Reading City Zoning Code
Complete index of all zoning chapters, sections, and subsections
PART 3
Permits And Certificates
Sections
- § 600-301. Zoning permit.
- § 600-302. Certificates of occupancy.
- § 600-303. Temporary certificate of occupancy.
- § 600-304. Denial and revocation of permits and certificates.
- § 600-305. Continuance of existing permits.
- § 600-306. Records.
- § 600-307. Certificate of nonconforming use or structure.
- § 600-308. Report.
PART 4
Zoning Hearing Board
Sections
- § 600-401. Continuation.
- § 600-402. Membership and filling of vacancies.
- § 600-403. Alternate members.
- § 600-404. Removal of members.
- § 600-405. Organization.
- § 600-406. Zoning Hearing Board functions.
- § 600-407. Expenditures for services.
- § 600-408. Applications.
- § 600-409. Time limitations, persons aggrieved.
- § 600-410. Hearing procedures.
- § 600-411. Stay of proceedings.
- § 600-412. Decision; findings.
- § 600-413. Notice of decision.
- § 600-414. Effect of Board's decision. [Amended 3-10-2025 by Ord. No. 15A-2025]
- § 600-415. Mediation option.
- § 600-416. Appeals.
PART 6
Types Of Uses
Sections
- § 600-601. Classifications of uses.
- § 600-602. Permitted-by-right uses.
- § 600-603. Accessory uses.
- § 600-604. Temporary uses.
- § 600-605. Special exception uses.
- § 600-606. Conditional uses.
- § 600-607. Nonconforming uses, buildings, structures and lots.
- § 600-608. Prohibited uses, general.
- § 600-609. Similar uses.
PART 8
Districts
Sections
- § 600-801. R-1A Residential District.
- § 600-802. R-1 Residential District.
- § 600-803. R-2 Residential District.
- § 600-804. R-3 Residential District.
- § 600-806. R-PO Residential/Professional Office District.
- § 600-807. C-C Commercial Core District.
- § 600-808. C-R Commercial Residential District.
- § 600-809. C-N Commercial Neighborhood District.
- § 600-810. C-H Commercial Highway District.
- § 600-811. M-C Manufacturing Commercial District.
- § 600-812. H-M Heavy Manufacturing District.
- § 600-813. P Preservation District.
- § 600-814. P-S Penn Square Corridor Overlay Zone.
- § 600-815. RR Riverfront Redevelopment Overlay Zone.
- § 600-816. MU Municipal District.
- § 600-817. INS Institutional Overlay Zone.
- § 600-818. Riparian Buffer Overlay District. [Added 10-26-2015 by Ord. No. 57-2015]
- § 600-819. Steep Slope Overlay District.
PART 9
General Provisions
Sections
- § 600-901. Application to all zoning districts.
- § 600-902. Limit of one principal use per lot; limit on dwellings per lot; limit on dwelling occupancy; alley frontage.
- § 600-903. Multiple occupancy.
- § 600-904. Side yard setback in R-3 and C-R Districts.
- § 600-905. Proposed right-of-way.
- § 600-906. Emergency access.
- § 600-907. Frontage along a street.
- § 600-908. Front yards.
- § 600-909. Front yard exception.
- § 600-910. Projections.
- § 600-911. Height exceptions.
- § 600-912. Lighting control.17
- § 600-913. Shade tree requirement.
- § 600-914. Urban renewal projects.
- § 600-915. Odors and dust.
- § 600-916. Garbage dumpster screening and location.
- § 600-917. Noise control.
- § 600-918. Green incentives.
PART 10
Accessory Uses
Sections
- § 600-1001. General requirements.
- § 600-1002. Private garages.
- § 600-1003. Storage sheds, greenhouses and animal shelters.19
- § 600-1004. Drive-through service lanes and canopies.
- § 600-1005. Entertainment (as an accessory use).
- § 600-1006. Home occupations.
- § 600-1007. Portable home storage units.
- § 600-1008. Off-premises parking areas in the R-3 and C-C Districts.
- § 600-1009. Vending machines and used clothing receptacles.
- § 600-1010. Amusement devices.
- § 600-1011. Yard and garage sales.
- § 600-1012. Alternative energy systems.
- § 600-1013. Swimming pools.
PART 11
Additional Requirements For Specific Uses Or Zoning Districts
Sections
- § 600-1101. Mid-rise or low-rise apartments.
- § 600-1102. High-rise apartments.
- § 600-1103. Barber and beauty shops; massage therapy; and nail salons.
- § 600-1104. Manufactured home parks.
- § 600-1105. Auto service stations, auto repair and car washes.
- § 600-1107. Additional requirements and performance standards for permitted uses in MU Zoning District.
- § 600-1108. Short-term rentals.
PART 17
Signs29
Sections
- § 600-1701. Sign purposes and scope.
- § 600-1702. Sign policies.
- § 600-1703. Signs allowed in Residential Districts (R-1A, R-1, R-2, and R-3) and the INS Institutional Overlay Zone.
- § 600-1704. Signs allowed in Residential-Professional Office District (R-PO).
- § 600-1705. Signs allowed in Commercial Core and Commercial Residential Districts (C- C, C-R).
- § 600-1706. Signs allowed in Commercial Neighborhood District (C-N).
- § 600-1707. Signs allowed in Commercial Highway Districts (C-H).
- § 600-1708. Signs allowed in Heavy Manufacturing and Manufacturing/Commercial Districts (H-M and M-C).
- § 600-1709. Signs allowed in Preservation District.
- § 600-1710. Special exception signs.
- § 600-1711. Temporary signs on private property.
- § 600-1712. Additional allowed signs.
- § 600-1713. Landscape designs and landscaping requirements.
- § 600-1714. Illumination and electronically changing message signs.
- § 600-1715. Projection of signs.
- § 600-1716. Prohibited signs.
- § 600-1717. Billboards and other off-premises signs.
- § 600-1718. Sign permit and fee exceptions.
- § 600-1719. Sign inspections.
- § 600-1720. Sign maintenance.
- § 600-1721. Unsafe sign removal.
- § 600-1722. Abandoned sign removal.
- § 600-1723. Illegal sign removal.30
- § 600-1724. Cost of sign removal.
- § 600-1725. Sign appeals to Zoning Hearing Board.
- § 600-1726. Signs within RR Overlay Zone.
PART 18
Floodplain Overlay Zone
Sections
- § 600-1801. Statutory authorization.
- § 600-1802. Purpose.
- § 600-1803. Applicability.
- § 600-1804. Abrogation and greater restrictions.
- § 600-1805. Severability.
- § 600-1806. Warning and disclaimer of liability.
- § 600-1807. Designation of Floodplain Administrator.
- § 600-1808. Floodplain zoning permits required.
- § 600-1809. Duties and responsibilities of Floodplain Administrator.
- § 600-1810. Floodplain permit application procedures and requirements.
- § 600-1811. Review of permit application by others.
- § 600-1812. Changes to permit.
- § 600-1813. Placards.
- § 600-1814. Start of construction.
- § 600-1815. Enforcement.
- § 600-1816. Appeals.
- § 600-1817. Floodplain Overlay Zone identification.
- § 600-1818. Description and requirements of the floodplain overlay subdistricts.
- § 600-1819. Changes in identification of Floodplain Overlay Zone.
- § 600-1820. District boundary disputes.
- § 600-1821. Jurisdictional boundary changes.
- § 600-1822. General technical provisions.
- § 600-1823. Elevation and floodproofing requirements.
- § 600-1824. Design and construction standards.
- § 600-1825. Development which may endanger human life.
- § 600-1826. Special requirements for subdivisions.
- § 600-1827. Special requirements for manufactured homes.
- § 600-1828. Special requirements for recreational vehicles.
- § 600-1829. Prohibited uses.
- § 600-1830. Special exception uses and special exception application requirements.
- § 600-1831. Special exception application review procedures.
- § 600-1832. Special exception technical requirements.
- § 600-1833. Existing structures in identified floodplain areas.
- § 600-1834. Improvements to existing structures.
- § 600-1835. Granting of variances.
- § 600-1836. Variance procedures and conditions.
- § 600-1837. Word usage.
- § 600-1838. Specific definitions.
- § 600-1839. Adoption.
PART 20
Airport Overlay Zones
Sections
- § 600-2001. Purposes.
- § 600-2002. Applicability.
- § 600-2003. Airport zones.
- § 600-2004. Airport Approach Zone identification.
- § 600-2005. Airport height limitations.
- § 600-2006. Airport exceptions.
- § 600-2007. Airport use restrictions.
- § 600-2008. Airport nonconforming uses.
- § 600-2009. Special Airport Zone permits.
- § 600-2010. Existing uses in Airport Zones.
- § 600-2011. Airport variances.
PART 21
Wireless Communications Facilities
Sections
- § 600-2101. Purpose and scope.
- § 600-2102. General requirements for all wireless communications facilities.
- § 600-2103. Tower-based wireless communications facilities outside the rights-of-way.
- § 600-2104. Non-tower wireless communications facilities outside the rights-of-way.
- § 600-2105. Small wireless communications facilities.