Berks County and Pennsylvania set no general numeric decibel cap for everyday noise. Reading regulates noise by a plainly-audible / property-line disturbance test rather than a dBA number, except vehicles, which follow state Title 67 Chapter 157 sound levels.
Neither Pennsylvania nor Berks County imposes a broad decibel limit on residential or commercial noise. Reading Code Chapter 387 defines a violation by effect — a “noise disturbance” that annoys a reasonable person, is audible on a public street 50 feet away, or is plainly audible across a property line between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. — not by a measured dBA. The only numeric standard incorporated is for motor vehicles, which must meet the sound levels in 67 Pa. Code Chapter 157. Some Pennsylvania municipalities do adopt dBA tables; Reading does not.
Enforcement rests on the plainly-audible / disturbance test; Reading fines are $25–$1,000 plus costs per day.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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 decibel limits rules stack up against other locations.
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