The Town of Reading makes no claims and provides no guaranty or warranty as to the validity, accuracy, or reliability of GIS data furnished by the Town or their fitness for any particular purpose. The Town of Reading is not responsible for data developed by other individuals or organizations. It is the responsibility of the user of the GIS data to evaluate their suitability for the intended purpose. Reliance upon GIS data furnished by the Town is at the risk of the user.

Parcel information is compiled from recorded deeds and surveyed plans and is current as of January 1, 2010. Users of these maps are hereby notified that the aforementioned public primary information sources should be consulted for verification of the information contained on these maps. Parcel owner information and valuations are from the Assessing Department and are updated on this site annually. The parcel data schema is compliant with Level II of the MassGIS Parcel Standard. Town owned land, street centerlines, and street names are maintained annually as part of the parcel map.

Planimetric base data are from 2008 aerial photos. These layers include building footprints, infrastructure, sidewalks, driveways, parking, roads, sports facilities, streams, rivers, drainage, wet areas, and cemeteries. Downtown has been updated from CAD plans since significant changes were made after the 2008 flyover. Wet areas are not as accurate and do not substitute for wetlands delineated on the ground by a wetlands scientist.

The West Street Historic District was approved September 21, 2005. Historic properties are provided by the Reading Historical Commission. Elementary school districts were approved by the Reading School Department in December 2004. Private wells and septic system information are provided by the Reading Health Division.

The zoning layers, including the aquifer protection district and overlay districts, are current as of November 30, 2009. The zoning layer is currently under review for errors.

Flood zones were updated by FEMA and went into affect on June 4, 2010.

Hydrants, water system, and sewer system layers were developed by Camp Dresser & McKie and delivered February 9, 2007.

The open space layer was developed by the Town in 2007. It is based on the MassGIS data schema and was approved by the State in draft form.

The following GIS layers are from MassGIS: commuter rail, highways, transmission lines, abutting towns, floodplain, and USGS topo quads. More information on each of these data layers can be found at www.mass.gov/mgis/laylist.htm.

2008 aerial photos provided by the Town of Reading were flown in April 2008. 1998 aerial photos were flown in April of that year. Two foot contours were developed from the 2008 aerial photos.