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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
§ 496-101. Definitions.
[Amended 7-25-2016 by Ord. No. 26-2016]
The following words and phrases, when used in this Part, shall have, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the meanings given to them in this section:
BUSINESS DAY — That part of any day on which City Hall is open to the public for carrying on substantially all of its functions.
CART/TOTER — Any container which is made of rigid plastic, with two wheels, which is intended to be mechanically emptied and used for the purpose of temporarily holding refuse with a maximum capacity of ½ cubic yard or 96 gallons.
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY — A property relating to or connected with trade and traffic or commerce in general or a property which includes four or more separate residential dwelling units.
CURBLINE — The line in the public right-of-way, constructed or proposed, as shown on the Official Map, that separates the portion of the public right-of-way dedicated to vehicular traffic from that dedicated to pedestrian traffic.
DUMPSTER/ROLL-OFFS — Any container with a lid used for the purpose of storing refuse until the scheduled collection day with a capacity of one cubic yard (202 gallons) or greater. Container's lid needs to be closed at all times except when placing refuse into container or container contents are being placed into a disposal collection vehicle.
HAULER — Any person or company with a valid state hauler's license, who collects, transports or disposes of recyclables, solid waste or refuse.
LICENSED HAULER — One with a valid state hauler's license to own and service dumpsters who rents dumpsters or toters to another. [Amended 8-26-2013 by Ord. No. 35-2013]
LESSEE — A property owner or agent thereof who leases a dumpster or toter from a licensed hauler as defined herein.
OBSTRUCTION — Any structure or other object whatsoever that, in any manner, impedes, obstructs or otherwise limits or prevents that full and unrestricted use whatsoever, by the public, of any public right-of-way.
OFFICIAL MAP — The topographical map of Reading, Pennsylvania, on file in the Engineering Office.
PASSABLE — Free of any impediment or obstruction, whatsoever, that would hinder the travel of the public.
PERMANENT DUMPSTER — Any dumpster (of three cubic yards or less) intended to be used for an undetermined period of time for the purpose of solid waste storage.
PERSON — Any individual, partnership, corporation, association, institution, cooperative enterprise, municipal authority, federal government or agency, state institution or agency, or any other legal entity whatsoever.
PRIVATE PROPERTY — Any land and the improvements thereon owned by any person and includes front, side and rear yards; vacant lots, buildings and other structural improvement; walkways and alleyways; and parking areas, designed or used either wholly or in part for private residential, industrial or commercial purposes, whether inhabited or temporarily or continuously uninhabited or vacant, including any yard, grounds, walk, driveway, porch, steps, vestibule or mailbox belonging or appurtenant to such dwelling, house, building or other structure.
PROPERTY OWNER/LESSEE — Any person who owns or leases a dumpster, toter or cart from a hauler with a valid State license as defined herein or who applies and receives a permit for permanent placement of a permanent trash receptacle in the public right-of-way.
PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY (ROW) — See § 180-1202 Property Maintenance Rules & Regulations.
PUBLIC VIEW — Visible from the right-of-way.
RESIDENTIAL — A property containing six or fewer separate dwelling units.
SCREENING — Covering to obscure dumpsters, toters and/or carts (all trash receptacles) from public view by the installation of shrubbery, an opaque fence no higher than six (6) feet, unless a higher structure is required to adequately screen the dumpster, a shed or other such device as approved by the City of Reading Zoning Office. [Amended 6-26-2023 by Ord. No. 51-2023]
SIDEWALK — That portion of the sidewalk area for which paving is required by Chapter 508, Streets and Sidewalks, Part 5, Sidewalks and Curbs.
SIDEWALK AREA — That portion of the public right-of-way occurring between the curbline and the topographical building line or the established edge of the roadway. (For the purpose of this Part).
STREET PROPERTY LINE — The line that is coincident to and identical with the line marking the extremity of the public right-of-way as shown on the Official Map of the City of Reading.
TEMPORARY DUMPSTER — Any dumpster or roll-off dumpster intended to be used for a specified period of time for the purpose of construction, demolition or rehabilitation project waste storage.
TOPOGRAPHICAL BUILDING LINE — The property line as shown on the Official Map of the City of Reading.
TRASH BAG — Any trash bag more than one mil thick holding from 30 to 55 gallons and is properly tied.
TRASH CAN/DRUM — Any container under 95 gallons, but not less than 30 gallons, with a lid and in any other way differs from a cart.
TRASH RECEPTACLE — All containers used for the storage of trash.
VIOLATION TICKET — A form issued by a police officer or public officer to a person who violates a provision of this Part. The violation ticket is an offer by the City of Reading extended to a person to settle a violation by paying the fine in lieu of a citation being issued against the violator as per § 180-1202.