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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
§ 473-102. Definitions.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
   ADULT ARCADE — Any place to which the public is permitted or invited wherein coin- operated or slug-operated or electronically, electrically, or mechanically controlled still or motion picture machines, projectors, videos, or other image-producing devices are maintained to show images to five or fewer persons per machine at any one time, and where the images so displayed are distinguished or characterized by the depicting or describing of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.
   ADULT BOOKSTORE or ADULT VIDEO STORE —
   A.   A commercial establishment that, as one of its principal business purposes, offers for sale or rental for any form of consideration any one or more of the following:
      (1)   Books, magazines, periodicals or other printed matter, or photographs, films, motion picture, videocassettes or video reproductions, slides, or other visual representations that depict or describe specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.
      (2)   Instruments, devices, or paraphernalia that are designed for use in connection with specified sexual activities.
   B.   A principal business purpose exists if materials offered for sale or rental depicting or describing specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas generate 20% or more of the business's income, or account for 20% or more of inventory, or occupy 20% or more of total floor space. A commercial establishment may have other principal business purposes that do not involve the offering for sale or rental of material depicting or describing specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas and still be categorized as "adult bookstore" or "adult video store." Such other business purposes will not serve to exempt such commercial establishments from being categorized as an "adult bookstore" or "adult video store," so long as one of its principal business purposes is the offering for sale or rental for consideration the specified materials that depict or describe "specified sexual activities" or "specified anatomical areas."
   ADULT CABARET — A nightclub, bar, restaurant, cafe, or similar commercial establishment that regularly, commonly, habitually, or consistently features:
   A.   Persons who appear in a state of nudity or seminudity.
   B.   Live performances that are characterized by the exposure of specified anatomical areas or by specified sexual activities.
   C.   Films, motion pictures, videocassettes, slides, photographic reproductions, or other image producing devices that are characterized by the depiction or description of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.
   D.   Persons who engage in "exotic" or erotic dancing or performances/services that are intended for the sexual interests or titillation of an audience or customers.
   ADULT MOTEL — A hotel, motel or similar commercial establishment that:
   A.   Offers accommodation to the public for any form of consideration and provides patrons with closed-circuit television transmissions, films, motion pictures, videocassettes, slides, or other photographic reproductions that are characterized by the depiction or description of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas; and has a sign visible from the public right-of-way that advertises the availability of this adult type of photographic reproductions.
   B.   Offers a sleeping room for rent for a period of time that is less than 24 hours.
   C.   Allows a tenant or occupant of a sleeping room to subrent the room for a period of time that is less than 24 hours.
   ADULT MOTION PICTURE THEATER — A commercial establishment where, for any form of consideration, films, motion pictures, videocassettes, slides, or similar photographic reproductions are regularly, commonly, habitually, or consistently shown that are characterized by the depiction or description of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.
   ADULT THEATER — A theater, concert hall, auditorium, or similar commercial establishment that regularly, commonly, habitually, or consistently features persons who appear, in person, in a state of nudity and/or seminudity, and/or live performances that are characterized by the exposure of specified anatomical areas or by specified sexual activities.
   DIRECTOR — The Chief of Police and such employee(s) of the Police Department as he may designate to perform the duties of the Director under this chapter.
   EMPLOYEE — A person who performs any service on the premises of a sexually oriented business on a full-time, part-time, contract basis, or independent basis, whether or not the person is denominated an employee, independent contractor, agent, or otherwise, and whether or not said person is paid a salary, wage, or other compensation by the operator of said business. "Employee" does not include a person exclusively on the premises for repair or maintenance of the premises or equipment on the premises, or for the delivery of goods to the premises, nor does "employee" include a person exclusively on the premises as a patron or customer.
   ESCORT — A person who, for consideration, agrees or offers to act as a companion, guide, or date for another person, or who agrees or offers to privately model lingerie or to privately perform a striptease for another person.
   ESCORT AGENCY — A person or business association who furnishes, offers to furnish, or advertises to furnish escorts as one of its primary business purposes for a fee, tip, or other consideration.
   ESTABLISHMENT — Includes any of the following:
   A.   The opening or commencement of any sexually oriented business as a new business.
   B.   The conversion of an existing business, whether or not a sexually oriented business, to any sexually oriented business.
   C.   The additions of any sexually oriented business to any other existing sexually oriented business.
   D.   The relocation of any sexually oriented business.
   E.   A sexually oriented business or premises on which the sexually oriented business is located.
   LICENSED DAY-CARE CENTER — A facility licensed by the State of Pennsylvania, whether situated within the City or not, that provides care, training, education, custody, treatment or supervision for more than 12 children under 14 years of age, where such children are not related by blood, marriage or adoption to the owner or operator of the facility, for less than 24 hours a day, regardless of whether or not the facility is operated for a profit or charges for the services it offers.
   LICENSEE — A person in whose name a license has been issued, as well as the individual listed as an applicant on the application for a license.
   LIVE THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE — A play, skit, opera, ballet, concert, comedy, or musical drama.
   NUDE MODEL STUDIO — Anyplace where a person who appears in a state of nudity or displays specified anatomical areas is provided to be observed, sketched, drawn, painted, sculptured, photographed, or similarly depicted by other persons for consideration.
   NUDITY or A STATE OF NUDITY — The appearance of a human bare buttock, anus, anal cleft or cleavage, pubic area, male genitals, female genitals, or vulva, with less than a fully opaque covering; or a female breast with less than a fully opaque covering of any part of the areola; or human male genitals in a discernibly turgid state even if completely and opaquely covered.
   PERSON — An individual, proprietorship, partnership, corporation, association, or other legal entity.
   PREMISES — The real property upon which the sexually oriented business is located, and all appurtenances thereto and buildings thereon, including, but not limited to, the sexually oriented business, the grounds, private walkways, and parking lots and/or parking garages adjacent thereto, under the ownership, control, or supervision of the licensee, as described in the application for a business license pursuant to § 473-103 of this chapter.
   SEMINUDE or SEMINUDITY — The appearance of the female breast below a horizontal line across the top of the areola at its highest point. This definition shall include the entire lower portion of the human female breast, but shall not include any portion of the cleavage of the human female breast exhibited by a dress, blouse, skirt, leotard, bathing suit, or other wearing apparel, provided the areola is not exposed in whole or in part.
   SEXUAL ENCOUNTER CENTER —
   A.   A business or commercial enterprise that, as one of its principal business purposes, offers for any form of consideration:
      (1)   Physical contact in the form of wrestling or tumbling between persons of the opposite sex or intended to cause sexual excitement or stimulation.
      (2)   Activities between persons of the opposite sex and/or persons of the same sex when one or more of the persons is in a state of nudity or seminudity.
   B.   A principal business purpose exists if the services offered are intended to generate business income.
   C.   The definition of sexual encounter establishment or any sexually oriented businesses shall not include an establishment where a medical practitioner, psychologist, psychiatrist, or similar professional person licensed by the state engages in medically approved and recognized sexual therapy.
   SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESS — An adult arcade, adult bookstore or adult video store, adult cabaret, adult motel, adult motion-picture theater; adult theater, escort agency, nude model studio, spa or sexual encounter center.
   SPECIFIED ANATOMICAL AREAS —
   A.   The human male genitals in a discernibly turgid state, even if fully and opaquely covered.
   B.   Less than completely and opaquely covered human genitals, pubic region, buttocks, or a female breast below a point immediately above the top of the areola.
   SPECIFIED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY — Any of the following offenses:
   A.   Prostitution or promotion of prostitution; dissemination of obscenity; sale, distribution, or display of harmful material to a minor; sexual performance by a child; possession or distribution of child pornography; public lewdness; indecent exposure; indecency with a child; sexual assault; molestation of a child; or any similar sex-related offenses to those described above under the criminal or penal code of this state, other states, or other countries.
   B.   For which:
      (1)   Less than two years have elapsed since the date of conviction or the date of release from confinement imposed for the conviction, whichever is the later date, if the conviction is of a misdemeanor offense.
      (2)   Less than five years have elapsed since the date of conviction or the date of release from confinement imposed for the conviction, whichever is the later date, if the conviction is of a felony offense.
      (3)   Less than five years have elapsed since the date of the last conviction or the date of release from confinement imposed for the last conviction, whichever is the later date, if the convictions are for two or more misdemeanor offenses or combination of misdemeanor offenses occurring within any twenty-four-month period.
   C.   This section shall apply even if an aforesaid conviction is being appealed.
   SPECIFIED SEXUAL ACTIVITIES — Includes any of the following:
   A.   The fondling or other erotic touching of human genitals, pubic region, buttocks, anus, or female breasts, whether covered or uncovered.
   B.   Sex acts, normal or perverted, actual or simulated, including intercourse, oral copulation, or sodomy.
   C.   Masturbation, actual or simulated.
   D.   Excretory functions as part of or in connection with any of the activities set forth in Subsections A through C above.
   SUBSTANTIAL ENLARGEMENT OF A SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESS — The increase in floor areas occupied by the business by more than 25%, as the floor areas existed on the effective date of this chapter.
   TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OR CONTROL OF A SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESS — Includes any of the following:
   A.   The sale, lease, or sublease of the business.
   B.   The transfer of securities that form a controlling interest in the business, whether by sale, exchange, or similar means.
   C.   The establishment of a trust, gift, or other similar legal device that transfers the ownership or control of the business, except for transfer by bequest or other operation of law upon the death of the person possessing the ownership or control.