[Amended 9-12-2011 by Ord. No. 39A-2011; 11-28-2011 by Ord. No. 56-2011; 4-23-2012 by Ord. No. 38-2012; 1-25-2021 by Ord. No. 7-2021]
A. QOL.001 Accumulation of waste. All exterior property and the interior of every structure shall be free from any accumulation of solid waste or recyclable material.
B. QOL.002 Animal maintenance and waste/feces cleanup. People owning, harboring or keeping an animal within the City of Reading shall not permit any waste matter/feces from the animal to collect and remain on the property so as to cause or create an unhealthy, unsanitary, dangerous or offensive living condition. All waste from animals must be cleaned up on a daily basis.
C. QOL.003 Improper disposal or dumping of waste. Improper disposal of solid waste or recyclable material or dumping of said material on vacant, unoccupied, or other property.
D. QOL.004 High weeds, grass or plant growth. All premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of six inches (152.4 mm). All noxious weeds shall be prohibited. Weeds shall be defined as all grasses, annual plants and vegetation. Cultivated flowers, gardens, trees and shrubs shall not be included as a violation of this Part.
E. QOL.005 Littering or scattering waste. No person shall throw, dump, place, sweep or dispose of anysolid waste or recyclable material upon any public sidewalk, alley, street, bridge, public passageway, public parking area or on any public property.
F. QOL.006 Motor vehicles. It shall be unlawful to store, park or place any unregistered, uninspected, inoperative, unlicensed or nuisance motor vehicle on any premises. No vehicle shall, at any time, be in a state of major disassembly, disrepair, or in the process of being stripped or dismantled. Painting of vehicles is prohibited unless conducted inside an approved spray booth.
G. QOL.007 Operating a food cart illegally. It shall be unlawful to operate any food cart without the proper permits and/or inspections. It shall also be unlawful to operate any food cart while any portion of the cart is inoperable.
H. QOL.008 Operating or vending without the proper permit/license. It shall be unlawful for any person, business, partnership or entity to operate, including but not limited to any business, vending cart, store or establishment without the proper permits.
I. QOL.009 Outside placement of indoor appliances/furniture. It is prohibited to store or place any/all appliances or furniture, including but not limited to ranges, refrigerators, air conditioners, ovens, washers, dryers, microwaves, dishwashers, mattresses, recliners, sofas, interior chairs or interior tables on the exterior of any property for the purpose of sale or any other reason except for the temporary purpose to perform maintenance in said property.
J. QOL.010 Ownership presumption of waste. It shall be the responsibility of every owner and/or occupant to dispose of their solid waste and recyclable materials in a proper manner. Any business or person who is unable to show proof that they have legally disposed of any solid waste or recyclable materials will be in violation of this Part. Should any person or business use an unlicensed hauler to dispose of said materials, said person or business shall be in violation of this Part. Upon request of the Property Maintenance Manager or his/her designee, any owner or occupant must show proof of their appropriate solid waste or recyclable hauler. For any material found within any container or any loose trash/waste found that displays the name and/or address of a person and/or persons, that material shall be presumed to be the property of such person and/or persons. It shall be unlawful for any person, business, partnership or entity to remove or haul solid waste or recyclable material without the proper approval or license. Any solid waste or recyclable material found not to be disposed of in accordance with this Part, will be a violation of this Part.
K. QOL.011 Placement or littering by private advertising matter. No person shall throw, place, sweep or dispose of litter or private advertising matter upon any public sidewalk, alley, street, bridge, public passageway, public parking area or any public property. No person, group, organization or entity will hang, place or advertise on any public property in any manner. No person, group, organization or entity will hang, place or advertise on any property that they do not have any ownership rights without written approval of said owner.
L. QOL.012 Snow and ice removal from sidewalks. Every owner, tenant, occupant, lessee, property agent or any other person who is responsible for any property within the City of Reading is required to remove any snow or ice from their sidewalk. Any property located along Penn Street, Washington Street and/or Court Street or along Second Street, Third Street, Fourth Street, Fifth Street, Sixth Street, Seventh Street, Eighth Street and Ninth Street, between Penn Street and Washington Street, shall have all snow or ice removed within two hours of the cessation of said snow and ice falling. Furthermore, the entire sidewalk must be free of all snow and ice in these areas. Any other property within the City of Reading shall have all snow and ice removed within four hours of the cessation of said snow and ice falling and must create a path, free from any snow or ice, of three feet on said sidewalk. Should any property be a place of business within the City of Reading, all snow and ice must be removed within four hours of the cessation of said snow and ice falling. For any property deemed a business, the entire sidewalk must be free from any snow and ice. If/when the snow and/or ice cessation happens during the hours of darkness, the time limit of removal of all snow and ice begins at daybreak. [Amended 12-9-2013 by Ord. No. 72-2013]
M. QOL.013 Storage containers for solid waste or recyclable material. The owner of every premises shall supply containers forsolid waste and recyclable materials that meet the specifications in Chapter 496
“Solid Waste” as well as be responsible for the removal of all waste from the property. All containers that store solid waste or recyclable material shall be durable, watertight and made of metal or plastic. Containers must have tight-fitting covers and must be kept clean and odor free at all times. Any containers provided free of charge by the City shall remain the property of the City and the property owner where the container is received shall be responsible for securing and maintaining said container. City-provided containers may not be permanently modified, except by the City or its designees, and shall only be used for their intended purpose. All containers must be stored such that said containers are not visible from the public right-of-way. Storage containers may only be placed in front of any property for collection after 5:00 p.m. the day before the scheduled collection. Containers shall be returned to an appropriate storage location no later than 7:00 a.m. on the day after the scheduled collection. (Example: Jim Smith's trash collection day is Wednesday. Jim Smith may place his trash containers out front of his property on Tuesday night, after 5:00 p.m. Jim Smith must place his trash containers in the rear of his yard before 7:00 a.m. on Thursday morning.) [Amended 12-9-2013 by Ord. No. 72-2013]
N. QOL.014 Storing or discarding of appliances. Refrigerators and similar equipment, including but not limited to washers, dryers, dishwashers and ranges not in operation, shall not be discarded, stored or abandoned on any premises without first removing the doors.
O. QOL.015 Storing of hazardous material. It shall be unlawful for any person, business or entity to store combustible, flammable, explosive or other hazardous waste or household hazardous waste, including but not limited to paints, volatile oils and cleaning fluids or combustible rubbish, including but not limited to wastepaper, boxes or rags unless the storage of said materials is stored in compliance with the applicable Building Codes.
P. QOL.016Separation and collection of recyclable materials. It shall be the responsibility of the owner of all residential, commercial and industrial properties to provide for the storage, collection and processing of all recyclable material, as defined in Chapter 496, “Solid Waste,” from their property.
Q. QOL.017 Storing or serving of potentially hazardous food. No person, business, partnership or entity shall store or serve potentially hazardous food, including but not limited to out-of-date food, food being stored above or below the appropriate temperature, food being stored directly on a flooring surface, infestation problems at the location or serving food that had previously been open are considered a violation of this Part.
R. QOL.018 Swimming pools. Swimming pools shall be maintained in good repair at all times. They shall also be kept clean, safe, covered and sanitary as well.
S. QOL.019 Violating the terms of any vending license. It shall be unlawful to violate any term, part, portion or in total, any vending license. Any person, business, partnership or entity violating their vending license shall be in violation of this Part.
T. QOL.020 Historic District violation. It shall be the responsibility of the owner of a property located in a Historic District, so designated by City ordinance, to obtain a certificate of appropriateness from the Preservation Officer or the Historic Architecture Review Board before making any alteration, including paint, to the exterior of a structure visible from a public right-of-way. Failure to produce a bona fide certificate of appropriateness upon request by a Codes official shall constitute a violation of this Part.
U. QOL.021 Visible Satellite Dish in Historic District. It shall be the responsibility of the owner of a property located in a Historic District, so designated by City ordinance, to obtain a certificate of appropriateness from the Preservation Officer or the Historic Architecture Review Board before installing or retaining any satellite dish visible from a public right-of-way.
V. QOL.022 Registered waste hauler(s) required. It shall be the responsibility of the owner of every property to retain active and appropriate solid waste and recycling collection services from a licensed waste hauler at all times and submit documentation of said service(s) to the City according to the provisions in Chapter 496, "Solid Waste."
W. QOL.023 Temporary dumpster permit. Each temporary dumpster, whether placed on private property or in a public right-of-way, shall display a valid permit issued by the City of Reading.
X. QOL.024 Temporary dumpster maintenance. Each temporary dumpster must meet all requirements identified in chapter 496 “Solid Waste.” Temporary dumpsters containing solid waste must be covered from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. or during all periods on non-use.
Y. QOL.025 Improper use of litter receptacle. A litter receptacle is placed on public property by the City, private property by the property owner, or within the public right of way by the city or adjacent property owner for use by the public to deposit small quantities of handheld trash, but not household or commercial waste. No person shall place household or commercial waste, trash bags, tires, bulky waste, or large quantities of other materials in or around a litter receptacle.