Reading, PA Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- Any premises, public or private
- 1st offense fine
- $25
- 2nd offense fine
- $50
- 3rd+ offense fine
- $100
- Enforced by
- Property Maintenance Inspectors, police
Summary
Reading bans storing, parking or placing any unregistered, uninspected, inoperative, unlicensed or nuisance motor vehicle on any premises citywide, whether public or private, under its Quality of Life property maintenance rules.
QOL.006 Motor vehicles. It shall be unlawful to store, park or place any unregistered, uninspected, inoperative, unlicensed or nuisance motor vehicle on any premises. No vehicle shall, at any time, be in a state of major disassembly, disrepair, or in the process of being stripped or dismantled. Painting of vehicles is prohibited unless conducted inside an approved spray booth.
G. QOL.007 Operating a food cart illegally. It shall be unlawful to operate any food cart without the proper permits and/or inspections. It shall also be unlawful to operate any food cart while any portion of the cart is inoperable.
H. QOL.008 Operating or vending without the proper permit/license. It shall be unlawful for any person, business, partnership or entity to operate, including but not limited to any business, vending cart, store or establishment without the proper permits.
I. QOL.009 Outside placement of indoor appliances/furniture. It is prohibited to store or place any/all appliances or furniture, including but not limited to ranges, refrigerators, air conditioners, ovens, washers, dryers, microwaves, dishwashers, mattresses, recliners, sofas, interior chairs or interior tables on the exterior of any property for the purpose of sale or any other reason except for the temporary purpose to perform maintenance in said property.
J. QOL.010 Ownership presumption of waste. It shall be the responsibility
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
The rule sits in Chapter 180's Property Maintenance Rules and Regulations (Part 12) as QOL.006, one of the City's quality-of-life violation categories. It also bars keeping a vehicle in major disassembly, disrepair, or mid-strip, and prohibits vehicle painting outside an approved spray booth. Property Maintenance Inspectors and police officers issue violation tickets; fines escalate with repeat offenses within a 12-month window, and the owner or occupant also owes the City's direct and indirect cleanup and abatement costs. Each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense.
Violations & Fines
$25 for a first offense, $50 for a second, and $100 for a third or later offense within 12 months, plus city abatement/cleanup costs; each additional day is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be ticketed for a junked car in my Reading driveway?
How much is the fine for an abandoned vehicle in Reading?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Reading
Compare Reading to another location·View the Pennsylvania parking rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.