PA are governed primarily by Pennsylvania Act 74 of 2022 (codified at 3 Pa. C.S.A.

Also covered: Brush Clearance (moderate), Fire Pit Rules (moderate), Outdoor Burning (strict). See the full fire regulations guide for Reading for details.

Fence Regulations

Pool Barriers: Every swimming pool in Reading must be enclosed by a permanent barrier or fence at least four feet in height with no opening larger than four inches, and the gate must be securely locked when the pool is not in use, per Zoning Code § 600-1013. Aboveground pool walls may count as part of the barrier, and the access ladder must be removable or secured to a height of four feet.

Also covered: Height Limits (moderate), Neighbor Fence Rules (moderate), Permit Requirements (moderate). See the full fence regulations guide for Reading for details.

Noise Ordinances

Construction Hours: Reading restricts construction and demolition noise to 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Also covered: Amplified Music & Events (moderate), Industrial Noise (moderate), Quiet Hours (moderate). See the full noise ordinances guide for Reading for details.

Trash & Recycling

Illegal Dumping: Illegal dumping in Reading is enforced under three layered authorities: (1) locally, QOL.003 prohibits improper disposal or dumping of rubbish or garbage on vacant, unoccupied, or other property, and QOL.005 prohibits throwing, dumping, placing, sweeping, or disposing of waste, trash, garbage, or rubbish on any public sidewalk, alley, street, bridge, public passageway, public parking area, or public property; (2) statewide, the 'Scattering Rubbish' offense at 18 Pa.C.S. §6501 makes dumping or depositing garbage, refuse, or rubbish on public or private property without the owner's consent a summary offense punishable by a fine of $50-$300 (first offense) and increased penalties on subsequent offenses; (3) under PA Act 101 (53 P.S.

Also covered: Bin Placement Rules (moderate), Yard Waste Collection (moderate), Recycling Requirements (strict). See the full trash & recycling guide for Reading for details.

Short-Term Rentals

Taxes & Fees: Short-term rental operators in Reading must collect the Berks County 5% hotel excise tax (Berks County Ordinance 1-13, expanded to all Berks County hotels in 2013) and the Pennsylvania 6% state hotel occupancy tax under 72 P.S. §7210 for any stay under 30 days.

Also covered: Noise Rules (moderate), Parking Rules (moderate), Permit Requirements (moderate). See the full short-term rentals guide for Reading for details.

Soliciting & Door-to-Door

Solicitor Permits: Reading Codified Ordinances Chapter 410, Part 2 (Canvassing and Soliciting), §§ 410-201 to 410-206, requires every solicitor and canvasser to obtain a permit from the Chief of Police before going door-to-door. Activity is restricted to 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.

Property Maintenance

Vacant Lot Maintenance: Vacant lots and structures in Reading are subject to three layered requirements: (1) mandatory registration with the Property Maintenance Division's online Vacant Property Registry under the City's vacant and abandoned property ordinance, with mortgagees of defaulted properties required to register within 10 days of inspection; (2) a 6-inch maximum vegetation height under QOL.004 of Chapter 180, Part 12; and (3) eligibility for blight referral under Codified Ordinance §23-903A if the lot becomes an accumulation point for trash or vermin or remains unrehabilitated for one year after notice. A nonrefundable annual registration fee applies under the City Fee Schedule..

Also covered: Trash Bin Storage (moderate), Property Blight (strict), Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (moderate). See the full property maintenance guide for Reading for details.

Public Conduct

Outdoor Smoking Restrictions: Reading has not codified a stand-alone outdoor-smoking ordinance for parks, sidewalks, or public spaces. Smoking restrictions in the city are governed primarily by the Pennsylvania Clean Indoor Air Act at 35 P.S.

Also covered: Loud Party Ordinance (moderate). See the full public conduct guide for Reading for details.

Curfew Laws

Juvenile Curfew: Reading enforces a juvenile curfew under the Reading City Code (ecode360.com/RE1294, peace-and-good-order provisions), authorized by the Pennsylvania third-class city curfew enabling provisions and by the general municipal police power. Juveniles under age 18 are prohibited from being on public streets or in public places during overnight hours unless accompanied by a parent or guardian or covered by one of the statutory exceptions (employment, school or religious activity, emergency, exercise of First Amendment rights).

Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors

Vending Zones: Reading has not codified a citywide map of designated food-truck vending zones. Mobile-food operation in Reading is governed by the city's peddler/vendor and itinerant-merchant licensing provisions in the Reading City Code at ecode360.com/RE1294, by Berks County Department of Public Health licensing under the Pennsylvania Food Code at 7 Pa.

Also covered: Food Truck Permits (moderate). See the full food trucks & mobile vendors guide for Reading for details.

Rental Property Rules

Security Deposit Rules: Reading has not codified a separate local security-deposit ordinance; deposits are governed by the Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 at 68 P.S. §250.511a et seq.

Also covered: Rent Control (permissive), Rental Registration (strict), Just Cause Eviction (permissive). See the full rental property rules guide for Reading for details.

Business Licensing & Operations

Tobacco Retail License: Reading tobacco retailers are licensed primarily at the state level. Pennsylvania Act 112 of 2020 (codified at 18 Pa.C.S.

Also covered: Secondhand Dealers (strict). See the full business licensing & operations guide for Reading for details.

Drone Rules

Recreational Drones: Recreational drone operation in Reading is governed by the FAA federal framework: 14 CFR Part 107 for non-recreational flight and 49 U.S.C. §44809 for limited recreational flight (TRUST test, line-of-sight, under 400 feet AGL, registered above 0.55 lb at faa.gov/uas).

Parking Rules

Commercial Vehicle Restrictions: Commercial vehicles in Reading are defined as motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 10,000 pounds or more used for transporting goods, wares or merchandise. Their parking and storage are regulated by Chapter 576 (Vehicles and Traffic) and Chapter 564 (Property Maintenance / Nuisances) of the Reading Codified Ordinances, with §564-105 imposing a permit and fee framework for parking trucks, trailers and mobile homes within the City.

Also covered: Driveway Rules (moderate), Abandoned Vehicles (strict), Overnight Parking (moderate). See the full parking rules guide for Reading for details.

Hotels & Lodging

Transient Occupancy Tax: Hotels and other transient lodging in Reading must collect a 5% Berks County hotel excise tax under Berks County Ordinance 1-13 (June 27, 2013), which expanded the original 1997 hotel tax to all hotels county-wide. Operators register with the Berks County Treasurer and remit monthly by the 25th.

Sign Regulations

Political Signs: Reading's sign regulation cannot impose content-based restrictions on political signs after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Reed v.

Building Setbacks & Zoning

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).

Also covered: Lot Coverage Limits (moderate), Structure Height Limits (moderate). See the full building setbacks & zoning guide for Reading for details.

Landscaping Rules

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..

Also covered: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (moderate), Native Plants (permissive), Tree Trimming (moderate). See the full landscaping rules guide for Reading for details.

Swimming Pools & Spas

Safety Rules: Reading pool owners must comply with: (1) Code § 600-1013 prohibiting discharge of pool water onto other properties without owner consent; (2) the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (15 U.S.C. § 8003) anti-entrapment drain-cover requirements; (3) the ISPSC 2018 alarm, suction, and circulation safety provisions adopted statewide under the PA UCC; and (4) NEC Article 680 electrical bonding and GFCI rules.

Also covered: Pool Permits (moderate), Fencing Requirements (strict). See the full swimming pools & spas guide for Reading for details.

Garage & Yard Sales

Garage Sale Permits: Reading's Code of Ordinances does not contain a dedicated garage-sale or yard-sale permit chapter, and no garage-sale permit is required for occasional residential sales of household items on private property within the City. Sales that grow in frequency, volume, or commercial character can be reviewed as unlicensed business activity under Reading's business privilege license framework.

Also covered: Frequency Limits (permissive). See the full garage & yard sales guide for Reading for details.

Tree Protection

Heritage & Protected Trees: Reading does not maintain a dedicated public heritage-tree registry in the City Code, but the Reading Shade Tree Commission (Bill No. 42, Sept.

Also covered: Tree Removal Permits (moderate), Tree Replacement Requirements (moderate). See the full tree protection guide for Reading for details.

Environmental Rules

Stormwater Management: Reading regulates stormwater under Code Chapter 505 (Stormwater Management), most recently amended by Ord. 28-2021 (4-12-2021).

Also covered: Flood Zones (strict). See the full environmental rules guide for Reading for details.

Accessory Structures

ADU Impact Fees: Pennsylvania municipalities have limited statutory authority to impose impact fees on new development. Under the Municipalities Planning Code Article V-A (53 P.S.

Also covered: ADU Permits (moderate), ADU Rules (moderate), Shed Rules (moderate). See the full accessory structures guide for Reading for details.

Solar Energy

Panel Permits: Solar panel installations on Reading homes require permits under the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (34 Pa Code §§401.1-405.42), specifically a building permit for roof-mount structural review and an electrical permit for the photovoltaic system interconnection. The Pennsylvania Solar Easement Act (68 P.S.

Home Business

Zoning Restrictions: Reading regulates home occupations through the Reading Zoning Ordinance (2014 rewrite) under authority of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (53 P.S. §10603).

Also covered: Customer Traffic Restrictions (moderate), Signage Rules (moderate). See the full home business guide for Reading for details.

Outdoor Cooking

BBQ & Propane Rules: Pennsylvania has adopted the International Fire Code through the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (34 Pa Code Ch. 403).

Building Safety

Lead Paint: Reading regulates lead paint through Chapter 328 (Lead Poisoning Prevention) of the Codified Ordinances, adopted October 23, 2000, alongside the federal Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act (42 U.S.C. Sec.

Also covered: Fire Sprinkler Requirements (moderate), Pest Control (moderate). See the full building safety guide for Reading for details.

Permit Requirements

Renovation Permits: Renovation work in Reading requires a Building and Trades permit from the City of Reading Building and Trades Codes Enforcement office (610-655-6284) under Reading Chapter 180 (Construction Codes) and the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code at 34 Pa. Code Section 403.42.

What to Do With This Information

This overview covers the big picture, but the details matter. Each ordinance page for Reading includes the full text, violation penalties, and frequently asked questions. Use those pages when you need specifics.