Reading, PA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential daytime cap
- 62 dBA
- Residential nighttime cap
- 55 dBA
- Nonresidential lot line cap
- 70 dBA
- Measurement point
- receiving lot line
Summary
Reading's zoning code sets a sliding decibel ceiling for any use's noise at a receiving lot line, tightest for residential districts at night.
No principal or accessory use its operations or activities shall generate a sound level exceeding the limits established in the table below, when measured at the specified locations... A. At a lot line of a residential use in a residential district ... 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ... 62 dBA ... 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. ... 55 dBA
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
Reading zoning bars any principal or accessory use from generating sound exceeding a table of limits measured at the receiving lot line. At a residential lot line in a residential district, the cap is 62 dBA from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on non-holiday weekdays, dropping to 55 dBA overnight and on Sundays and major holidays. A principal residential use outside a residential district gets a 65/62 dBA cap on the same schedule. Emergency alerts, permitted construction hours and lawn equipment are among the listed exemptions.
Violations & Fines
Enforced under Chapter 600's zoning-violation process; a civil judgment of $100 to $500 plus court costs applies per day the violation continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum noise level allowed in a Reading residential district?
Does the noise table apply to all sound sources?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Reading
Compare Reading to another location·View the Pennsylvania noise ordinances overview
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