Special Events & Permits in Reading, PA (2026)
5 verified special events & permits rules for Reading, Pennsylvania, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Block Party Permits
Reading requires a block party permit at least 30 days before the event, filed online or at the Police Department Traffic Office, and the application must include a petition signed by 75% of the residents and businesses the proposed street closure affects, under § 576-1204(A)(2) and (D)(11). Holding one without a permit is a $500 summary offense.
Reading Block Party Permit Requirements
Some RestrictionsReading Codified Ordinances § 576-1204(A)(2), (D)(11)
(2) A block party permit application shall be filed 30 days prior to the planned event. ... (11) The petition document which must be signed by 75% of the residents/businesses affected by the proposed closure.
Park Event Permits
Reading requires a permit for any ceremony, musical, theatrical or other entertainment event held in a city park, under the Reading Park Code. Unpermitted sound equipment can be seized, and any Park Code violation carries a fine of up to $1,000 plus costs.
Reading Park Event and Ceremony Permit Rule
Some RestrictionsReading Codified Ordinances § 396-305.A(12)
(12) Have any ceremony or any musical, theatrical or other entertainment event without a permit. Any device used to broadcast music or sound without the required permit and within the period of time specified may be seized, in accordance with § 396-312 and may be subject to forfeit by the responding law enforcement authorities for violating this chapter, and any vehicle involved therewith may b...
Parade Permits
Reading requires a City-issued permit before conducting a parade, special event, block party, community site reservation or recreation facility reservation, filed 90 to 180 days ahead for a special event under Chapter 576, Part 12, the Parade and Special Events Ordinance; funeral processions and sidewalk free-speech gatherings are exempt.
Reading Parade and Special Event Permit
Significant RestrictionsReading Codified Ordinances § 576-1203(A)-(B)
A. Except as provided in this Part, no person or entity shall conduct, facilitate, promote, manage, aid, or solicit attendance at a special event, community event site reservation activity or recreation facility/site reservation activity until an applicable permit has been issued by the City of Reading or the Reading Recreation Commission. B. Exceptions. This Part shall not apply to: (1) Funera...
Street Fair Rules
Reading requires every vendor at a permitted street fair or festival to be listed by name and product on the special event application, barred from adult-item sales to minors, and licensed with a tax ID, business license and health permit.
Reading Street Fair Vendor Rules
Significant RestrictionsReading Codified Ordinances § 576-1204(C)(11)(m)
Vendors: list each vendor, including products and services offered. The merchandise, products and services offered cannot be in violation of the duly enacted Code of the City of Reading and cannot include items that are "adult" related and can only be sold to persons over 21 years of age. All vendors must also provide a valid tax ID number, as required by Pennsylvania law, A valid City of Readi...
Sidewalk Dining & Cafés
Reading flatly bars permanent sidewalk cafe structures: no raised decks, fences or fixed walls in the sidewalk area, and every installation must come down by October 30 each year.
Reading Bars Permanent Sidewalk Cafes
Heavy RestrictionsReading Codified Ordinances § 479-106.B
No sidewalk cafe may be permanently located within the sidewalk area by means of raised deck platform, fence, walls or other structures or enclosed by fixed walls, except that sidewalk cafe boundaries may be delineated by the use of temporary barriers such as balustrades, cordons or railings. Any such temporary barriers must be easily removed and three feet or less in height above the sidewalk....
Looking for Berks County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Reading city rules.
Special Events & Permits in Berks County →