Public Conduct in Reading, PA (2026)
7 verified public conduct rules for Reading, Pennsylvania, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Aggressive Panhandling
Reading bans panhandling within 25 feet of outdoor cafes, 20 feet of ATMs and public toilets, on private property without consent, and in an aggressively defined manner anywhere in the city. Reading Police Department enforces the ban under City Code Chapter 353, with escalating fines and an optional diversion program instead of a criminal record.
Reading PA Aggressive Panhandling Ban
Significant RestrictionsReading Codified Ordinances § 353-104
A. No person shall engage in an act of panhandling, solicitation or begging: (1) Within 25 feet of the outside perimeter of an outdoor cafe or a sidewalk cafe. (2) On private or residential property without permission from the owner or other person lawfully in possession of such property. (3) Within 20 feet of public toilets. (4) Within 20 feet of an entrance to or exit from any financial insti...
Skateboarding Rules
Reading bans roller-skating, skateboarding and riding a coaster or other toy vehicle on any city street, except to cross the roadway, and on any sidewalk in a business district. Violators face a $5 fine per offense under the City's Vehicles and Traffic Code.
Reading PA Skateboarding Street and Sidewalk Ban
Some RestrictionsReading Codified Ordinances § 576-1003(B)
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to ride on a sled upon any sidewalk in the City, or upon any roadway unless that roadway is on a portion of a street blocked off for sledding by authority of § 576-105 or 576-217. Provided, nothing in this subsection shall prevent a pedestrian from pulling a sled, with or without a rider, upon a sidewalk. B. It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in...
Loud Party Ordinance
Reading's disruptive-conduct ordinance targets loud, untimely rental-unit behavior: after two documented incidents in a 12-month period, the property owner must begin eviction within 10 working days or risk losing the unit's housing permit.
Reading PA Disruptive Conduct and Party Rule
Significant RestrictionsReading Codified Ordinances § 198-102
Police officers or public officers shall investigate alleged incidents of disruptive conduct. They shall complete a disruptive conduct form upon finding that the reported incident constitutes disruptive conduct as defined herein. ... A. Eviction. After two disruptive conduct incidents in any 12-month period by an occupant documented by disruptive conduct reports, the owner shall have ten workin...
Loitering Rules
Reading bans loitering that obstructs streets, sidewalks, bridges or public buildings by hindering the free passage of pedestrians or vehicles, enforceable citywide by police.
Reading PA Loitering Ordinance
Some RestrictionsReading Codified Ordinances § 353-103
No person shall loiter in a public place, as heretofore defined, in such manner as to obstruct any public street, public sidewalk, public bridge, or other public place or public building by hindering or impeding or tending to hinder or impede the free and uninterrupted passage of vehicles or pedestrians. B. No person shall commit in or upon any public street, public sidewalk, public bridge, o...
Jaywalking
In Reading's business district, pedestrians must cross the roadway only in a crosswalk; stepping off the curb mid-block elsewhere is a violation under § 576-1104(A)(1). Ignoring that rule, or the 'Walk'/'Don't Walk' and traffic-signal rules in the same Part, is a summary offense carrying a flat $5 fine plus court costs under § 576-1106.
Reading PA Business District Jaywalking Ban
Light RestrictionsReading Codified Ordinances § 576-1104(A)(1); § 576-1106
A. It shall be unlawful for any pedestrian: (1) To cross any roadway in a business district within the City except in a crosswalk. ... § 576-1106. Violations and penalties. Any pedestrian who violates any provision of this Part shall be guilty of a summary offense and, upon conviction, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of $5 and costs.
Public Marijuana Use
Reading makes smoking or consuming any amount of marijuana or hashish in public a civil offense carrying a $150 fine per violation. City Code Chapter 360, adopted in 2025, treats possession of up to 30 grams the same way, with escalating civil fines instead of arrest or a criminal record.
Reading PA Public Marijuana Consumption Ban
Significant RestrictionsReading Codified Ordinances § 360-103
It shall be unlawful for any person to smoke or consume marijuana or hashish of any amount in a public space. However, the smoking or consumption of marijuana or hashish in a public space shall be classified as a civil offense rather than a criminal offense, punishable by a civil fine of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) per offense.
Public Alcohol Use
Reading bars drinking alcohol in public places unless the law permits it, and bars drinking on private property without the owner's consent. City Code Chapter 127, Part 2 covers streets, sidewalks, parks and playgrounds, and violators face fines up to $1,000 plus court costs.
Reading PA Public Alcohol Consumption Ban
Some RestrictionsReading Codified Ordinances § 127-202
No person within the City shall consume alcoholic beverages on public places unless permitted by law or on private property without the consent of the owner. With respect to governmentally owned property, the consent of duly authorized representatives of the governmental entity shall be required.
Looking for Berks County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Reading city rules.
Public Conduct in Berks County →