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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
§ 600-909. Front yard exception.
   A.   By administrative review of the Zoning Administrator, the front yard of a proposed building may be decreased in depth to the average alignment of a majority of existing buildings on the same block frontage (same side) located within 100 feet of the proposed building.
   B.   This subsection applies in place of the standard front yard setback requirements in certain cases in the R-3, C-C, C-N and C-R districts so that the front yard building setback is consistent with the average existing setback. This section shall only apply if more than 75% of the lots within the block frontage are occupied by a principal building. The required front yard building setback shall apply from a public street right-of-way for a new principal building. A majority of the front building wall and/or the front porch of such new building shall meet such required building setback. An area used for outdoor seating of a restaurant shall be considered the same as a front porch.
      (1)   The required front yard building setback shall be based upon the average setback of all existing principal buildings that are on the same side of the same block frontage of the street. The required front yard building setback shall not vary from the average setback by more than five feet to the front or to the back of the average setback.
         (a)   For example, if two lots on one side have existing five-foot setbacks, and two lots on the second side have existing fifteen-foot setbacks, the average shall be 10 feet. Therefore, if the average setback is 10 feet, the minimum front yard building setback for a new building shall be five feet and the maximum front yard building setback shall be 15 feet.
      (2)   If one existing building on another lot has a front setback that is more than 25 feet different in setback from the average of the other buildings, it shall not be considered in the average. A lot that is not occupied by a principal building shall not be considered in the average.
      (3)   If a lot includes more than one principal building, this provision shall apply to the building that is closest to the front. For a corner lot, this provision shall apply to the one street line that has the most principal buildings fronting upon it, and shall not require a smaller setback that is otherwise required along the second street line.
      (4)   If the Zoning Administrator determines that there is not an average front yard building setback, then the minimum front yard building setback shall apply.
      (5)   A larger setback may still be required if necessary to comply with City sight clearance regulations at an intersection.
   C.   An unenclosed stoop or steps may intrude into the front yard setback.
   D.   The removal or enclosure of a front porch shall need special exception approval. The Zoning Hearing Board shall consider whether the change would harm the character of the block, considering the presence of porches on other buildings within the block. The Board may place conditions upon the design of an enclosure or a replacement porch to maintain consistency with other buildings on the block. This requirement shall not apply in any of the following cases:
      (1)   If the porch removal or enclosure will require City approval under Chapter 295, Historic Districts;
      (2)   If the porch includes less than 20 square feet of floor area;
      (3)   If the porch covers historic architectural details of the facade and the porch was not original to the structure; or
      (4)   If the porch was added after 1950.