The County shall establish and assign street
address numbers in accordance with the guidelines set forth herein.
All buildings used for residential, commercial, institutional or governmental
purposes shall be provided with an address identifying the building.
A.
The addressing system will be based on a grid/frontage
interval system. The address numbers will be four or five digits (depending
on your location) and will be part of the Delaware State Plane coordinate
system.
B.
The frontage interval addressing system is based on
the measurement of the intervals between the beginning of a road and
the structures along the road. The frontage interval system will follow
an interval guideline or measurement increments, which will yield
approximately 528 possible address numbers per mile.
C.
For each road in the County a starting address number will be obtained at the start point (intersection) of each road by the following approach. (See also Diagram 1.[1])
(1)
Each road will be given a direction based on its overall
meandering throughout the County. The direction will either be a road
that transverses north — south or west — east. If the
road is identified as a north — south road, then the starting
address value would be the last five integer digits of the y value
or the Northing value of the Delaware State Plane coordinate at that
location. If the road is identified as a west — east road, then
the starting address value would be the last five integer digits of
the x value or the Easting value of the Delaware State Plane coordinate
at that location.
(2)
Once the starting address number has been obtained,
the road will be divided into twenty-foot segments. Each twenty-foot
segment of road will get an odd and even address number incrementally
from its starting point. A perpendicular line is drawn from the structure
to the road and the structure will acquire the address number of the
twenty-foot segment of road that the perpendicular line intersects.
It will acquire the odd or even address number depending upon which
side of the road it is located on. If a structure cannot be given
a point that is perpendicular to the road then the structure will
be attached to the closest point on the road and given its twenty-foot
segment address. An example of this is when a structure is accessed
beyond the end of the road. This structure will receive the last address
of the road.
[1]
Editor's Note: Diagram 1 is included at the end of this chapter.
D.
The frontage interval system includes rules for the
point of beginning of the road, the location of odd and even numbers
along a road, the take-off point for semicircular roads and numbering
culs-de-sac, numbering of diagonal roads, numbering of apartments
and duplexes, numbering of businesses, manufactured home parks and
stacked addresses.
[Amended 10-12-2010 by Ord. No. 2152]
E.
The following list is a description of the generally
acceptable numbering standards.
(1)
The frontage interval: assign numbers every (20 feet)
or approximately each 1/264 mile. This will yield approximately 528
numbers per mile, 264 odd on one side and 264 even on the other side.
(2)
Odd/even number location: Assign even numbers on the
right side, from the point of beginning, and odd numbers on the left
side, from the point of beginning. This may be reversed to conform
to existing addresses.
(3)
Beginning point. Numbering should begin at the west beginning point and proceed eastward or at the south beginning point and proceed northward. In the case of a dead-end road, the beginning point will be at the point of departure from the main road, regardless of direction. See Subsection E(8).
(4)
Fractional, alphanumeric, hyphenated addresses.
(a)
There should be no use of fractional addresses,
alphanumeric address numbers, nor hyphenated address numbers (e.g.,
34 1/2 Ash Street, 123A Main Street, 41-656 Bell Street).
(b)
Rules set forth in Subsection E(1) through (4) shall apply unless you are continuing a city numbering scheme, as in leaving a city or subdivision, where other numbers are being used. In this case, the existing system in place will dictate the beginning, odd/even number. See Subsection E(10) and (14).
(c)
Recommendations for specific numbering situations
are below. The general logical order of address elements should follow
United States Postal Service (USPS) conventions: road number, pre-directional
(if any), primary road name, suffix, post-directional (if any), and
secondary number (if any) (e.g., 110 S Main Street, Apt. 304).
(5)
Bridges. In the future, bridges may be numbered to
identify them for purposes of references, just as houses.
(6)
Diagonal streets. Diagonal streets should be treated
as either north-south or east-west streets. Arbitrary decisions on
the direction are acceptable, but the primary direction should be
chosen.
(7)
Circular streets. Circular streets and roads begin
at the low-numbered intersection and are numbered with the even numbers
on the inside of the circle. The outside of the circle is numbered
first and consecutively. The inside is then numbered to match and
mix with the outside. This will result, in some cases, in fewer numbers
on the inside of the circle, and also with spaces between the numbers.
(8)
Culs-de-sac.
(a)
Culs-de-sac often require applying the rules
for both dead-end streets and circular streets. Those without buildings
in the center portion should be numbered as if the center line of
the street bisects the cul-de-sac. The numbering begins from the intersection
of the main road and ascends toward the cul-de-sac. Once in the cul-de-sac
the numbers proceed odd around the left side of the circle and even
around the right side of the circle progressing in the direction that
the numbers increase. Odd and even numbers meet at mid-point or the
back of the cul-de-sac.
(b)
On rare occasions there may be structures inside
the cul-de-sac. When this occurs, number the structure or structures
in the way that will fit best. Generally there are no houses in the
middle ground.
(9)
Corner lots. When assigning numbers to corner lots,
use the driveway. When the driveway is obscured or if the structure
is best reached for emergency purposes by the front door, assign the
property number based on where the front door falls on the road.
(10)
Crossing county lines. When crossing county lines,
consideration will be given to an existing numbering system in that
county. If no system exists, the numbering will stop at the county
line. If a system does exist in that county, those numbers may continue,
following these rules for distance and direction.
(11)
Stacked addresses. Houses or manufactured homes behind other houses or manufactured homes facing the road, sharing a common driveway, should be numbered following the rules for distance and direction herein. Use of a hyphenated, alphanumeric or fractional number is discouraged (e.g., 254A, 254 1/2, or 254-3). See Subsection E(4).
[Amended 10-12-2010 by Ord. No. 2152]
(12)
Apartments and duplexes. Apartments and other multitenant
structures should be numbered with the main building and then assigned
apartment numbers as secondary location indicators (e.g., 202 Main
Street, Apt 303). If possible, use apartment numbers to indicate the
floor location (e.g., Apt. 303 is the third apartment on the third
floor). If a building has a separate entrance for each unit, then
each entrance will receive an address.
(13)
Businesses. Businesses and business districts should be numbered just as apartments, with the middle of the building determining the number and the offices or businesses in the building being numbered as suites (e.g., 225 Oak Drive, Suite 34). This rule may also be applied to office parks where each business has its own small building. See § 73-18.
(14)
Interfacing with existing systems. When interfacing
with existing numbering systems, care should be taken in locating
the last assigned number of the existing system. All possible sources
should be checked to determine the last number.
(15)
Manufactured home parks. Manufactured home parks should
be addressed the same as single-family dwellings with all roads being
named, and following the rules for distance and direction herein (e.g.,
45 Forest Lane).
[Amended 10-12-2010 by Ord. No. 2152]
(16)
Highways. Highways with no numbering system in place
or where the system is to be changed will be numbered from county
line to county line, following the rules for distance and direction
herein.
(17)
Structures. When assigning numbers, the middle of the structure should determine the address assigned. Structures should always be numbered according to where the driveway enters the road, not where the mailbox is. An exception to this is when the structure is obscured or if the structure is best reached for emergency purposes by the front door. In such cases, the address should be assigned where the front door falls on the road. See also Subsection E(9).
(18)
Preplanning subdivisions. New subdivisions will require street naming and address assignments to the lots prior to final approval. Sussex County government must review the plan for compliance with the various sections of this policy, as they relate to street naming and the assignment of address numbers. Sussex County government must sign off on this portion of the subdivision plan. See §§ 73-4, 73-21C and 73-26B. Preplanning requires that corner lots be numbered in two directions, since it is unknown which way the houses might face on the lot. See Subsection E(9).
The following buildings and uses will be exempt
from the addressing system, but may be addressed at the request of
the property owner.
A.
If an address number is changed for any reason, the
County shall be responsible for changing the address number.
B.
When such a change is made, the County shall notify
the building owner to make the change, and the County will notify
the United States Postal Service (USPS), and emergency services.
C.
The owner of the building shall change the posted
address numbers within 30 days of receipt of such notice. The resident
of the building will be responsible for notifying all suppliers and
others of the address change.
A.
Building permit requirements. Prior to beginning new
construction, property owners shall submit an application for a building
permit. When the building permit is issued, an address will be assigned
and mailed to the address submitted on the building permit.
B.
Subdivision requirements. No residential, commercial
or industrial subdivision or land development shall be approved or
recorded unless the street name(s) have been assigned. Addresses will
be assigned immediately after the subdivision is recorded.
A.
No certificate of occupancy shall be issued until
the assigned property number has been displayed in accordance with
the requirements of this chapter.
B.
It shall be the responsibility of each and every property
owner, trustee, lessee, agent and occupant of each residence, apartment
building, business or industry to purchase, post and maintain address
numbers as required under this policy at all times.
C.
It shall be the duty of the above mentioned, upon
affixing a new address number, to remove any conflicting number.
D.
It shall be unlawful to cover any address number with
any sign, drapery, or other obstruction tending to conceal such number.
All address numbers must be displayed on a contrasting
background and must be reflective.
A.
Residences, townhouses and businesses.
(1)
It shall be the duty of each and every property owner,
trustee, lessee, agent and occupant of each residence, apartment building
or business to display the assigned address number according to the
guidelines set forth herein. The address shall be made up of numbers
and letters that are light reflective and contrasting in color with
the background on which they are affixed and shall be posted according
to one of the two following methods:
(a)
On the mailbox using three-inch light-reflective
numbers and/or letters, provided the address is clearly visible from
both sides of the street or road it is located on and clearly identifies
the structure the address belongs to. If the mailbox is not located
directly in front of the property it is addressed to, or if multiple
mailboxes are grouped together, a sign can be placed on the property
in a location which clearly identifies which structure it belongs
to; or
(b)
On the structure itself using four-inch light-reflective
numbers and/or letters, provided the address is posted on that portion
of the structure that is most visible from the road or street the
structure is located on and it clearly identifies the structure the
address belongs to.
(2)
Whichever method is chosen, the address must clearly
identify which structure the address belongs to and must be visible
from both sides of the street or road the structure is located on
or is closest to during both day and night time hours.
B.
Private lane and long driveways. If any residence,
apartment building or business (except malls or shopping centers)
is located so that the address number is not clearly visible from
the street, an additional address number shall be posted at the intersection
of the driveway with the public street. The additional address number
shall be made up of numbers and/or letters which are not less than
four inches in height, reflective, contrasting in color with the background
on which they are affixed, visible day or night, and placed upon a
post or other structure which displays the number at least 48 inches
above the ground. The property owner is responsible for the installation
of these additional sets of address identifiers.
C.
Industrial and commercial structures in low-density
areas. All industrial and commercial structures located in low density
development areas (areas in which small residential style address
numbers are not visible from the road) shall display address numbers
of not less than 10 inches in height. The number shall be reflective,
contrast in color with the background on which it is affixed and shall
be visible day or night, from the street. When possible, the number
shall be displayed beside or over the main entrance of the structure.
D.
Apartment buildings and high-rises.
(1)
All apartment buildings and high-rises shall display
address numbers above or to the side of the primary entrance to the
building. Address numbers shall be reflective, contrast with the color
of the background to which they are affixed, and shall be at least
six inches in height to be visible day or night from the opposite
side of the street facing the main entrance.
(2)
Apartment numbers for individual units within the
complex shall be displayed on, above, or to the side of the doorway
of each unit.
E.
Bridges. In the future, and if this policy is amended,
all bridges shall have displayed address numbers of not less than
six inches in height, reflective, contrasting in color with the background
on which they are affixed, visible day or night, and placed upon a
post or other structure which displays the number at least 48 inches
above the ground. Addresses shall be placed at each end of the bridge.
County officials and county employees should
be authorized to enter upon private property for the purposes of inspection
and to give notice by personal service or by certified mail to persons
in violation of this policy directing them to abate the situation
within 30 days after issuance of such notice.