Berks County Courthouse: Parking, Security, and Offices

The Berks County Courthouse is at 633 Court Street in downtown Reading, and it is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Plan on a security check at the entrance, so leave anything that looks like a weapon at home, and plan to park in a nearby public garage, because the county directs courthouse visitors to the Reading Parking Authority's downtown garages and lots.

The harder part is knowing which building and floor to go to. The county runs three separate buildings, two of them side by side at the same 633 Court Street address, and the office you need may not be in the courthouse at all. This guide covers parking, what happens at security, and where each county office actually sits.

The three county buildings

Most people say "the courthouse" for anything county-run, but Berks County splits its offices across three locations. Going to the wrong one is the most common wasted trip.

• Berks County Courthouse, 633 Court Street, Reading: the courts and court-related offices. This is where trials, hearings, and the criminal and civil court files are.
• Berks County Services Center, 633 Court Street, Reading: a separate high-rise next to the courthouse that holds most county administrative offices and the record offices. Jurors report here, not in the courthouse.
• County of Berks South Campus, 400 E. Wyomissing Avenue, Mohnton: a few miles south of downtown, home to the Assessment Office and property-related services.

The two downtown buildings share the 633 Court Street address, so confirm the building name, not just the street, before you go.

Which office is where

Call the office before you visit to confirm it still handles your matter and has not moved; county offices have shifted between buildings before. These are the locations confirmed on the county's own pages.

In the Courthouse:

• Prothonotary, 2nd floor, 610-478-6970: civil court cases, judgments, liens, divorce, custody.
• Sheriff, 3rd floor, 610-478-6240: sheriff sales, service of process, licenses to carry, courthouse security.
• Clerk of Courts, 4th floor, 610-478-6550: criminal court cases and certified criminal records.
• Law Library, 5th floor: open to the public (see below).

In the Services Center:

• Tax Claim Bureau, 2nd floor, 610-478-6625: unpaid property taxes and tax sales.
• Register of Wills, 2nd floor, 610-478-6600: wills, estates, and probate.
• Jury Services, 2nd floor: where jurors report for jury duty.
• Recorder of Deeds, 3rd floor, 610-478-3380: deeds, mortgages, and notary commissions.
• Commissioners, 13th floor, 610-478-6136: the county's elected governing board.

At the South Campus in Mohnton:

• Assessment Office, 400 E. Wyomissing Avenue, 610-478-6262: property assessments and assessment appeals.

For any office not listed here, check the county's department directory at berkspa.gov/departments to confirm the building and floor before you make the trip.

Where to park

For the courthouse and Services Center, the county's court parking page directs visitors to the Reading Parking Authority, whose garage and lot map is at readingparking.com/map. You park in one of those public garages or lots, pay the posted rate, and walk; the garages sit within a few blocks of 633 Court Street.

Jurors get a break the general public does not. Parking for jury duty is free in the Reed and Court Street Garage, with the county covering the cost, and jurors with oversized vehicles use the open lot at 7th and Washington Streets. Bring your license plate number to the courthouse so the county can validate the parking.

What to expect at security

Berks County court facilities screen visitors at the entrance. The county court's Court Facility Firearm Directive lets only specific credentialed people, such as law enforcement officers, constables, and judges, carry a firearm inside, and it exempts those credentialed people from the x-ray and electronic screening that other people entering must pass through. The directive covers the courthouse, the Services Center, and the county's magisterial district court offices.

Plan for airport-style screening and give yourself extra time before a scheduled hearing:

1. Leave all weapons at home. Firearms, knives, and similar items are not permitted for the public, and there is no coat check to hold them.
2. Empty your pockets and be ready to send bags, belts, and metal items through the scanner.
3. Expect a line at busy times, especially mid-morning when court sessions start.

The Sheriff's Office runs courthouse security. Rules on cell phones, cameras, and other electronics can differ by courtroom and are not posted online, so call the Sheriff's Office at 610-478-6240 before you go if you need to bring a device.

Using the Law Library

The Berks County Law Library is on the 5th floor of the courthouse and is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It has a computer with Westlaw legal research access. The library is not staffed and cannot give legal advice, and it does not provide forms, printing, or copying, so treat it as a place to read the law rather than a place to get help filling out paperwork.

Hours and holidays

The downtown county buildings are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and are closed on county holidays. Individual offices keep shorter hours inside those building hours: the Prothonotary, Recorder of Deeds, and Tax Claim Bureau close at 4 p.m., the Clerk of Courts and Sheriff at 4:30 p.m., and the Register of Wills runs 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. If your errand involves filing or paying at a counter, arrive well before the office's own closing time.

FAQ

Where is the Berks County Courthouse?

The courthouse is at 633 Court Street in downtown Reading, PA 19601. The Berks County Services Center, which holds many county offices, is a separate building at the same address, and the Assessment Office is at the South Campus, 400 E. Wyomissing Avenue, Mohnton.

Where do I park at the Berks County Courthouse?

For the courthouse, the county points visitors to public garages and lots run by the Reading Parking Authority; its map is at readingparking.com/map. Jurors park free in the Reed and Court Street Garage with the county covering the cost.

Can I bring my phone into the Berks County Courthouse?

Visitors are screened at the entrance, and weapons are prohibited. Cell phone, camera, and electronics rules can vary by courtroom and are not published online, so call the Sheriff's Office at 610-478-6240 before your visit to confirm what you can carry in.

Which floor is the office I need on?

In the courthouse: Prothonotary 2nd, Sheriff 3rd, Clerk of Courts 4th, Law Library 5th. In the Services Center: Tax Claim Bureau and Register of Wills 2nd, Recorder of Deeds 3rd, Commissioners 13th. The Assessment Office is at the South Campus in Mohnton. Check the county department directory at berkspa.gov/departments to confirm any office not listed.

What are the Berks County Courthouse hours?

The downtown buildings are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed on county holidays. Individual offices close earlier, some at 4 p.m. and some at 4:30 p.m., so check the office's own hours before you go.

Sources

• Berks County Court of Common Pleas — courthouse address and building hours.
• Berks County courthouse parking — Reading Parking Authority garage and lot map.
• Berks County Jury Services — juror reporting location, free jury parking, and reporting details.
• Berks County Court Facility Firearm Directive (AD 17-381) — security screening and who may carry a firearm in a county court facility.
• Berks County Law Library — 5th-floor location, hours, and services.

Berks County Courthouse and Services Center: 633 Court Street, Reading, PA 19601; county department directory at berkspa.gov/departments; open Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., closed holidays.