Chapter 600
ZONING

Part 1
Short Title, Purposes and Interpretations

§ 600-101.   Short title.

§ 600-102.   Intent.

§ 600-103.   Purposes.

§ 600-104.   Interpretation.

§ 600-105.   Applicability to City, buildings for public purposes.

§ 600-106.   Validity and severability.

§ 600-107.   Curative amendments.

§ 600-108.   Repealer.

§ 600-109.   Applicability to utilities.

Part 2
Enforcement and Administration

§ 600-201.   Zoning Administrator.

§ 600-202.   Finances and fees.

§ 600-203.   General administrative procedures.

§ 600-204.   Enforcement notice.

§ 600-205.   Causes of action.

§ 600-206.   Violations and penalties.

Part 3
Permits and Certificates

§ 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

§ 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.

§ 600-415.   Mediation option.

§ 600-416.   Appeals.

Part 5
Zoning Map and Boundaries

§ 600-501.   Zoning Map and boundaries.

§ 600-502.   Overlays.

Part 6
Types of Uses

§ 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 7
Zoning Districts

§ 600-701.   Districts.

§ 600-702.   Intent of districts.

Part 8
Districts

§ 600-801.   R-1A Residential District.

§ 600-802.   R-1 Residential District.

§ 600-803.   R-2 Residential District.

§ 600-804.   R-3 Residential District.

§ 600-805.   (Reserved)

§ 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.

§ 600-819.   Steep Slope Overlay District.

Part 9
General Provisions

§ 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.

§ 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

§ 600-1001.   General requirements.

§ 600-1002.   Private garages.

§ 600-1003.   Storage sheds, greenhouses and animal shelters.

§ 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

§ 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.

§ 600-1106.   (Reserved)

§ 600-1107.   Additional requirements and performance standards for permitted uses in MU Zoning District.

Part 12
Provisions For Special Exception and Conditional Uses

§ 600-1201.   Criteria and limitations.

§ 600-1202.   Conditions for special exception uses.

§ 600-1203.   Conditions for conditional uses.

§ 600-1204.   Conditional use applications and procedures.

Part 13
Fences and Walls; Sight Triangles

§ 600-1301.   Fence and wall permits.

§ 600-1302.   Fence and wall heights.

§ 600-1303.   Required sight triangle.

§ 600-1304.   Prohibited fences, walls, materials or similar structures.

§ 600-1305.   Temporary fences, walls or similar structures.

§ 600-1306.   Exceptions.

Part 14
Buffer Strips and Screening

§ 600-1401.   Buffer strips.

§ 600-1402.   Screening.

Part 15
Private Roads, Driveways and Parking Areas; Sidewalks

§ 600-1501.   Private roads and driveways.

§ 600-1502.   Private parking areas.

§ 600-1503.   Private driveways.

§ 600-1504.   Access driveways.

§ 600-1505.   Sidewalks.

Part 16
Off-Street Parking and Loading

§ 600-1601.   New and existing uses.

§ 600-1602.   Design and construction.

§ 600-1603.   Off-street parking standards.

§ 600-1604.   Off-street loading spaces.

§ 600-1605.   Miscellaneous.

Part 17
Signs

§ 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.

§ 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

§ 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 19
Heliports

§ 600-1901.   Where permitted.

§ 600-1902.   General requirements.

§ 600-1903.   Permits.

§ 600-1904.   Revocation of permits.

Part 20
Airport Overlay Zones

§ 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

§ 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.

Appendix A, Small Wireless Communications Facility Design Manual

Part 22
Definitions

§ 600-2201.   Word usage.

§ 600-2202.   Definitions.

§ 600-2203.   Airport Zone definitions.

§ 600-2204.   (Reserved)

§ 600-2205.   Sign definitions.

§ 600-2206.   Telecommunications definitions.

Zoning Map

[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Reading 7-26-2010 by Ord. No. 47-2010 (Ch. 27 of the 2001 Code of Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Construction codes — See Ch. 180.

Health and safety — See Ch. 288.

Historic districts — See Ch. 295.

House numbering — See Ch. 302.

Housing — See Ch. 308.

Signs — See Ch. 485.

Storage facilities — See Ch. 502.

Stormwater management — See Ch. 505.

Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 508.

Subdivision and land development — See Ch. 515.