Reading, PA Rental Inspections: Inspection Programs (2026)
Key Facts
- Inspection frequency
- every 2 to 5 years
- Who's covered
- registered rental & mixed-use property
- Enforced by
- Property Maintenance Division
- Noncompliance tool
- administrative search warrant
Summary
Reading places every registered rental property into a routine inspection cycle, requiring a Property Maintenance Division inspection at least once every five years and no more often than every two years.
A. All properties that are subjected to registration will be placed into a routine inspection cycle to determine if the parcel is compliant with the applicable codes and codified ordinances. It is the responsibility of the owner to make tenant(s) aware of the date and time of the inspection and obtain tenant consent. B. An inspection of all applicable parcels will be on a revolving basis not less than every two years nor more than every five years from the start date of the previous routine inspection.
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
Owners of non-owner-occupied residential and mixed-use property in Reading must register under Chapter 308 and submit to a routine compliance inspection on a revolving basis, occurring not less than every two years nor more than every five years from the prior inspection (§ 308-108.B). Owners must tell tenants the date and time and obtain their consent. The Property Maintenance Division inspects per its standard operating procedure and issues either a compliance letter or a violation report with a deadline to fix problems (§ 308-108.C). Owners who obstruct entry face an administrative search warrant, and repeated no-shows can lead to an administrative fee and placarding of the property.
Violations & Fines
Refusing entry for a scheduled rental inspection triggers an administrative fee and, after repeated no-shows, an administrative search warrant and possible placarding of the property (§ 308-108.G-H).
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Reading
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