The City of Reading regulates grass and weed height through its Property Maintenance Code and the public-nuisance provisions of the City Code (ecode360 portal RE1294). Grass, weeds, and rank vegetation on improved residential lots must be kept under approximately 10 inches; once a violation is observed, Property and Codes Enforcement issues a written notice giving the owner a short cure period, after which the City may mow at the owner's expense and lien the cost to the parcel under Pennsylvania municipal-lien authority.
Reading is a Third Class City under 53 P.S. §35101 et seq., and its property-maintenance enforcement framework is built around the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) as adopted by the City and the public-nuisance provisions of the Reading City Code (codified online at https://ecode360.com/RE1294). The IPMC section governing exterior property areas (§302.4 in the model code) prohibits grass, weeds, and other plant growth exceeding the locally adopted height — typically 10 inches for improved residential parcels in Pennsylvania municipalities of Reading's size. Vacant lots, rental properties, and bank-owned parcels are inspected more aggressively by the City's Property and Codes Enforcement Division, which uses both proactive sweeps and citizen-complaint intake (City Citizens Service Center, 1-877-727-3234). On a confirmed violation, the City issues a notice to abate; if the owner fails to mow within the cure period, the City may contract for mowing and place the cost on the property as a municipal claim/lien under the Pennsylvania Municipal Claims and Tax Liens Act (53 P.S. §7101 et seq.). Repeat violators may be cited before a Magisterial District Judge. Reading's enforcement is the only effective control mechanism — Pennsylvania has no state-level lawn-height statute applicable to municipalities.
Failure to mow after notice triggers City-performed abatement plus all associated costs assessed as a municipal lien on the property under 53 P.S. §7101+. Code violations are typically prosecuted before the Magisterial District Court with summary-offense fines ranging from approximately $100 to $1,000 per occurrence, with each day of continuing violation a separate offense under standard Reading City Code penalty provisions. Persistent violations on rental properties can affect rental-license renewal under Reading's residential rental licensing program.
Reading, PA
Every swimming pool in Reading must be enclosed by a permanent barrier or fence at least four feet in height with no opening larger than four inches, and the...
Reading, PA
Reading Zoning Code § 600-1304 bans barbed-wire fences in residential settings, electrically-charged fences (except invisible pet fences), broken glass affix...
Reading, PA
Reading's zoning code does not require neighbor consent for a boundary fence under § 600-1301, but Pennsylvania's partition-fence statute (53 P.S. § 46202) a...
Reading, PA
Reading Zoning Code § 600-1301 requires a permit from the Zoning Administrator for any fence, wall, or similar structure greater than three feet in height. F...
Reading, PA
Reading Code Section 141-220 effectively caps a household at six dogs and/or cats combined. Owning more than six requires a permit from the Reading Animal Co...
Reading, PA
Propane (LP-gas) storage in Reading is regulated through the 2018 International Fire Code Chapter 61 (Liquefied Petroleum Gases), adopted by Reading Chapter ...
See how Reading's grass height limits rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.