Skip to code content (skip section selection)
Compare to:
Reading Overview
Reading, PA Code of Ordinances
READING, PA CODE OF ORDINANCES
PREFACE
Chapter C HOME RULE CHARTER
Chapter 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
Chapter 5 ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
Chapter 14 AUTHORITIES
Chapter 23 BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES AND COUNCILS
Chapter 36 FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES
Chapter 51 INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM
Chapter 62 PENSIONS
Chapter 70 PERSONNEL
Chapter 77 POLICE DEPARTMENT
Chapter 91 SALARIES AND COMPENSATION
Chapter 120 ALARM SYSTEMS
Chapter 127 ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
Chapter 141 ANIMALS
Chapter 166 CABLE TELEVISION
Chapter 173 COMMERCIAL LAUNDRY CODE
Chapter 180 CONSTRUCTION CODES
Chapter 185 CONVERSION THERAPY
Chapter 188 CURFEW
Chapter 201 ELECTRIC SERVICE
Chapter 212 FEES
Chapter 219 FIREARMS
Chapter 225 FIREWORKS
Chapter 231 FIRE INSURANCE PROCEEDS
Chapter 237 FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION
Chapter 251 FOOD CODE
Chapter 272 GRAFFITI
Chapter 288 HEALTH AND SAFETY
Chapter 295 HISTORICAL AND CONSERVATION DISTRICTS
Chapter 302 HOUSE NUMBERING
Chapter 308 HOUSING
Chapter 317 INVASIVE PLANTS AND NOXIOUS WEEDS
Chapter 325 LAW ENFORCEMENT
Chapter 328 LEAD POISONING PREVENTION
Chapter 332 LIBRARY
Chapter 339 LICENSES AND PERMITS
Chapter 346 LITTER AND ADVERTISING MATERIAL
Chapter 353 LOITERING AND PANHANDLING
Chapter 364 MASSAGE THERAPISTS
Chapter 378 MUNICIPAL CLAIMS AND LIENS
Chapter 387 NOISE
Chapter 396 PARKS AND RECREATION
Chapter 403 PAWNBROKERS
Chapter 410 PEDDLING AND SOLICITING
Chapter 424 POLES
Chapter 431 PROPERTY SALES
Chapter 433 PUBLIC ART
Chapter 438 RAIN BARRELS
Chapter 442 RECORDS, PUBLIC ACCESS
Chapter 453 SALES
Chapter 460 SCRAP METAL DEALERS
Chapter 467 SEWERS AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL
Chapter 473 SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES
Chapter 479 SIDEWALK CAFES
Chapter 485 SIGNS
Chapter 496 SOLID WASTE
Chapter 502 STORAGE FACILITIES
Chapter 505 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
Chapter 508 STREETS AND SIDEWALKS
Chapter 515 SUBDIVISION AND LAND DEVELOPMENT
Chapter 521 SUSTAINABILITY
Chapter 536 TAMPERING WITH PUBLIC PROPERTY
Chapter 540 TATTOO AND PIERCING ESTABLISHMENTS
Chapter 543 TAX ABATEMENTS
Chapter 546 TAX AMNESTY PROGRAM
Chapter 549 TAXATION
Chapter 555 TREES
Chapter 564 VEHICLE NUISANCES, STORAGE OF
Chapter 570 VEHICLE REPAIR SHOPS
Chapter 576 VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
Chapter 583 VENDING MACHINES
Chapter 600 ZONING
Chapter A610 ANNEXATION OF TERRITORY
Chapter A611 BOND ISSUES AND LOANS
Chapter A612 FRANCHISE AND SERVICES
Chapter A613 GOVERNMENTAL AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
Chapter A614 PLAN APPROVAL
Chapter A615 PUBLIC PROPERTY
Chapter A616 SEWERS
Chapter A617 STREETS AND SIDEWALKS
Chapter A618 WATER
Chapter A619 ZONING; PRIOR ORDINANCES
Chapter DT DERIVATION TABLE
Chapter DL DISPOSITION LIST
§ 288-113. Property, structure, fence and sign maintenance; weeds.
[Amended 4-25-2005 by Ord. No. 3-2005]
   A.   Compliance. All commercial, industrial and business properties shall be maintained in such a manner as to comply with the City Health and Sanitary Codes.
   B.   Fences. All fences and enclosures shall be maintained in a structurally safe and sound condition, and where necessary, shall be covered with a protective coating such as paint, in order to prevent deterioration by the elements.
   C.   Garages. Private passenger automobile parking garages or enclosures shall be maintained in such a manner that they do not create an accident, fire, health or safety hazard; or to be operated in such a manner as to create excess noise or exhaust fumes that constitute a health hazard or nuisance. All structures shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition and where necessary as determined by the Health Officer, shall have a protective covering to prevent deterioration.
   D.   Signs. Signs located upon any premises or attached to any structure shall be maintained in a structurally safe condition and any loose or overhanging objects that are unsecure shall be removed.
   E.   Vacant property. All vacant structures shall be secured in such a manner so as to prevent access. All ground-level windows, doors and hatch ways shall be secured, and upper floor doors and windows closed in such a manner so that the building does not constitute a health, fire or safety hazard.
   F.   Weeds and rodent control. All premises shall be free from excessive weed and grass growth and dead trees and shall have insect and rodent control so that the property does not constitute a fire, health and safety hazard.
   G.   It shall be the responsibility of commercial businesses located in residential neighborhoods to maintain the following:
      (1)   Pavements and curbs shall be clear, clean and free of litter and debris, including glass, cinder, dirt and paper products.
      (2)   A minimum of 50% of each window must be unlittered with products and signs that would limit a persons view of the interior of the business.
      (3)   Store windows, doors and entranceways will be clean, tidy in appearance, and will be operable and in good repair.
      (4)   Entrance doors equipped with a window to provide visual access to the business.
      (5)   Graffiti on the building and surrounding structures shall be abated in accordance with Chapter 272, Graffiti, of the Code of the City of Reading.
      (6)   Each commercial business which sells consumable products having wrappings or packaging, such as food, beverages, snacks, toys, sundries, will have one thirty-gallon trash receptacle near the exterior entrance to the building. The business proprietor shall be responsible for the disposal of all trash and litter.
      (7)   Loitering at commercial businesses located within residential neighborhoods shall be prohibited, in accordance with Chapter 353, Loitering; Obstructing Public Places, of the Code of the City of Reading. 6
6.   Editor's Note: Original Subsection H, regarding enforcement and violations, which immediately followed this section, was repealed during codification (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Part 2).