Reading, PA Short-Term Rentals: Extended Home Share (2026)
Key Facts
- Permitted by right in
- C-C, C-R, C-N, C-H districts
- R-3 requires
- special exception approval
- Max overnight guests
- 12 (2 per bedroom)
- Manager must live within
- 30 miles
- Minimum spacing in R-3
- 1,000 feet apart
Summary
Reading allows short-term rentals only in its C-C, C-R, C-N and C-H commercial districts by right, or in R-3 by special exception, spaced 500 to 1,000 feet apart and capped at 12 overnight guests.
A short-term rental unit shall be permitted by right as an accessory use for residential occupancy within the C-C, C-R, C-N or C-H Zoning Districts and by special exception within the R-3 Zoning District. The following base requirements shall apply to all short-term rentals:
(1) A short-term rental unit may be permitted within the R-3 Zoning District, provided that that it is contained within a conforming one-family detached dwelling, a one-family semi-detached dwelling and/or one-family attached dwelling (townhouse), which shall be located at least 1,000 feet from another permitted short-term rental unit.
(2) A short-term rental unit may be permitted within the C-C, C-R, C- N or C-H Zoning Districts, provided that it is contained within a conforming one-family detached dwelling, one-family semi-detached dwelling and/or one- family attached dwelling (townhouse), which shall be located at least 500 feet from another permitted short-term rental unit.
(3) A short-term rental unit may be permitted within the R-3, C-C, C-R, C-N or C-H Zoning Districts, provided that it is contained within one (1) conforming residential apartment unit that is part of a group containing nine
(9) or fewer residential apartment units.
(4) Short-term rental unit(s) may be permitted within the R-3, C-C, C- R, C-N or C-H Zoning Districts, provided that it is contained within a conforming residential apartment unit that is part of a group of ten (10) or
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
Adopted in October 2025, § 600-1108 treats short-term rentals as a regulated accessory use rather than a right available citywide. They're permitted by right in the C-C, C-R, C-N and C-H commercial districts and only by special exception in the R-3 residential district, with each unit kept at least 1,000 feet from another short-term rental in R-3 or 500 feet apart in the commercial districts. Every unit needs an owner or manager based within 30 miles, caps overnight guests at two per bedroom (12 maximum) and day guests at half that count, requires at least one off-street parking space, and bars sub-leasing, RV/tent camping, and any exterior sign of commercial use.
Violations & Fines
Operating outside a permitted district or over the guest and parking limits violates § 600-1108; the record owner is responsible for occupant conduct and can face zoning enforcement for repeated disorderly-conduct or capacity violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Reading
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