Reading, PA Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Reading participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and has adopted a fully-conforming floodplain ordinance to maintain that participation. Article XVIII of Chapter 600 (Zoning) is structured as an overlay - the underlying base-zoning district rules still apply, but the Floodplain Overlay imposes additional restrictions on any property within an SFHA. Section 600-1817 identifies the overlay by reference to the FEMA Flood Insurance Study and FIRMs dated July 3, 2012 (panels 42011C0508G, 42011C0509G, etc.), and the City has accepted any later revisions. Section 600-1809 makes the Floodplain Administrator (housed in the Department of Community Development) responsible for issuing floodplain zoning permits before any construction, placement of a manufactured home, excavation, filling, grading, drilling, or 'substantial improvement' (defined as repair/improvement >= 50% of pre-damage market value) can occur in the overlay. Section 600-1822 sets the general technical provisions: residential structures must have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated to or above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) plus 1.5 feet of freeboard; non-residential structures may either elevate or floodproof to that elevation; manufactured homes must be anchored; and certain uses (hospitals, jails, certain hazardous-material facilities) are flat-out prohibited in the floodway. Reading's flood risk is genuine - the Schuylkill River has produced repeated damaging floods (1972 Hurricane Agnes, 2006, 2011 Hurricane Irene/Tropical Storm Lee, 2021 Hurricane Ida) and FEMA flood-claim history in the 19601-19606 ZIP codes is substantial. Because Reading is an NFIP community, federally-backed mortgages on property in an SFHA require flood insurance under 42 U.S.C. § 4012a.