Reading, PA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger
- 5+ space parking lots
- Required hours
- Sunset to sunrise
- Standard
- No spill onto neighbors
- Enforced by
- Zoning Administrator
Summary
Reading requires off-street parking areas with five or more spaces to be lit for security between sunset and sunrise, but the lighting can't spill onto neighboring properties or shine into drivers' eyes.
All parking areas of five spaces or more shall be adequately illuminated for security purposes between the hours of sunset and sunrise. Lighting shall not spill onto adjacent properties and shall not shine into the eyes of motorists.
N. All off-street parking areas for 10 or more vehicles shall be planted with shade trees, which shall be located to maximize the visibility of the trees and the amount of paving that is shaded in a quantity equal to not less than one shade tree for every 10 parking spaces. The species of such trees shall be approved by the City and such trees shall have a minimum trunk diameter of two inches. The trees shall be protected from damage by vehicles by a setback from paving, curb stops, curbing or similar methods.
O. See screening requirements along a street in §§
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
Under the city's zoning code, any parking lot of five spaces or more must be adequately illuminated for security between sunset and sunrise. The same provision caps that requirement: fixtures can't spill light onto adjacent properties, and can't shine directly into the eyes of passing motorists. The rule sits inside the Off-Street Parking and Loading design standards enforced by the Zoning Administrator alongside site-plan review by the Department of Public Works, so a lighting plan that floods a neighbor's yard or blinds drivers on the street fails design review before a permit is issued.
Violations & Fines
Zoning Administrator can reject site plans or require re-aiming/shielding of fixtures; noncompliant lighting can hold up parking-lot permit approval or trigger a code enforcement order to fix installed fixtures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply to home driveways?
What counts as light trespass here?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Reading
Compare Reading to another location·View the Pennsylvania outdoor lighting overview
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