Swimming Pools & Spas in Reading, PA: What Residents Actually Need to Know
If you live in Reading or are thinking about moving there, swimming pools & spas are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Reading has 2 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of swimming pools & spas, and some of them might surprise you.
Fencing & Safety Requirements
Every swimming pool in Reading needs a permanent barrier at least four feet tall with no opening wider than four inches, and any gate in that fence must be securely locked whenever the pool isn't in use.
Key details: Minimum barrier height: 4 feet. Maximum gap in fence: 4 inches. Gate requirement: securely locked when unused. Applies to: all in-ground and above-ground pools.
A pool built or left without the required four-foot locked barrier fails zoning inspection; the City's Zoning/Codes Enforcement Office can withhold permit approval or cite the property until the fence is installed.
Pool Permits
In Reading, a portable above-ground pool under 125 square feet and 2 feet deep needs no zoning permit; larger pools must sit in the rear yard with 3 feet of clearance and cost $75 to permit.
Key details: Exempt threshold: Under 125 sq ft, under 2 ft deep. Aboveground pool siting: Rear yard, 3 ft perimeter clearance. Permit fee, single-family: $75. Permit fee, commercial/non-SF: $150. Governing chapter: Zoning Code, Chapter 600.
Placing an oversized above-ground pool without a zoning permit, or setting it up outside the rear yard or within three feet of a property line, is a zoning violation subject to enforcement under § 600-204.
The Bottom Line
Reading's swimming pools & spas 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.
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.