Reading, PA Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Governs
- Regulated earth disturbance activities
- Trigger
- 5,000+ sq ft disturbance (DEP threshold)
- Requires
- Conservation District E&S plan approval
- On-site
- Plan and permit copy kept at project site
Summary
Reading requires an approved erosion and sediment control plan before any regulated earth disturbance can start, tying local project approval to DEP and Conservation District sign-off.
No regulated earth disturbance activities within the municipality shall commence until the municipality receives or the municipality receives notice of an approval from the Conservation District of an erosion and sediment control plan for construction activities.
B. DEP has regulations that require an erosion and sediment control plan for any earth disturbance activity of 5,000 square feet or more, under 25 Pa. Code § 102.4(b).
C. In addition, under 25 Pa. Code, Chapter 92a, a DEP "NPDES construction activities" permit is required for regulated earth disturbance activities. 9
D. Evidence of any necessary permit(s) for regulated earth disturbance activities from the appropriate DEP regional office or County Conservation District must be provided to the municipality. The issuance of an NPDES construction permit (or permit coverage under the statewide general permit (PAG-2) satisfies the requirements Subsection A.
E. A copy of the erosion and sediment control plan and any required permit, as required by DEP regulations, shall be available at the project site at all times.
F. Additional erosion and sediment control design standards and criteria are recommended to be applied where infiltration BMPs are proposed shall include the following:
(1) Areas proposed for infiltration BMPs shall be protected from sedimentation and compaction during the construction phase to maintain maximum infiltration capacity.
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
Under Reading Codified Ordinances § 505-123, no regulated earth disturbance activity in the city can begin until the city receives, or receives notice of, an approval from the Berks County Conservation District on an erosion and sediment control plan for the construction activity. State DEP rules independently require an E&S plan for any earth disturbance of 5,000 square feet or more (25 Pa. Code § 102.4(b)), and an NPDES construction activities permit is required under 25 Pa. Code Chapter 92a for regulated disturbances; obtaining the statewide general NPDES permit (PAG-2) satisfies the city's approval requirement. A copy of the approved plan and any required permit must be kept on the project site at all times, and the requirement sits inside Chapter 505, Stormwater Management, which the city amended by Ordinance 28-2021.
Violations & Fines
Starting regulated earth disturbance without the required Conservation District approval or NPDES coverage violates § 505-123; the city's Building/Trades officials and law enforcement are authorized to enforce this Part and may pursue summary criminal proceedings for violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can construction start before the erosion plan is approved?
Does an NPDES permit satisfy the city's requirement?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Reading
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