Information About
Zoning and Codes
All Accessibility Issues are exclusively governed by the PA
Department of Labor & Industry. Terry Naugle is
accessibility certified, BUT the PA Department of Labor &
Industry has the FINAL ruling. Only the PA Department of Labor & Industry can grant
accessibility variances.
The Borough of
West Reading has adopted the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction
Code (UCC) as the standard by which all newly constructed
buildings and any new construction (additions/remodeling etc)
inside or outside existing buildings must conform. The PA UCC
includes all of the following codes: the International Building
code, International Mechanical code, International Electrical
code, International Plumbing code, International Fuel Gas code,
International Fire code, International Residential code,
International Existing Building code and other pertinent codes.
These codes are amended every three (3) years - the next change
is the 2009 code, which goes into effect January 1, 2010. A
copy of these codes may be viewed in the Codes Department at
Borough Hall. Code books may be purchased through the
International Code Council at
www.iccsafe.org.
The Borough of
West Reading has adopted the International Property Maintenance
Code as the standard by which all existing buildings conditions
must conform. This code deals with any and all property
maintenance issues inside or outside any building (commercial or
residential). This code changes every three (3) years - the
next change is the 2009 code, which goes into effect January 1,
2010. A copy of this code may be viewed in the Codes Department
at Borough Hall. Code books may be purchased through the
International Code Council at
www.iccsafe.org.
The Zoning
Ordinance of the Borough of West Reading is unique to the
Borough of West Reading. The Zoning Ordinance has been amended
from time to time and most recently in 2009. The zoning
ordinance is completely separate entity and is not connected
with any of the code books referenced above or the UCC. A
zoning application must be submitted and approved before
occupancy will be permitted in any commercial or residential
property and any portions to be used above or below the
commercial business space or any shared space within the
existing business space. Zoning applications may be obtained at
the Codes Department. If a zoning application is denied by the
Zoning Officer, the applicant may request a hearing before the
West Reading Zoning Hearing Board.
With the
exception of the property maintenance code and possibly the
accessibility laws, all buildings and/or businesses are required
to conform to the building codes and zoning codes in effect at
the time the building and/or business was initiated.
Existing Building
Owners
Signs:
Any changes to any existing sign: Contact Tracey
Levering prior to making any changes to any and all existing
signs on your business.
Sign
permit required.
Changing
any use in the type of business currently existing contact the
Zoning Officer.
Zoning permit required.
Adding
anything to the building structure – inside or outside – contact
the Zoning Officer. Examples: any electrical work, plumbing
work, changing heating source, putting up a fence, adding
parking space(s), adding a deck, a patio, an addition,
remodeling the inside in any way, putting in a cooler, a freezer
(inside or outside), adding a cooking stove, adding a wall,
taking down a wall, making a new doorway, anything structural.
Zoning permit required and
Building permit required.
Gutting the
inside of building to put in a restaurant as an example,
remodeling an existing building, adding an addition, building a
deck, adding a freezer or cooler (inside or outside) will also
require the submission of building plans for review by the
Commercial Building Inspector and will require inspection(s) by
the Commercial Building Inspector.
If you
consider renting space to another business within the confines
of your business – contact the Zoning Officer.
Zoning permit required.
If you
make any structural changes to accommodate this new business –
Building permit
is required as well as inspection by
commercial building inspector.
If you
are presently sell merchandise and you are contemplating selling
food type items in addition to the merchandise – contact the
Zoning Officer.
Zoning permit required. If you make any structural changes to
accommodate this new business –
Building permit
is required
as well as inspection by commercial building inspector.
If you want to
have an outside café – contact the Code Enforcement Office.
There is a yearly fee, which is currently $50.00/year.
Placing
merchandise for sale on the sidewalk in front of your business
is not permitted by Borough Ordinance.
New Businesses
Before
you open your new business contact the Zoning Officer to
ascertain whether or not your type business is allowed by Zoning
Ordinance in the Zoning District you are located. Zoning permit required.
Before you
design your sign contact the Zoning Officer to determine type
and size permitted.
Sign
permit required.
Before you
remodel the existing space within the building – contact the
Zoning Officer.
Zoning permit required and
Building permit required
before any work has been started. Plan review
and building inspection may be required by commercial building
inspector prior to any work being started.
All
accessibility requirements are governed solely by the
Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. If you require a
variance you must petition the Department of Labor & Industry
and have a hearing with the Department of Labor & Industry.
ONLY Department of Labor & Industry CAN GRANT an
accessibility variance.
New
Restaurant/Food Service Business: All cooking devices and any
required supplemental equipment must conform to the Building
Codes in effect at the time that business construction begins.
Codes listed above.
Property owners
Before you rent
your building to a particular type of business – contact the
Zoning Officer to determine if it is a permissible in the zoning
district.
Zoning permit required.
Before you
remodel your building for any business contact the Zoning
Officer and the Commercial Building Inspector to determine what
type of building upgrades may be required.
Zoning permit required and
Building permit required.
Before you rent
the 2nd floor of your building to a business or as a residential
rental unit – contact the Zoning Officer.
Zoning permit required.
If a
residential rental unit is allowed then you must pay the yearly
rental fee and open the unit(s) for the yearly rental
inspection. The Code Enforcement Inspector utilizes the
Property Maintenance Code for these inspections.
All buildings
in the Borough (residential and commercial) are subject to
periodic property maintenance inspections. All buildings may be
externally inspected at any time for property maintenance
issues. A few examples: protective treatment on all exposed
wood trim (not pressure treated), proper downspout/gutter
function, trash issues, high weed/grass issues, proper handrails
and guards, cracked windowpanes, proper building identification
and many more structural in nature type issues.
All residential
properties are inspected upon sale of the property. All
residential and commercial rental units are inspected annually
(rental inspection year runs from July 1 to June 30).
Commercial properties are inspected
when the property maintenance inspectors are available to
complete the inspections. Internal & external commercial
property maintenance issues mostly address fire, safety,
sanitation and building structural issues which may include, but
not limited to checking for smoke detectors, checking fire alarm
systems, proper maintenance of fire alarm systems, emergency
lighting, properly placed EXIT signs, fire extinguishers,
plumbing issues, electrical issues, mechanical issues and
building integrity issues (may include protective treatment on
all exposed non-treated wood trim, proper window function, etc).
ALARM PERMITS
An
Alarm Permit
is needed for those properties that possess some
type of alarm system. The fee for an alarm permit is $25.00.
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