Reading Parking Authority: Tickets, Permits, and Garages

The Reading Parking Authority writes parking tickets, sells permits, and runs the eight public garages in downtown Reading. It is an agency of the City of Reading, not Berks County: the Mayor appoints its five-member board, and county government has no say over its tickets, its rates, or its appeals. Its office is at 430 S. 4th St., Reading, PA 19602, open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Most people meet the authority one of three ways: a ticket on the windshield, a residential permit application, or a gateless garage that expects payment within minutes of pulling in.

What the authority is, and is not

The authority was created under a 1947 state law and is governed by a five-member board serving five-year terms, all appointed by the Mayor, according to the city's authority page. Its board meets at the 430 S. 4th St. office, but the three official statements of when do not agree. The authority's own schedule page says the third Wednesday of each month at 5 p.m. and lists Oct. 21, 2026; the city's page says the third Tuesday at noon; and an authority notice dated Oct. 1, 2026 moved October's meeting to Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 5 p.m. Check the schedule page and the news feed before attending.

Tickets have been civil matters since 2016, according to the authority's appeals page. They do not go through the courts or the criminal system, and they do not add points to your driver's license (FAQ 11).

The authority is unrelated to Berks County government, which is explained in How Berks County Government Works. The one place the two meet is the Berks County Courthouse: the county sends courthouse visitors to the authority's garages, and jurors park free in the Reed & Court garage, with the county paying the bill. The county's jury page tells jurors not to pay when entering the garage and to bring their license plate number into the building. The jury duty guide covers the rest of a juror's day.

The office hours above come from the authority's Office Hour Update of April 14, 2026, which moved closing time to 5 p.m. Several pages on the site, including the permits and board pages, still say 5:30 p.m., and one homepage FAQ still gives an old Franklin Street address. Use 430 S. 4th St. and 8 to 5.

If you got a ticket

The authority's fee table (dated effective Feb. 8, 2021, last updated Jan. 10, 2024) lists these common fines. The city code's fine table in § 576-416, current through September 2026, matches most of them but not all:

• Expired meter: the authority's table says $35; the code says $45.
• Posted time limit (10 minutes to 2 hours): $35 in both.
• Street sweeping (daytime restriction, 8 to 12 or 12 to 4): $35 in both.
• Permit zone, over the time limit: $45 in both.
• Snow emergency route: $60 in both.
• Parked on the sidewalk, blocking a driveway, expired registration or inspection, or left on the street more than 72 hours: $70 in both.
• Crosswalk: $80 in both.
• Traffic lane, intersection, alley under 18 feet, or against the flow of traffic: $100 in both.
• Within 7 feet of a fire hydrant: the authority's table says $100; the code says $200.
• Handicapped space without a plate or placard: the authority's table says $205; the code says $200.
• Boot fee: $100 in both.
• Unpaid garage fee notice: $45 in both.

Neither source explains the differences. Go by the amount printed on your ticket, and if it matches neither figure, call 610-655-6166 before paying.

Deadlines and late fees

Pay within 30 days of the violation date. The authority's table adds 50 percent on days 31 through 60 and doubles the fine from day 61 (a $35 ticket becomes $52.50, then $70). The code reads differently: § 576-416 says the notice directs payment within 240 hours, sets 30 days as the outside deadline, and lists added penalties at 10 and 30 days. The authority's published practice is the 31-day and 61-day schedule; the FAQ confirms you have 30 days before late fees are added. After 61 days unpaid, the ticket goes to collections (FAQ 26); the authority's appeals page puts the same step at 30 to 61 days.

Booting and towing

A car with three or more outstanding tickets, or an unpaid balance of $200 or more, can be booted (FAQ 25). Getting it released means paying every outstanding fine and penalty plus the immobilization fee (code § 576-814), which the fine table in § 576-416 sets at $100. Some violations allow an immediate tow with no boot first: parking in a prohibited area, blocking a hydrant, crosswalk or driveway, storing a car on the street past 72 hours, expired registration or inspection, parking on private property on complaint, and parking in a handicapped space (code § 576-415).

In 2026 the authority ran an amnesty program from May 1 through June 30 that erased late and collection fees for anyone owing $200 or more and allowed payment plans with 50 percent down. It is not a standing program; watch the authority's news page for any repeat.

How to pay

• Online at readingparkingportal.com. You search by citation number and violation date, or by license plate, and the site will not work unless you allow its cookies.
• By phone at 610-655-6166, the call center.
• In person at 430 S. 4th St., Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The authority does not publish a mailing address for payments; if you want to mail a check, use the instructions printed on the ticket itself. To check whether you have outstanding tickets, call, visit, or search the portal (FAQ 15).

How to appeal a ticket

The process is set by the authority's appeals page and the city code's § 576-518. It has an administrative review, then a hearing, then court.

1. File within 30 calendar days of the violation date. Late appeals are not accepted. File online through the portal (you need to create a Park Loyalty account), by email to Appeals@ReadingParking.com, or in person at 430 S. 4th St. The code adds that filing within 10 business days locks in the lower penalty amount for any bond you later have to post.
2. Attach proof. Photos, permits, receipts, or other documents must be uploaded with the appeal; the authority says appeals without supporting documents are denied. File one appeal per ticket, using the exact violation number.
3. Wait for the administrative review. A collections specialist reads your appeal and documents. If approved, the ticket is dismissed and you get a call or email. If denied, you get an email with instructions for a hearing. The FAQ says a valid appeal takes 24 to 48 business hours to process.
4. Post the bond within 48 hours of the denial. The bond equals the original ticket amount. If it is not paid within 48 hours, the appeal ends. Late fees that accrue while a ticket is under appeal are not your responsibility and are removed if you later have to pay.
5. Attend the in-person hearing at the authority's office. An independent hearing officer hears the case. As of a Sept. 3, 2026 notice, hearings are held Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., by appointment only; you are notified of the date by phone and, if you gave one, by email. If the officer dismisses the ticket, the bond is refunded in the same form you paid. If the ticket is upheld, the bond is applied to the fine and the case closes.
6. Appeal to court if you lose. Under § 576-518 you may appeal the hearing officer's decision to the Berks County Court of Common Pleas, 633 Court St., within 30 days. Filing costs are yours, and if the court also rules against you, interest and costs can be added from the judgment date.

The authority lists five arguments that are not grounds for appeal: not knowing the city's parking rules, being late to or from an appointment, not finding a legal space, not having enough coins, and a broken or malfunctioning meter. Two tickets have built-in outs instead: an expired-registration ticket can be dismissed if you renew within 10 days and send a copy (FAQ 20), and you get one courtesy dismissal of a street-sweeping ticket every 12 months (FAQ 10).

Residential parking permits

A residential permit lets you park on your own block without feeding meters or watching posted time limits. The authority's permits page sets the terms, and the city code's § 576-417 fills in the rest.

1. Confirm your block is in a permit zone. The list of zones is kept at the authority's office and is not posted online, so call 610-655-6166 with your address.
2. Gather three documents, all showing your address inside the zone: a current driver's license, the vehicle registration, and proof of insurance. The car must carry a Pennsylvania plate registered to that address. Commercial vehicles are not eligible.
3. Apply in person at 430 S. 4th St. Residential permits cannot be bought online.
4. Pay $30 for the first year, then $25 for each annual renewal. The permit is good for 12 months from the date issued.
5. Hang the permit from the rearview mirror whenever the car is parked in the zone.

Each vehicle needs its own permit, up to four per household. Permits are not transferable; if you sell the car, remove the permit and get a new one for the replacement. Permits are not prorated or refunded if you cancel early.

A permit does not make you exempt from everything. It covers time limits and meters inside your zone only. It does not cover street-sweeping restrictions, loading zones, handicapped spaces, or any other posted prohibition. Visitor permits are available for up to 14 days, and a household may hold no more than two at a time; the authority does not publish the visitor permit fee, so ask when you apply. A home health aide or caregiver can get a guest pass only if the resident holds a valid permit (FAQ 12).

The eight downtown garages

The authority runs eight enclosed garages, listed on its parking services page:

• DoubleTree (called Convention Center in the rate table), 750 Court St.
• South Penn, 635 Franklin St.
• Reed & Court, 666 Court St.
• Poplar & Walnut, 130 Poplar St.
• 4th & Cherry, 420 Cherry St.
• Chiarelli Plaza, 25 N. 3rd St.
• 2nd & Washington, 25 N. 2nd St.
• Front & Washington, 120 Washington St.

All eight are open 24 hours a day, every day, and parking must be paid around the clock unless a sign says otherwise (FAQ 5 and 23). They are gateless, meaning no ticket dispenser and no arm: you drive in, and you have to pay within 15 minutes of entering, or you owe a $45 unpaid-fee notice. The authority's FAQ 22 lists that notice among the violations that are not left on the vehicle, so a car with nothing on the windshield can still carry a fine; check the portal by plate. Pay through the ParkMobile or PayByPhone app, or at the walk-up pay stations near the elevators, which take cash or card with exact change only. During a downtown event, the event rate applies to everyone in the garage whether or not they are attending (FAQ 24).

Hourly rates on the home page: $2 an hour at South Penn, DoubleTree, Poplar & Walnut, and Reed & Court; $2 for the first hour and $1 for each additional hour at Chiarelli, 4th & Cherry, Front & Washington, and 2nd & Washington.

Monthly permits are where the authority's own pages disagree. The rate table lists a regular monthly space at $85 (DoubleTree, South Penn, 4th & Cherry, Chiarelli, 2nd & Washington) or $90 (Reed & Court, Poplar & Walnut), a residential rate of $40 at every garage, reserved spaces at $127.50 to $135, and a cheaper Front & Washington garage at $50 regular, $40 residential, and $75 reserved, with a 10 percent discount only when paid for the year. The homepage FAQ, however, lists "as of June 1" monthly rates of $50 for a standard residential permit ($40 if prepaid annually), $90 for a premium residential permit ($72 prepaid), a $25 special at Front & Washington, and 5 or 10 percent discounts for three- or six-month prepayment. The two pages cannot both be current. Call 610-655-6166 for the price before you commit.

To qualify for a residential garage rate, your license, registration, and insurance must show an address within two to four blocks of the garage. Apply online at the portal (a 3 percent fee, minimum $3, applies, and the permits page warns you to uncheck autopay if you do not want it) or in person at 430 S. 4th St.; the homepage FAQ says monthly permit applications are made in person. Several "purchase permit" buttons on the permits page lead to dead pages, and existing monthly parkers are billed through a separate site, parkerbill.com. Garage permits run from the first to the last day of a month with no proration.

The authority also lists surface lots, and the 5th & Cherry lot at 29 S. 5th St. is no longer one it operates: the authority announced on June 10, 2026 that it would stop providing parking there and pointed parkers to the 4th & Cherry and South Penn garages. The lot still appears on the authority's location list, so do not rely on it.

Handicapped spaces exist in every garage; the authority's handicap parking page lists the count and level for each.

Meters

On-street meters are enforced Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. They are free on Sundays, on city holidays, and on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas, under code § 576-503. The code applies that exemption to any "parking zone," a term it defines to include authority lots with meters or kiosks, but the authority's FAQ says its lots and garages are paid around the clock; garages are not covered either way. Meters take coins and credit or debit cards and give no change; the ParkMobile and PayByPhone apps work by zone number and plate. A driver displaying a handicapped placard gets one free hour at an on-street meter after paying for the first hour; the free hour does not apply in lots or garages (FAQ 18).

Temporary "No Parking" signs for a move, a contractor, or a funeral are also the authority's. Order them at least 48 hours ahead, online or at the office, and the authority posts and removes them. The sign page lists the per-sign, per-day fees: $25 for businesses and utilities, $10 for a property owner at a non-residence or a funeral home or nonprofit, and $1 for a city resident in front of their own home, limited to 20 days a year. Lamination is $2 a sign and phone payments carry a $4 fee.

Snow emergencies and street sweeping

The Mayor declares a snow emergency. Once declared, you have four hours to move your car off every snow emergency route, under code § 576-902. Cars left behind get a $60 ticket and can be towed at the owner's expense. The same section requires the authority to open its garages to city residents at no charge during a declared emergency; the city's February 2026 declaration applied that to garages only, not surface lots.

Which streets count as routes depends on which source you read. The city's snow emergency page names 14 priority streets, including 5th, Penn, Washington, Walnut, Franklin, Lancaster Avenue, Perkiomen Avenue, Schuylkill Avenue, Kenhorst Boulevard, and Museum Road. The code's § 576-906 lists 25 streets, adding routes such as Centre Avenue, Hampden Boulevard, Morgantown Road, and River Road. Treat any street with a posted snow emergency route sign as covered.

Street sweeping tickets come from the city code's daytime parking restrictions, which the authority enforces. Under code § 576-602, a street can be posted no-parking at most once a week, for a four-hour window of either 8 a.m. to noon or noon to 4 p.m., on one side at a time, with signs going up 12 to 16 hours beforehand. The code lets you park again 15 minutes after the sweeper passes, but the authority's FAQ warns that its enforcement vehicle now drives ahead of the sweeper, so a car still parked when the enforcer passes gets the $35 ticket even if you move it before the sweeper arrives. The city posts its 2026 cardboard-sign sweeping route with dates by block.

FAQ

Is the Reading Parking Authority part of Berks County?

No. It is a City of Reading authority with a five-member board appointed by the Mayor. Berks County does not run it, set its fines, or hear its appeals; the only county connection is that county jurors park free in the Reed & Court garage at county expense.

How do I pay a Reading parking ticket?

Online at readingparkingportal.com, by phone at 610-655-6166, or in person at 430 S. 4th St., weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pay within 30 days to avoid the surcharge; the authority adds 50 percent on days 31 to 60 and doubles the fine after day 60.

How long do I have to appeal a Reading parking ticket?

Thirty calendar days from the violation date, with supporting documents attached. If the administrative review denies the appeal, you must post a bond equal to the ticket within 48 hours to get a hearing before an independent hearing officer, and you can take a loss there to the Berks County Court of Common Pleas within 30 days.

Are Reading parking meters free on Sundays?

Yes. Meters are enforced Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and are free on Sundays and city holidays. Garages charge around the clock; for the authority's surface lots, the code's Sunday exemption and the authority's FAQ disagree, so read the posted signs.

Where are the Reading Parking Authority garages?

DoubleTree (750 Court St.), South Penn (635 Franklin St.), Reed & Court (666 Court St.), Poplar & Walnut (130 Poplar St.), 4th & Cherry (420 Cherry St.), Chiarelli Plaza (25 N. 3rd St.), 2nd & Washington (25 N. 2nd St.), and Front & Washington (120 Washington St.). All are gateless and open 24 hours; pay within 15 minutes of entering.

Sources and contact

• Reading Parking Authority home page — garage list, hourly rates, contact block, and the homepage FAQ with the "as of June 1" monthly rates.
• Frequently Asked Questions — payment methods, gateless garage rules, boot threshold, collections timing, appeal scheduling, courtesy dismissal, placard free hour.
• Contact — address, phone numbers, email.
• Office Hour Update, April 14, 2026 — current 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. hours.
• Violation Descriptions and Fees — the authority's fine table and 31-day and 61-day surcharges.
• Violations and Appeal Process — civil status since 2016, appeal steps, bond rule, invalid appeal reasons.
• Public Notice: Parking Ticket Hearings — Tuesday and Wednesday hearing days, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., by appointment.
• Pay Ticket or Citation and Reading Parking Portal — online payment and appeals.
• Permits — residential permit documents, fees, in-person rule; garage permit application methods and residential-rate distance.
• Parking Services — garage and lot addresses and the monthly rate table.
• Important Parking Update, June 10, 2026 — 5th & Cherry lot closure.
• No Parking Signs — temporary sign fees and 48-hour lead time.
• Board Meeting Schedule — 2026 meeting dates; Monthly Board Meeting Date Change, Oct. 1, 2026 — October's meeting moved to Oct. 13.
• Right-to-Know Request — open-records officer and email.
• Handicap Parking — accessible spaces by garage.
• The Amnesty Program Is Back, May 1, 2026 — 2026 amnesty terms.
• City of Reading: Reading Parking Authority — board size, terms, appointing authority, enabling act.
• City of Reading: Snow Emergency Page — 14 priority routes and towing warning.
• City of Reading: Snow Emergency Declaration, Feb. 22, 2026 — free garage parking applied to garages only.
• City of Reading: Street Sweeping and Cardboard Route 2026 — sweeping schedule by block.
• Reading Code of Ordinances, Chapter 576: § 576-415 and § 576-416 (towing; fine table and deadlines), § 576-417 (residential permits), § 576-503 (meter hours), § 576-518 (appeals), § 576-602 (street sweeping), § 576-814 (boot release), § 576-902 and § 576-906 (snow emergencies and routes).
• Berks County Jury Services and Berks County courthouse parking — free juror parking and the county's referral to the authority's garages.

Reading Parking Authority: 430 S. 4th St., Reading, PA 19602; call center 610-655-6166 (payments, permits, questions); dispatch 484-339-4979 (safety concerns and violation reports); info@readingparking.com; appeals to Appeals@ReadingParking.com; open Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., closed weekends and federal holidays. Right-to-Know requests go to the authority's open-records officer, Mahlon J. Boyer, at righttoknow@readingparking.com.