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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
Charter Amendments Approved by Referendum
November 2002 — Creating the Charter Board and affirming the supremacy of the Charter (see Ch. 23, Part 6, Charter Board; see Amendment I to the Charter).
November 2007 — Adding the definition of "Residency" to § 105(d) and amending § 902 by changing the submission date of the budget from 60 days prior to the ensuing fiscal year (November 1) to 90 days prior to the ensuing fiscal year (October 1).
November 2008 — Eliminating the link between the salary of the Mayor and Auditor, by removing the requirement for the Auditor’s salary to be increased when the Mayor’s salary is increased (§ 502).
May 2010 — Combining the Departments of Finance and Human Resources and calling it the Department of Administrative Services. Also replacing all references to the Director of Finance and Director of Human Resources with Director of Administrative Services in the City of Reading Home Rule Charter (§§ 607 and 705).
November 2014 — Deleting the requirement that the City Auditor be a CPA with a minimum of five years’ experience in business administration, accounting, management or municipal government (§ 502).
November 2014— Requiring appointment of a Charter Review Commission at least every five years but no sooner than every three years and prohibiting City officials or employees from serving on the Commission (§ 1203).
November 2014 — Providing authority to the Mayor to issue administrative regulation and procedure [§§ 215, 601, 602 and 908(c)].
November 2014 — Removing duplicative language and clarifying the relationship between the Mayor and the Managing Director (§§ 308 and 406).
November 2014 — Requiring an amendment to the annual position ordinance to authorize hiring of City personnel when such hiring exceeds the authorized number of employees [§ 904(d)].
November 2014 –– Adding a new section for Council submission for initiative of certain proposals (§ 1113).
June 2020 — Amending Home Rule Charter Section 503 to provide the elected City Auditor with the ability to hire their employees, as fixed by the annual budget.
June 2020 — Amending Home Rule Charter Section 225 of the Reading City Charter to provide City Council with the ability to hire their employees, as fixed by the annual budget.
June 2020 — Amending Home Rule Charter Section 226 of the Reading City Charter to provide City Council with the ability to appoint their own Solicitor, as fixed by the annual budget.
June 2020 — Amending Home Rule Charter Section 607 to eliminate the Department of Administrative Services and adding a separate Department of Finance and adding Section 707 to include a separate Department of Human Resources.
June 2020 — Amending Home Rule Charter Section 104 to provide term limits prohibiting City Council members, City Council President, the Mayor, and the Auditor from serving more than two consecutive four-year terms.
November 2020 — Amending Home Rule Charter Section 705 to eliminate the residency requirement for the heads of its departments, offices, and agencies.
November 2020 — Amending Home Rule Charter Section 705 to eliminate the residency requirement for the Managing Director.
July 2021 — Amending Home Rule Charter to eliminate recall of elected officials Section 1110.
July 2021 — Amending Home Rule Charter Section 1204 to correct the manner in which the Charter may be amended.
March 2022 — Amending Council Districts in Section 1312 as recommended by the Redistricting Advisory Commission.
May 2022 — Amending Home Rule Charter to eliminate Section 907 Appropriation and Revenue due to the limitations imposed on Home Rule Municipalities.
November 2022 — Amending Home Rule Charter Section 912 by allowing the capital budget public hearing to be held on the same date as the operating budget public hearing.
November 2022 — Amending Home Rule Charter by amending Sections 1102 and 1103 and repealing and reserving Sections 1104 through 1109.
November 2023 — Amending Home Rule Charter by amending Section 606 and eliminating the requirement for the City’s Public Works Director to be an engineer.