Reading, PA Swimming Pools & Spas: Pool Permits (2026)
Swimming pool permit rules in Reading, PA, also covering above-ground pools, in-ground pools, and spa installations, set fencing, barrier, alarm, and inspection requirements.
Key Facts
- Exempt threshold
- Under 125 sq ft, under 2 ft deep
- Aboveground pool siting
- Rear yard, 3 ft perimeter clearance
- Permit fee, single-family
- $75
- Permit fee, commercial/non-SF
- $150
- Governing chapter
- Zoning Code, Chapter 600
Summary
In Reading, a portable above-ground pool under 125 square feet and 2 feet deep needs no zoning permit; larger pools must sit in the rear yard with 3 feet of clearance and cost $75 to permit.
A portable pool, located above ground level, with an area of less than 125 square feet and a water depth of less than two feet, temporary in character and constructed of a material other than concrete or masonry, capable of being moved from one place to another, shall not be regulated by this chapter as a swimming pool. SWIMMING POOL AS A PRINCIPAL USE — An artificially constructed pool or any lake or pond maintained by a club or public agency for the use of club members and guests or the general public. A wading pool owned by a club or public agency, with a depth of less than 24 inches shall not be regulated by this chapter as a swimming pool. A portable pool owned by the association or public agency, located above ground level, with an area of less than 125 square feet and a water depth of less than three feet, temporary in character and constructed of a material other than concrete or masonry, capable of being moved from one place to another, shall not be regulated by this chapter as a swimming pool. TATTOO PARLOR — A use that involves permanent marking of human skin with words or designs. TAVERNS (INCLUDES BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO BARS AND PUBS) — Reputable, Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board licensed establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale and the on-site consumption of alcoholic beverages by consenting adults. This definition includes, but is not limited to, beer gardens, cocktail lounges, saloons and taprooms. Restaurants that serve
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 zoning code exempts small portable pools from regulation entirely: under Codified Ordinances § 600-2202, a temporary above-ground pool under 125 square feet with less than two feet of water depth isn't treated as a 'swimming pool' at all, so no zoning permit is required. Anything larger counts as an accessory swimming pool and triggers § 600-1013.B, which requires the pool to sit in the rear yard with at least three feet of open space around its entire perimeter. The Zoning and Historic Preservation fee schedule sets the permit fee at $75 for single-family properties and $150 for commercial or non-single-family lots.
Violations & Fines
Placing an oversized above-ground pool without a zoning permit, or setting it up outside the rear yard or within three feet of a property line, is a zoning violation subject to enforcement under § 600-204.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a small inflatable kiddie pool need a permit in Reading?
Where can I put a large above-ground pool on my Reading property?
How much does an above-ground pool permit cost in Reading?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Reading
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