Reading, PA Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)
Barking dog rules in Reading, PA, also called nuisance dog, dog noise, or excessive barking ordinances, define when a barking dog becomes a code violation and how complaints are handled.
Key Facts
- Continuous threshold
- 10 minutes of barking
- Intermittent threshold
- 1/2 hour or more
- Applies
- Day or night, private property
- Exception
- Animal was teased or trespassed on
Summary
Owning or harboring an animal or bird that barks, howls or squawks continuously for 10 minutes, or intermittently for a half hour, to another person's disturbance is a Code violation in Reading, day or night.
Owning, possessing, harboring or controlling any animal or bird which howls, barks, meows, squawks, or makes other sounds continuously and/or incessantly for a period of 10 minutes or makes such noise intermittently for 1/2 hour or more to the disturbance of any person at any time of the day or night regardless of whether the animal or bird is situated in or upon private property; provided, however, that at the time the animal or bird is making such noise, no person is trespassing or threatening to trespass upon private property in or upon which the animal or bird is situated or for any other legitimate cause which teased or provoked the animal or bird.
G. Powered model vehicles. Operating or permitting the operation of powered model vehicles so as to create a noise disturbance across a residential property line (boundary) between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
H. Street sales. Offering for sale or selling by shouting or outcry or by any other amplified or unamplified sound within any residential or commercial area of the City.
I. Tampering. The following acts or the causing thereof are prohibited:
(1) The removal or rendering inoperative by any person, other than for the purposes of maintenance, repair or replacement, of any muffler or sound dissipative device or element of design or noise label of any product.
(2) The use of a product which has had a muffler or sound dissipative
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
Section 387-104.F of Reading's noise ordinance makes it a violation to own, possess, harbor or control an animal or bird that howls, barks, meows or squawks continuously or incessantly for 10 minutes, or intermittently for a half hour or more, to the disturbance of any person at any time of day or night: regardless of whether the animal is on private property. The rule does not apply if, at the time of the noise, someone is trespassing on the property where the animal is kept, or otherwise teased or provoked the animal. The Reading Police Department enforces the provision.
Violations & Fines
A violation carries a fine of $100 to $1,000 plus costs; unpaid fines can mean up to 30 days in jail, and each day of violation is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a dog have to bark to violate Reading's noise code?
Is there a defense if the dog was provoked?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Reading
Compare Reading to another location·View the Pennsylvania noise ordinances overview
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