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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
§ 600-804. R-3 Residential District.
   A.   Dimensional requirements.
Uses
Minimum Lot Size
(square feet)
Maximum Building Coverage
Maximum Impervious Coverage
Maximum Height
Minimum Lot Width
Minimum Front Yard Setback
Minimum Rear Yard Setback
Minimum Side Yard Setback (each)
Uses
Minimum Lot Size
(square feet)
Maximum Building Coverage
Maximum Impervious Coverage
Maximum Height
Minimum Lot Width
Minimum Front Yard Setback
Minimum Rear Yard Setback
Minimum Side Yard Setback (each)
Place of worship, cemeteries and private or public schools
20,000
50%
75%
60
125
5
30
10
One-family detached dwelling
2,000
60%
75%
35
20
5
20
32
One-family semidetached dwelling (per dwelling unit)
1,800
60%
75%
35
18
5
20
32
One-family attached dwelling (per dwelling unit)
1,800
60%
75%
35
18
5
20
32
Two-family detached dwelling (per building)
3,000
60%
75%
35
30
5
20
52
Low-rise apartments
3,000
60%
75%
35
30
5
20
5
College or university nonresidential uses
5,500
40%3
70%3
35
40
15
25
15
College or university residential uses4
50,000
40%5
70%5
35
80
15
25
156
Mid-rise apartments
7,200
30%
55%
60
60
10
30
30
Other allowed use, unless otherwise stated
5,500
60%
80%
35
30
5
20
6
 
NOTES: 
1   See § 600-909, which may require a certain front yard setback.
2   A side yard setback is not required along a lot line where: (a) principal buildings were previously attached; or (b) as part of dwellings built as part of the same subdivision or land development, provided the requirements of Chapter 180, Construction Codes, are met for separation from an existing window or door. See applicable fire ratings. A side yard setback is also not required for new dwelling units that are allowed to be attached to other new dwelling units.
3   For abutting lots in common ownership, the maximum building and impervious coverage may apply to all such lots combined.
4   Not including preexisting dwelling units which are owned by a college or university and which are regulated as individual dwelling units and meet the definition of occupancy by one family or which meet the requirements for a student home.
5   For abutting lots in common ownership, the maximum building and impervious coverage may apply to all such lots combined.
6   For a new or expanded building housing students, a forty-foot minimum building setback shall apply from the lot line of every dwelling that is not owned by the college or university.
   B.   Allowed uses.
      (1)   Permitted-by-right uses.
         (a)   Gardens, crop farming and forestry.
         (b)   One-family detached dwelling.
         (c)   One-family semidetached dwelling.
         (d)   One-family attached dwelling (townhouse).
         (e)   Low-rise apartments, with a maximum density of 1,500 square feet of lot area per dwelling unit, but not including a "conversion" which is addressed in Subsection B(3) below.
         (f)   Public parks and nonmotorized recreation trails.
         (g)   Surface parking area as a principal or accessory use, provided it serves a use allowed in the R-3 District and does not serve the general public. See also § 600-1008.
      (h)   Small Wireless Communications Facilities. pursuant to Part 21 of this Chapter. [Added 4-24-2023 by Ord. No. 41-2023]
         Note: in the R-3 District, student homes shall be allowed in any lawful dwelling without needing to meet the additional requirements of § 600-1203.
      (2)   Accessory uses. See Part 10 unless otherwise noted.
         (a)   Animal shelters: maximum 25 square feet. No commercial use allowed.
         (b)   Private garages/carports: maximum 600 square feet. [Amended 2-14-2011 by Ord. No. 8-2011]
         (c)   Greenhouses: maximum 280 square feet. No commercial use allowed.
         (d)   Home occupations, minor: see § 600-1006.
         (e)   Storage sheds: maximum 280 square feet.
         (f)   Swimming pools, accessory: see also Chapter 180, Construction Codes. [Amended 8-26-2013 by Ord. No. 35-2013]
         (g)   Geothermal heat pumps. [Added 10-26-2015 by Ord. No. 58-2015]
         (h)   Solar energy systems. [Added 10-26-2015 by Ord. No. 58-2015]
         (i)   Water-powered energy systems. [Added 10-26-2015 by Ord. No. 58-2015]
         (j)   Non-tower WCFs, pursuant to Part 21 of this Chapter. [Added 3-27-2017 by Ord. 21-2017; amended 4-24-2023 by Ord. No. 41-2023]
      (3)   Conditional uses. In compliance with § 600-1203.
         (a)   Conversions: shall also meet Subsection C(4) below.
         (b)   Group-care home.
         (c)   Public utilities.
      (4)   Special exception uses. In compliance with § 600-1202.
         (a)   Adaptive reuse.
         (b)   Bed-and-breakfast inn.
         (c)   Cemeteries.
         (d)   College or university, which may include dormitories, fraternities, sororities, and other full-time student and/or staff residential uses, provided that each residential use is: owned and/or operated by the college or university; and such residential uses are on a lot of 50,000 square feet or greater. See also § 600-817, which includes alternative provisions within the INS Overlay Zone.7
         (e)   Day-care facilities.
         (f)   Home occupations, major: in compliance with § 600-1006.
         (g)   Life care retirement facility.
         (h)   Mid-rise apartments, with a maximum density of 1,500 square feet of lot area per dwelling unit, which may be decreased to 1,000 square feet if all units (other than a manager) are limited to occupancy by persons age 62 or older and the physically disabled.
         (i)   Municipal buildings.
         (j)   Nursing homes.
         (k)   Personal-care centers.
         (l)   Places of worship.
         (m)   Public or private schools, not including dormitories swimming pool, as a principal use.
         (n)   Parking garage to serve a use allowed in the R-3 District.
   C.   Additional requirements in the R-3 District.
      (1)   If an existing rear or side alley is available or could be feasibly extended, it shall be used for access to off-street parking spaces and/or garage door(s) for the lot instead of a front yard driveway and/or a front garage door(s).
      (2)   This subsection is mainly designed to address situations where use of a rear or side alley is not feasible. If two or more side-by-side off-street parking spaces are located in the front yard of a single-family attached dwelling (townhouse) or if garage door(s) for two or more vehicles face onto the street in the front of the single-family attached dwelling (townhouse), then the minimum building width per dwelling along such street shall be a minimum of 24 feet.
      (3)   A maximum of 60% of the land area between the front of each residential use and the street right-of-way line shall be used for vehicle parking and driveways. See also § 600-1602B regarding parking locations. [Amended 2-14-2011 by Ord. No. 8-2011]
      (4)   The conversion of an existing one-family detached dwelling, one-family attached dwelling or one-family semidetached dwelling into two or more dwelling units shall be prohibited.
7.   Editor's Note: For a new or expanded building housing students, a 40 feet minimum building setback shall apply from the lot line of every dwelling that is not owned by the college or university.