Reading, PA Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum heat standard
- 68°F in habitable rooms
- Heating season
- Oct. 1 - May 30
- Enforced by
- Property Maintenance Division
- First violation fine
- $75-$500
- Repeat violation fine
- $150-$1,000
Summary
Reading's Property Maintenance Code requires every landlord to supply heat maintaining at least 68°F in all habitable rooms from October 1 through May 30, one of the minimum habitability standards enforced against rental housing citywide.
602.3 Heat supply. Every owner and operator of any building who rents, leases or lets one or more dwelling units or sleeping units on terms, either expressed or implied, to furnish heat to the occupants thereof shall supply heat during the period from the 1st of October to the 30th of May to maintain a minimum temperature of 68°
F. (20° C.) in all habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms. Exceptions:
1. When the outdoor temperature is below the winter outdoor design temperature for the locality, maintenance of the minimum room temperature shall not be required provided that the heating system is operating at its full design capacity. The winter outdoor design temperature for the locality shall be as indicated in Appendix D of the International Plumbing Code.
2. In areas where the average monthly temperature is above 30° F. (-1° C.) a minimum temperature of 65° F. (18° C.) shall be maintained.
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 adopted the International Property Maintenance Code as its own Property Maintenance Code under Code § 180-1301 (Chapter 180, Part 13). Section 602.3 of that adopted code requires every owner or operator who rents, leases or lets a dwelling or sleeping unit to supply heat from October 1 to May 30 sufficient to maintain a minimum 68°F (65°F where the average monthly outdoor temperature exceeds 30°F) in all habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms. The Property Maintenance Division enforces the code; a first violation of a habitability provision carries a fine of $75 to $500, rising to $150-$1,000 for a third and subsequent uncorrected violation, plus a $50 Neighborhood Mitigation Penalty.
Violations & Fines
Failing to supply required heat to a rental unit is a summary offense: $75-$500 for the first two violations, $150-$1,000 for the third and beyond, plus a $50 mitigation penalty and up to 90 days in jail for nonpayment (§ 106.4).
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Reading
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