Business Licensing & Operations in Reading, PA (2026)
7 verified business licensing & operations rules for Reading, Pennsylvania, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
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.
Reading Sexually Oriented Business Zoning Rules
Significant RestrictionsReading Codified Ordinances § 473-113
A person commits a misdemeanor if that person operates or causes to be operated a sexually oriented business in any zoning district other than HM Heavy Manufacturing Districts, as defined and described in Chapter 600, Zoning, of the Code of the City of Reading. ... A person commits an offense if the person operates or causes to be operated a sexually oriented business within 1,000 feet of: (1) ...
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.
Reading PA Massage Therapist Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsReading Codified Ordinances § 364-103
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to act as a massage therapist unless such person holds a valid permit issued by the permit administrator. B. A massage therapist permit shall be issued to any person who has fulfilled the requirements of this chapter, unless grounds for denial of such permit are found to exist. The permit administrator may deny a permit to the permit applicant if: (1) The ...
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.
Reading PA Tattoo & Body Art Permits
Some RestrictionsReading Codified Ordinances § 540-104
It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in the business of operating a tattoo establishment performing body art, body piercing, or tattooing without first obtaining a permit to engage in such business, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and unless abiding by the provisions hereof. A permit application may be refused and an establishment may be closed summarily by a Health O...
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.
Reading Secondhand & Junk Dealer Reports
Some RestrictionsReading Codified Ordinances § 403-101
All pawnbrokers, junk dealers and dealers in secondhand goods shall make out and deliver to the Chief of Police, at his office, every day before the hour of 10:00 a.m., or upon demand, a legible and accurate report of all articles taken in pawn or purchased during the preceding day. Such report shall contain an accurate description of all articles taken in pawn or purchased, together with the a...
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.
Reading Pawnbroker License Tax
Some RestrictionsReading Codified Ordinances § 339-103
In addition to all other taxes levied and collected by the City, license taxes in the amounts as set by ordinance and provided in Chapter 212, Fees, are hereby levied for general revenue purposes upon every person conducting or engaging in any of the hereinafter mentioned businesses or occupations... B. Pawnbrokers, each, per year.
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.
Reading PA Home Auto Repair Ban
Heavy RestrictionsReading Codified Ordinances § 600-1006.A(14)
The use shall not involve manufacturing, other than of custom crafts and sewing. The use shall not involve commercial repair of motor vehicles. (15) The use may include sales using telephone, mail order or electronic methods. On-site retail sales shall be prohibited, except for sales of hair care products as accessory to a barber/beauty shop. (16) A zoning permit shall be requir...
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.
Reading PA Non-Consent Private Property Towing
Some RestrictionsReading Codified Ordinances § 576-803(D)
The property owner ... shall have the ability to remove or have removed an unattended vehicle by a privately operated towing business if (i) the vehicle in violation of this section is reported to the City of Reading Police Department by the property owner... Any towing company contracted to remove vehicles from private property shall not charge more than $100 for towing, $50 for "dropping" the...
Looking for Berks County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Reading city rules.
Business Licensing & Operations in Berks County →