Reading, PA Property Maintenance: Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (2026)
Key Facts
- Downtown deadline
- 2 hours after snow stops
- Citywide deadline
- 4 hours after snow stops
- First-offense fine
- $25 to $50
- Third+ offense fine
- $100 to $250
- Enforced by
- Property Maintenance Division, police
Summary
Reading requires sidewalks cleared of snow and ice within 2 hours downtown or 4 hours citywide after snowfall stops, backed by escalating $25 to $250 fines.
QOL.012 Snow and ice removal from sidewalks. Every owner, tenant, occupant, lessee, property agent or any other person who is responsible for any property within the City of Reading is required to remove any snow or ice from their sidewalk. Any property located along Penn Street, Washington Street and/or Court Street... shall have all snow or ice removed within two hours of the cessation of said snow and ice falling. Any other property within the City of Reading shall have all snow and ice removed within four hours of the cessation of said snow and ice falling.
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's Quality of Life ordinance (QOL.012) requires every property owner, tenant or occupant to clear snow and ice from their sidewalk. Properties on Penn, Washington and Court Streets, and on Second through Ninth Streets between Penn and Washington, must be cleared within two hours of the snow or ice stopping; all other properties, including businesses citywide, get four hours. The rule replaced the City's older Chapter 508 snow ordinance where inconsistent. Property Maintenance inspectors and police issue violation tickets carrying escalating fines, and the City can abate an uncleared sidewalk itself and bill the owner.
Violations & Fines
First offense fines run $25 to $50, second $50 to $100, and third-plus $100 to $250 within a 12-month period, plus the City's abatement costs if it clears the sidewalk itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do Reading property owners have to clear sidewalk snow?
What happens if I don't clear my sidewalk in time?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Reading
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