[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Franklin 10-14-1993
by Ord. No. 93-9 (Ch. 53 of the 1988 Code). Amendments noted
where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Land use — See Ch. 220.
The purpose of this chapter is to require the clear display of authorized
and assigned numbers for every habitable, either residential, commercial,
business or related, building to which access is gained over any street or
road in the Township of Franklin in order to assist the general public and
emergency services, public and private, in identifying the property in case
of emergency or otherwise.
Certain words, used in this chapter, shall have the following meanings:
Any principal building which is designed for human occupancy, including
but not limited to a house or other residential building, a store, warehouse,
industrial building, school or public building, and similar uses. A barn or
similar structure designed for shelter of animals, crops or farm equipment
may be assigned a number.
A principal building as defined in Chapter 220, Land Use, of the Code of the Township of Franklin, County of Hunterdon, State of New Jersey.
Any street, road, lane or driftway which serves as motor vehicular
access to habitable buildings on more than one Tax Map lot. The term shall
include a driveway or farm lane giving access to a principal building or buildings
which are all on one Tax Map lot.
A street or road within the Township of Franklin maintained by this
Township or by the County of Hunterdon.
All habitable buildings and principal buildings (apartments, houses, etc.) stores or other principal buildings erected or to be erected within the Township of Franklin shall display property identification numbers assigned by the Township as provided herein and in conformity with the specifications set forth in § 137-5 herein.
The owner of every habitable building for which a property number is required, as stated in § 137-2 above, shall, at his own expense, within six months after the effective date of this chapter cause the authorized and assigned number of such habitable building to be permanently and conspicuously placed in accordance with the specifications set forth herein, and all other numbers removed.
A.
Property numbers shall be:
(1)
In Arabic numerals.
(2)
A minimum height of three inches.
(3)
Mounted in a secure fashion to the front wall or porch
area of the habitable building or other fixed appurtenance in the front of
the building so as to be clearly visible from the street or road giving access
to such building (except as permitted below).
(4)
Sufficiently legible as to contrasting background, arrangement,
spacing and uniformity so as to be clearly visible from such street or road.
(5)
Posted as follows: Where multiple houses or principal
buildings are located along a lane, private drive, driftway or similar shared
access, numbers shall be located by or on the house or at the end of the individual
driveway and at the end of the lane, in clear view from the roadway. A shared
sign may be posted at the end of the private lane to indicate the respective
numbers located on the lane.
(6)
At least 30 inches above ground level and so placed that
trees, shrubs and other obstructions do not block the line of sight of the
numbers from the street or road upon which the building fronts.
B.
Visibility of numbers on buildings which are set back.
If said habitable building or similar structure is set back 100 feet or if
a number (located as required within this section) would not, due to shrubbery
or other vegetation, be visible from such street or road; then the owner shall
provide a post, rod or other type of fixture of a substantial nature (which
may be a mailbox for the property if located along its frontage of said public
street or road) with the number affixed thereon and so located on the premises
that the number shall be conspicuous and visible from said post or mailbox
and shall also meet the related requirements contained within this section.
House numbers shall be assigned as provided by the 911 enhanced plan as maintained by the Township of Franklin. Every owner of a habitable building or principal structure constructed or to be constructed in the Township of Franklin shall apply to the local post office or the municipal authority (Emergency Management Coordinator) for an authorized number in accordance with this chapter and the applicable divisions of Chapter 220, Land Use.
The numbers of habitable buildings and principal structures on the various
public streets or roads and/or private streets or roads in the Township of
Franklin shall be in conformance with the Tax Map of the Township of Franklin
and with the current tax records which are on file in the office of the Municipal
Clerk and will remain on file in said office for the use and examination
of the public.
Upon the failure of an owner to ascertain and affix upon any building
to which this chapter applies the assigned and authorized number and to remove
all other numbers after the final adoption and publication of the chapter,
the Emergency Management Coordinator and/or the Franklin Township Police shall
enforce the provisions herein.
