Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup
Key FactsOrdinance TextFull BreakdownViolationsFAQSourcesMore in Reading

Reading, PA Environmental Rules: Boat Dock Permits (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Allowed only in
RR Overlay Zone
Min. tract size
10+ acres
Riverfront setback
50 feet
Approval needed
final PRD plan
Citation
§ 600-815

Summary

Reading's Zoning Ordinance lists boat docks, wharves and marinas as an allowed use only inside the Riverfront Redevelopment Overlay Zone, on tracts over 10 acres with approved planned-development plans, kept 50 feet back from the Schuylkill River's bank.

(37) Boat dock, wharf or marina. ... (l) Riverfront building setback: minimum of 50 feet from the top of the bank of the Schuylkill River or a structural wall or improved water's edge along the Schuylkill River, based upon conditions that will exist after the development is completed, based upon the approved final PRD plan. Pedestrian access may be placed within this setback.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-8: Current through August 10, 2026).

Full Breakdown

Boat dock, wharf or marina is one of 51 permitted-by-right uses named for the RR Riverfront Redevelopment Overlay Zone, an optional district that overlays the Schuylkill riverfront. The overlay only becomes usable once a tract of more than 10 acres in common ownership wins final Planned Residential Development (PRD) approval from the City Planning Commission; until then, only the underlying district's uses apply. Any structure sited within the overlay, docks included, must observe a riverfront building setback of at least 50 feet from the top of the riverbank or improved water's edge, though pedestrian access may cross that setback. No other zoning district in Reading lists a boat dock, wharf or marina as an allowed use.

Violations & Fines

Building a dock, wharf or marina outside the RR Overlay Zone, without final PRD approval, or inside the 50-foot riverbank setback is a zoning violation that can block a certificate of occupancy and draw City enforcement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I build a private boat dock anywhere in Reading?
No: the Zoning Ordinance lists boat docks, wharves and marinas as a permitted use only inside the Riverfront Redevelopment (RR) Overlay Zone, per § 600-815(C)(37).
How close to the Schuylkill River can a dock structure sit?
Structures in the RR Overlay Zone must stay at least 50 feet back from the top of the riverbank, though pedestrian access may cross that setback, per § 600-815(D)(1)(l).

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Reading

Vehicle Idling RestrictionsSome RestrictionsErosion ControlSome RestrictionsStormwater ManagementSome RestrictionsFlood Elevation RequirementsSome RestrictionsFlood ZonesSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Towing & Impound RightsSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Snow Removal Parking RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Curb Color RulesSome RestrictionsFire Regulations: Outdoor BurningSignificant RestrictionsFire Regulations: FireworksHeavy RestrictionsLandscaping Rules: Native PlantsFew Restrictions

All Reading rules

Compare Reading to another location·View the Pennsylvania environmental rules overview

Get notified when Boat Dock Permits in Reading, PA changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.