Reading is an inner suburb of Cincinnati with about 10,600 residents, sitting in the Mill Creek Valley between Evendale, Lockland, and Bond Hill. Most homes were built between the 1920s and 1960s on compact lots. If you’re adding, replacing, or expanding a deck, the City of Reading handles permits through its Zoning Administrator and its contracted building department (XPEX).
Building and Zoning Department Contact Information
| Detail | Information |
| Address | City of Reading, 1000 Market Street, Reading, OH 45215 |
| City main line | (513) 733-3725 |
| Zoning Administrator | (513) 733-3725 Ext. 126 or rcook@readingohio.org |
| Building Dept (XPEX) | Gerry Stoker — (513) 884-0891 or gerry@stoker.org |
| Residential inspections | Bill Knight — (513) 787-4128 |
| Office hours | Admin/Water/Tax: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, Mon-Fri |
| Website | readingohio.org — Building Department |
How the Permit Process Works
- Contact the Zoning Administrator — (513) 733-3725 Ext. 126 or rcook@readingohio.org.
- Complete the Building and Zoning Application from the city website.
- Prepare three sets of plans plus a site plan.
- Submit to the city at 1000 Market Street. Zoning reviews first.
- Building code review by XPEX — contact Gerry Stoker at (513) 884-0891.
- Receive your permit — work cannot start until issued.
Permit Fees
Reading follows Hamilton County’s fee schedule minus the county surcharge. Fee schedules for both building and zoning are published online.
Inspections
| Stage | What’s Reviewed | How to Schedule |
| Footing | Depth, diameter, soil, reinforcement — before concrete | Call Bill Knight (513) 787-4128 |
| Framing | Ledger, joist/beam connections, post hardware, guardrails | Call Bill Knight |
| Final | All work complete — surface, rails, stairs, electrical | Call Bill Knight |
Building on Older Properties — What to Know
- Band joist condition — On pre-1960s homes, the rim joist may be undersized or deteriorated. Inspect before designing ledger attachment.
- Lot sizes can be tight — Compact urban lots mean setbacks consume more buildable area. 12×14 or 12×16 may be more realistic than larger layouts.
- Grading and drainage — Decades of settling and altered drainage patterns need to be accounted for in footing plans.
- Existing structures may be unpermitted — Previous additions may not have been permitted. New work will be reviewed against current code.
Zoning Considerations
Before designing, confirm with the Zoning Administrator: your zoning district and setbacks, maximum lot coverage, and whether a variance is needed. Variance applications go to the Board of Appeals with a formal hearing process.
Tips for Reading Homeowners
- Call the Zoning Administrator first — Zoning review happens before building review.
- Know who does what — City handles zoning. XPEX handles building code. Bill Knight handles inspections.
- Inspect your band joist before designing — Pre-1960s homes may need freestanding deck design.
- Three sets of plans required — Residential projects need three sets plus a site plan.
- Budget for the permit fee — Follows Hamilton County schedule minus the surcharge.
- Consider composite on older properties — Eliminates the maintenance cycle that caused the previous deck’s deterioration.
Ready to Build?
If you’re planning a deck in Reading, Deck Builders Cincinnati handles zoning and building permits throughout the region. Call (513) 586-3107 or visit deckcontractorscincinnati.com to get started.