Administration
Permits & Fees
Key Contact
Elba Beltran del-Rio
610 374-8273 Ext. 238
An Alarm Permit is required for all alarmed properties within the Borough. Please be aware that after three (3) false alarms within a calendar year a fine of $100 will be issued for each and every false alarm thereafter until December 31st. Please contact the Code Enforcement Department promptly with any change to alarm company or emergency contact information.
Animals (carrier pigeons, bees, domestic fowl/rabbits): $30 annually
- Project Value Under $5,000: $150 plus $4.50 state fee
- Plan Review – Residental Alteration: $100 for the 1st hour and $75 each additional hour
- Inspections as required: $75 each
A building permit is required for all projects involving construction of any type, including the placement of pre-fabricated accessory structures, electrical, plumbing, heat source upgrades, installing an artificial or natural fence, creating a parking space, sidewalk replacement, retaining walls, etc. Review our Permit Application Procedure and Building Permit Information for help with applying for building and zoning permits.
Prior to beginning a project, please contact our office to determine if a permit is needed.
- Project Value $5,001 – $50,000: 3% per $1,000 or fraction thereof, plus $50 administration fee and $4.50 state fee
- Project Value $50,001 – $3,000,000: 1.50% per $1,000 or fraction thereof, plus $50 administration fee and $4.50 state fee
- Project Value $3,000,001 and greater: 0.75% per $1,000 or fraction thereof, plus $50 administration fee and $4.50 state fee
- Plan Review – Commercial or New Structure (initial or revised): $225 for the 1st hour and $150 each additional hour
- Additional Inspections (due to failed inspection): $75 each
When your project includes constructing a new commercial building or structure, adding on to a commercial building or making structural and/or non-structural alterations to a commercial building, please complete the Building Permit Application and submit the required 3 sets of drawings for review.
Berks County Conservation District approval is required for any earth disturbance equal to or greater than 5,000 square feet. Please see their project application.
Building permit fees will be doubled if permit is not issued before work commences.
A Certificate of Insurance is required prior to issuance of a permit for any contractor performing work within the Borough. Applications may be submitted to the Code Enforcement Office located within Borough Hall. Please call to check on the status of your application prior to allowing any work to commence.
If a homeowner is performing repairs or the contractor is a sole proprietor and does not carry workers’ compensation coverage please submit a worker’s compensation affidavit with every permit application.
A Burn Permit is required prior to the use of any type of chimenea or outdoor fireplace unit. All portable fireplace units must be located a minimum of 25 feet from all structures in the yard area. This permit application must be approved by the Fire Chief or Fire Marshal.
Business Privilege License: $50 annually
Contact Berkheimer Tax Innovations at (610) 599-3140 or email BPT@hab-inc.com www.hab-inc.com.
Prior to renting your commercial space to a particular type of business please contact the Zoning Officer to determine if this is a permissible use in your zoning district. The Zoning Officer can be reached in the Code Enforcement Department.
Prior to remodeling your building for any business, please contact the Zoning Officer and the Commercial Building Inspector to determine what type of upgrades may be required.
Conditional Use Hearing $750
Digging: It is state law that you must place dig notification prior to starting any work that involves digging. This is to ensure that you do not damage any underground utility lines. The call must be placed not more than 10 days prior to digging and there is a 3 business day waiting period for the utility lines to be marked.
Please call 1 (800) 242-1776 or 811 or visit www.paonecall.org
If you do not place a PA 1 call you will be liable for all costs incurred if you damage any gas, water, electric, cable lines, etc.
- First Week: $100 each
- Each Additional Week (60 day maximum): $50 each
- Reinspection / No Show / Cancelation less than 24-hours prior: $75 each
- 2nd & Subsequent No Shows / Cancelation less than 24-hours prior: $150 each
Land Development and Subdivision Ordinance: $25
- Preliminary Plan: $1,000
- Final Plan: $1,000
- Sketch plan: actual review fee
Peddling,Soliciting, Mobile Vendors & Transient Sales Permit:
Licensing of door-to-door peddlers, solicitors and mobile vendors is necessary to minimize the unwelcome disturbance of citizens and to preserve the public health, safety and welfare.
Licensing does not apply to coffee or ice cream trucks that move from place-to-place and are stationary in the same location for no more than 15 minutes at a time. Also, licensing does not apply to mobile food operations that receive a temporary event permit for a Borough of West Reading sanctioned event.
- Door-to-Door Weekly: $100 per person
- Door-to-Door Monthly: $250 per person
- Mobile Vendor Annually: $300 per vendor
Plumbing Permit:
A Certificate of Occupancy Inspection is required prior to the sale or transfer of ANY property located within the Borough. The Borough wants to ensure all single and multiple family dwellings meet certain zoning and property maintenance requirements prior to the property transfer. In order to effectively and efficiently ensure the dwelling units are in compliance, the Borough Code Enforcement Officer must inspect each property before the transfer of title.
Applications for the Property Transfer Inspection may be completed by the seller, buyer, or agent for the seller or buyer of the property. The inspection fee must accompany the application form.
- Inspection Fee (1 unit): $150
- Inspection Fee (more than 1 unit): $50 per unit (+ $150 initial fee)
- If less than 5 business days notice (not including holidays): $300
- 2nd Reinspection: $75
- 3rd Reinspection: $100
- 4th Reinspection: $125
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5th Reinspection: $150
Prior to renting any area of your property as a residential rental unit, please contact the Code Enforcement Department to schedule an inspection. Also, see the “Rental Property” tab for additional information.
- Ceilings mist be in good condition with no large cracks or holes that allow drafts, or large amounts of loose or falling plaster.
- Walls must be in good, clean and sanitary condition with no peeling paint, loose plaster, rotten wood or defective surface conditions.
- Floors must be in good condition with no holes, large cracks, missing or warped floorboards.
- Painted surfaces must show no peeling, chipping or flaking paint.
- Windows must be easily opened, weather tight and in sound condition.
- Wiring must be in working order and every habitable space in a unit shall require at least two separate and remote receptacle outlets. Broken or frayed wiring, missing cover plates, or badly cracked outlets are not acceptable.
- Sinks must be maintained in a sanitary, safe working condition with hot and cold running water.
- Tub and/or shower shall be in every dwelling unit and shall be maintained in a sanitary, safe working condition with hot and cold running water.
- Toilets must flush and work properly.
- Other rooms not lived in must be free from mechanical, electrical and security hazards. There must be no large holes in the floors, ceilings or walls, and ensure all stairways are in safe condition.
- 1 – 10 units: $100 per unit, per year
- 11 – 40 units: $75 per unit, per year
- 41 – 75 units: $50 per unit, per year
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76 or more units: $30 per unit, per year (does not include a reinspection) (average of $40 per unit during inspection year, and $20 per unit for administrative costs during non-inspection years)
- 76 or more units reinspection (2nd visit): $100 per unit
- 3rd visit: $100 per unit
- 4th & subsequent visits: $200 per unit
Rental Permit Reinstatement Fee: $100 per unit
Illegal rentals and failure to renew registration will result in fees being doubled.
- Sidewalk: $100 per cut
- Basic Street: $150
- Mains: first 100 feet or fraction thereof: $200
- Each additional 100 feet or fraction thereof: $50
- One time extension request (valid for 60 days): $50
- Collocated WCF: $1,000
- Small WCF (Collocated): $500 for up to five small WCF in a single application, $100 for each small WCF thereafter in the same application
- Small WCF (requiring new/replacement wireless support structure): $1,000
- Tower-Based WCF: $2,500
Zoning Ordinance $25 (with map $50)
Zoning Application Residential or New Business: $100; Commercial: $150 (approved or denied)
A Zoning Permit Application must be submitted and approved prior to allowing occupancy of any commercial space, installation of fence, creating parking areas, installation of a shed or accessory structure, etc. If a zoning application is denied by the Zoning Officer, the applicant may request a hearing before the West Reading Zoning Hearing Board.
Zoning Hearing Board – Residential: $900
Zoning Hearing Board – Commercial (all businesses & apartment buildings with 3 or more units): $1,500