Office Of The Mayor
Thomas M. McMahon


PRESS RELEASE

Contact:     Jatinder Khokhar 610-655-6215

City Of Reading Passes New Rental Housing Permit Ordinance

City officials announced new Rental Housing Permit requirements to address growing concerns regarding tracking of rental properties, general maintenance and upkeep of residential properties in the City.  Under the prior Housing Permit Ordinance, there was little documentation required to obtain a rental property permit in the city.  The new ordinance reflects feedback from the general public, private real estate investors, members of City Council and the administration.

Under the new ordinance, all rental properties/rental property owners MUST submit an application by December 1, 2007, to the City of Reading Codes Enforcement Division to avoid a penalty.  Applications can be obtained at www.readingpa.gov/codes.asp or from the City of Reading Codes Office, and can be submitted beginning August 24, 2007.  Additional documents that must accompany all applications by the December 1, 2007 deadline are listed on the Rental Housing Permit Application.

If zoning exists or was previously obtained for the rental property, the application can be processed immediately.  Evidence of proper zoning can be requested by contacting the City of Reading Zoning Office at 610-655-6343.

Properties that do not have the appropriate zoning will require a variance, special exception or conditional use.  For those properties that have existing permits but not proper zoning and have been code compliant, the City has created an expedited zoning process.  The expedited zoning process will be available August 15, 2007 – October 15, 2007.  A copy of the criteria can be obtained at www.readingpa.gov/codes.asp, or from the City of Reading Codes Office.  After October 15, 2007, unless extended by City Council due to the high volume of applications, all applications for relief to obtain zoning will be required to go through the City’s standard zoning process of the Zoning Hearing Board or City Council.