This article shall be known as the "Uniform
Addressing System."
Acting under the authority granted under R.I.G.L.
§ 45-6-1, the Town Council hereby ordains this article establishing
a uniform numbering system for the numbering of residential, commercial
and industrial buildings and lots in the Town.
The standards set forth in this article are
made for the purpose of promoting the public health and safety by
providing a means of locating residential and other structures by
police, fire and other emergency services or for other purposes as
may be required.
Any person violating the provisions of this
article shall be punished by a fine of not more than $25 for each
violation.
This uniform addressing system shall be administered
by the engineering and planning departments. These departments shall
assign building numbers to all residential, commercial and industrial
structures and lots in conformity with the plan developed pursuant
to this article. The engineering and planning departments shall also
be responsible for the maintaining of the following official records
of this numbering system:
A. A Town map for official use, showing the numbering
system.
B. A Town-wide alphabetical list of property owners by
last name, showing the assigned numbers.
C. A Town-wide alphabetical list of street names that
are selected by the Town Council, with property owners listed in order
of their assigned numbers.
The following criteria shall govern the development
of the address numbering system and the assignment of numbers:
A. Eastern section. In the eastern section of Town, consecutive
numbering has been established. It will continue to remain in force.
The numbering system or street address assignment will be changed
only in instances where the numbering system in use is out of sequence
or where a problem arises from a duplicate street name.
B. Western section. In unnumbered areas in the western
section of Town, streets will have an odd or even number assigned
to either side of the street at an interval of one number every 10
feet, except in the case of Hope Furnace Road, where the number interval
will be spaced one odd and even number every 50 feet.
C. Odd and even numbers. Odd numbers shall be on the
south or west side of the street, that is, on the left side of all
streets facing from the point of number origin to the point of number
destination of each street.
D. Number origins.
(1) Through streets. On through streets which terminate
on another street at both ends, numbers shall start at a designated
common point of origin or a designated major road.
(2) Dead-end streets. On dead-end streets or culs-de-sac,
numbers will start at the intersection or origin of the street and
run toward the dead end or turnaround.
(3) Exceptions to Subsection
D(1) or
(2) of this section shall be decided on a case-by-case basis.
E. Common access. Where several residential or other
structures are served by a common driveway or private right-of-way
which is not a street recognized by the Town Council, the number at
the entrance shall apply to all structures served by the drive or
way, and each separate structure shall be identified by a suffix letter
(for example, 115A), in counterclockwise rotation, starting with the
structure on the immediate right of the driveway or accessway.
F. Number assignment. The number assigned to each residence
or structure shall be the number which falls closest to the main entry
or driveway providing access to the property, as shown on the official
map of street numbers.
All residents and other occupants are requested
to post the assigned address number and street name adjacent to their
telephone for emergency reference.
Whenever any residence or other structure is
constructed or developed, it shall be the duty of the new owner to
procure an assigned address number from the Town Building Official.
This shall be done at the time of the issuance of the building permit.
The choice of new street names shall be subject
to the following restrictions:
A. Generally. Names shall be chosen that relate to the
location and historical significance of an area.
B. Unacceptable names. Numerical names such as "1st,"
"2nd," "3rd" and the like, alphabetical letter names such as "A,"
"B," "C" and the like, and frivolous, complicated, undesirable or
unconventional names are unacceptable.
C. Affixes. Unnecessary affixes are to be avoided. Terms
that may be utilized are as follows: "East," "West," "North" or "South,"
indicating direction, and "Old" or "New" to indicate changes in differing
or separate roads.
D. Name duplication. Similar sounding names are considered
to be duplication regardless of spelling. No duplication of names
is permitted within the services of a United States post office or
a local public agency such as a police or fire department.
E. Continuity. A continuous street, or one proposed as
continuous, should bear the same name throughout even if it changes
direction.
All buildings in the Town shall display street
numbers in accordance with the provisions of this article.
No owner, occupant, lessee, tenant or subtenant
of any building shall display any address number other than the assigned
proper number designated by the Town Council.
All residents and other occupants shall display
assigned numbers in the following manner:
A. Number on structure. Where the residence or structure
is within 50 feet of the edge of a street right-of-way, the assigned
number shall be displayed on the front of the residence or structure
in the vicinity of the front door or entryway.
B. Number at street line. Where the residence or structure
is over 50 feet from the edge of the street right-of-way, the assigned
number shall be displayed on a post, fence, wall or mailbox at the
property line adjacent to the walk or access drive to the residence
or structure.
C. Size and color of number. Numbers shall be displayed
in contrasting color and size, shall be visible in all weather conditions
and at night, and shall be of materials approved for use by the Town
Council. Numbers shall be so located as to be easily visible from
the street.
D. Obstruction of numbers. Visibility of numbers shall
not be impaired by any plantings or other objects or structures.