Reading Building Department | Permits, Inspections & Contact

Reading’s Building and Trades Division is the municipal authority for building, accessibility, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits inside the City of Reading. Berks County does not replace the city’s local permit office for Reading properties; addresses outside the city should be directed to the applicable borough or township code official.

Reading building permits and plan review

The division reviews plans and issues permits for new construction, alterations, renovations, repairs, and trade work. Before making changes, the city advises applicants to contact Building and Trades, and commercial or major projects may benefit from a city One-Stop meeting that brings together Planning, Zoning, Building and Trades, Engineering, Historic Preservation, and the Fire Marshal’s Office. Permit applications and schedules are published in the city’s official permits and forms library.

Inspections and certificate of occupancy

After permits are issued, the contractor or property owner is responsible for scheduling required inspections. Reading identifies typical stages such as footings, foundations, slab, underground plumbing and electrical, rough framing and trades, above-ceiling work, insulation, and drywall. Final inspections coordinate the required building, trade, and fire reviews, and the city’s business guide states that a business must not operate before the final approved Certification of Occupancy is issued.

Zoning and code compliance

Reading zoning determines permitted uses by district and may require a zoning permit for internal or external changes. Historic-district work may also need a Certificate of Appropriateness before building and zoning permits. Property maintenance and code enforcement separately administer rental, vacant-property, health-and-safety, and certificate-of-transfer requirements, so confirm whether the question concerns construction permits or an existing-property inspection.

Official contact information

The city’s Building and Trades materials identify 815 Washington Street, Reading, Pennsylvania 19601, and (610) 655-6284 for building and trades questions and final-inspection scheduling. Use the official permits library for current applications and the city business guide for the One-Stop process, inspection sequence, and occupancy closeout requirements.