[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the County of Page 9-20-2005.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Subdivision of land — See Ch. 100.
Zoning — See Ch. 125.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also provided for the repeal of former Ch. 127, Buildings, Numbering of, adopted 5-13-1997. Additionally, this ordinance provided that it take effect 1-1-2006.
A. 
The purpose of this chapter is to improve the County of Page E-911 addressing and to provide for a uniform county-wide addressing system with respect to naming of streets and roadways; fabrication, erection and maintenance of street name signs; address posting requirements; enforcement procedures; and assigning street or house numbers to all residences and principal buildings and businesses. This will assist fire and rescue companies, law enforcement agencies, the Unites States Postal Service, parcel delivery companies, utility companies, tax appraisal, public works, planning and the general public in the timely and efficient provision of services to residents and businesses of the County of Page.
B. 
This chapter is to describe a system for the naming of roads/streets and subdivisions in Page County. This document may be used by the Towns of Luray, Stanley and Shenandoah.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
DESIGNATOR
The suffix used to indicate the road/street type.
GOVERNING JURISDICTION
The body representing a town or the County as established by Virginia Code.
PUBLIC SAFETY ROAD/STREET AND SUBDIVISION NAMING AGENT
The County Administrator of the County of Page or his designee, hereafter referred to as "agent."
ROAD, STREET
A road or street, whether public or private, shall refer to the principal means of access to abutting property, including but not limited to any avenue, cul-de-sac, drive, highway, lane, place or any other principal access.
SIGN
A. 
For purposes of a road/street sign: The display of a road/street name according to current standards established by the Virginia Department of Transportation if within Page County, the standards established by the towns if within the towns.
B. 
For purposes of a subdivision sign: The display of a subdivision name according to the Page County Zoning Ordinance,[1] the standards established by the towns if within the towns.
SUBDIVISION
For the purposes of this chapter, a subdivision is any planned development of a residential, commercial or industrial nature requiring the submittal of a site plan or subdivision plat to the local jurisdiction, and in the opinion of the agent should be named to enhance emergency services response. This definition includes a manufactured home park or subdivision.
TOWN(S)
For the purposes of this chapter, "town(s)" hereafter refers to any town(s) in Page County that has/have adopted this chapter.
USPS ABBREVIATIONS
The official standardized street suffix abbreviations recognized by the automated equipment at the United States Postal Service (USPS).
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 125, Zoning.
A. 
The County Administrator of the County of Page, or his designee, shall be responsible for the interpretation and administration of the provisions of this chapter.
B. 
The Page County GIS Department will establish new private road names, road name changes and the assignment of new structure numbers using procedures and guidelines provided in this chapter. New private road names may be suggested by owners and/or residents of that unnamed road because they are directly impacted by the change.
C. 
An application for a new residential or business permit shall be an application for an address assignment. Each 911 address application shall contain a site plan showing the parcel on which the structure will be located, the proposed location of the completed structure, the named road from which the proposed structure will be accessed and the permanent driveway access to the structure from that named road. In addition, any measurements showing the relationship of the proposed structure to other structures, properties, road intersections, driveways or landmarks deemed necessary for the assignment of a valid address shall be included on the site plan. It shall be determined at the time of application approval the need for new private roads.
D. 
Addresses for new structures will be assigned upon the completion of a 911 address application. The County reserves the right to change the assigned address if the structure or the driveway differs from where it was located on the 911 application.
[Amended 5-18-2010]
E. 
All addresses and road names shall be assigned before a certificate of occupancy is issued for completed construction.
F. 
Information on structure addresses and road address ranges will be maintained as mapping layer features in the County's geographic information system (GIS). Address ranges along roads are maintained in the GIS and on the master street address guide (MSAG) database in the County E-911 Office.
G. 
The Page County GIS Department will maintain the address point layer in the GIS.
H. 
New addresses will be established using global positioning system (GPS) technology to locate the driveway and foundation of the new structure to be addressed.
A. 
Roads/streets requiring names.
(1) 
All roads/streets in Page County and all roads in the towns shall be named following the guidelines in this chapter.
(2) 
When a private road has three or more habitable structures, it must be assigned a road name.
(3) 
Exceptions may be granted by the County Administrator's office for two or fewer structures sharing a common driveway that are not visible from the named road if the landowners owning the structure(s) request a new private street name.
[Amended 5-18-2010]
(4) 
In the case of a new habitable structure being built that will use the same access or driveway that a current structure uses, that current structure address will change and be readdressed off of the new private road. Landowners should be aware of this when subdividing property for new habitable structures.
(5) 
Roads that terminate at rivers, pastures or other natural features and continue on the other side of that feature cannot continue with that same road name. A new road name shall be assigned to the remaining road and structures readdressed to the new named road.
B. 
Review and approval of proposed road names. All proposed names shall be reviewed by the agent for conformance with the guidelines established herein. If a proposed road name is found to be in accordance with all provisions in this chapter, the County Administrator or designee shall approve the name.
C. 
Road/street name guidelines. All names proposed within the County and the towns shall be reviewed to avoid potentially confusing situations for emergency responders.
(1) 
Duplication. A proposed road/street name which duplicates an existing or reserved road/street name in Page County or the Towns of Luray, Stanley and Shenandoah shall not be approved.
(2) 
Confusion. A proposed name shall not sound like or similar to an official road name (for example, Cherry and Cheery or Lynwood and Linwoode).
(3) 
Length of name. A road/street name and the abbreviated suffix should not exceed 18 characters, including spaces. Any abbreviated suffix must comply with USPS standards.
(4) 
Special characters. A road/street name shall not include hyphens, apostrophes, periods, numbers or nonalphabetical characters.
(5) 
Directionals. Compass points (such as north, northeast, etc.) should be avoided in road names.
(6) 
Articles. Articles (such as the, a, an, etc.) shall not be used.
(7) 
Community or geographic features. The use of names derived from community names or geographic features should be limited to locations in such communities or geographic features.
(8) 
Name breaks:
(a) 
Any continuous road broken by incorporated jurisdictions (i.e., the towns), may have separate names where segmented by those jurisdictions.
(b) 
If the intersection of roads is offset, the segments should have different names. In some cases, adding directionals to the name will constitute a different name.
(c) 
If the intersection of roads is not offset, the segments may have different names.
D. 
Road/street type designators. The road/street name suffixes, or road/street type designators, should be consistent with the roadway's expected traffic use, width of right-of way, and physical design or location. The County Administrator or designee may recognize any designator that meets USPS standards. The following list is not exhaustive.
Road/Street Type Designations, USPS Abbreviations and Definitions
Alley - ALY:
A narrow or minor street in a community or a narrow street between or behind buildings.
Avenue - AVE:
A major road in a community.
Bend - BND:
Generally a minor road.
Bluff - BLF:
A road running up or along a high hill.
Boulevard - BLVD:
A wide road with a median and landscaping.
Bottom - BTM:
A road running through a small valley or below a hill.
Center - CTR:
Generally a central area with commercial buildings clustered around it.
Circle - CIR:
A short road that returns to itself.
Court - CT:
Generally shorter permanent culs-de-sac.
Cove - CV:
Generally a minor road through a small valley or pass.
Creek - CRK:
A road that crosses or runs along a creek.
Crossing - XING:
A road that crosses a geographic feature, such as a creek or mountain, or a short road that serves as a connector between two other roads.
Drive - DR:
Generally a winding or straight road.
Garden - GDN:
Generally a minor road in a landscaped or park-like area.
Glen - GLN:
Generally a narrow road through a small valley.
Grove - GRV:
Generally a minor road through a small wood or group of trees.
Heights - HTS:
A road along high ground.
Highway - HWY:
A significant state or federal roadway.
Hollow - HOLW:
A road through a small valley.
Lane - LN:
A narrow, usually dead-end road.
Loop - LOOP:
A short drive that begins and ends on the same road.
Park - PK:
Reserved for entranceways to public parks.
Parkway - PKY:
A scenic or landscaped road.
Path - PATH:
A short and/or narrow road.
Pike - PIKE:
Generally a state primary-numbered road.
Place - PL:
A dead-end or cul-de-sac road.
Plaza - PLZ:
Generally a central area with commercial buildings clustered around it.
Point - PT:
Generally along high ground.
Road - RD:
Generally primary and secondary roads.
Run - RUN:
A road that crosses or runs along a creek or run.
Square - SQ:
Generally a central area with buildings clustered around it.
Street - ST:
A community or subdivision road.
Terrace - TER:
Generally a hillside road in a community or subdivision.
Trail - TRL:
A winding or straight road generally of historical significance.
Turnpike - TPKE:
Generally a state primary-numbered road.
View - VW:
A road through a scenic area or overlooking a scenic area.
Vista - VIS:
A road through a scenic area or overlooking a scenic area.
Way - WAY:
Generally a minor road which may dead end.
E. 
Road/street naming process. For the purpose of this section, "served" by a road/street shall include right of use whether or not a property actually uses such road/street.
(1) 
Policy on participation in road/street naming.
(a) 
The process of naming roads/streets shall be limited to those who own property served by the road in question or by the governing jurisdiction.
(b) 
Where the road/street serves several properties, the landowners shall be given the opportunity to propose the name. This name must be submitted with the 911 address application. A minimum of 75% of the landowners must approve the proposed road/street name. If the name is not submitted with the application, the County Administrator or designee will assign a road name. If a landowner does not respond within 30 days of the date of the letter from the County Administrator or designee, the landowner's right for input in proposing the road/street name will be forfeited.
[Amended 5-18-2010]
(c) 
In the event that there is no participation from the landowners, the governing jurisdiction shall name the road/street in accordance with article procedures.
(2) 
Change in existing road/street name.
(a) 
Page County shall accept no name change requests from landowners for a period of two years following the installation of the road/street sign.
[Amended 5-18-2010]
(b) 
The fees for processing a name change must be paid at the time the request is submitted. An administrative fee shall be levied by the County Administrator or designee for road/street name review, name-change notification of the affected landowners or residents, the processing of name changes to cover corrections to all copies of the Master Road/Street Names Directory, the maps used by emergency services and any other related costs. An infrastructure fee shall be levied to cover the cost of the manufacture and installation of the road/street sign and any other related costs.
[Amended 5-18-2010]
(c) 
Requests to change a Page County road/street name shall be submitted in writing to the County Administrator or designee and shall include the following information:
[1] 
A description of the request for the change, including:
[a] 
Proposed road/street name or names. Several should be submitted in order of preference.
[b] 
Location of road/street on a map, giving the direction and distance from the nearest intersection of two public roads/streets.
[c] 
Existing road/street name(s).
[d] 
Reason for request to change road/street name.
[2] 
A list of all property owners within the subdivision in question, identified by tax parcel number and address.
[a] 
Each landowner must sign a notarized statement to indicate favor or opposition to the proposed road name(s).
[b] 
All notarized statements must be attached to the written request for a road name change {See § 127-4E(2)(c)[1] above}.
[3] 
The landowners in favor of the proposed name(s) must represent the majority of the residences served by the road/street.
(3) 
Road/street name reservation. The submittal of a preliminary plan or plat for review will reserve any road/street names therein unless those names fail to meet the criteria, the approval of the governing body in the respective jurisdiction or unless the project is disapproved, abandoned or otherwise voided. Refer also to § 127-5D(3) below.
(4) 
Road/street naming in the subdivision and site development review process. Refer to § 127-5D(2) below.
(5) 
Road/street naming of annexed areas. If changes are to occur within areas annexed by the towns, those areas shall be addressed, or renamed and addressed, on the date the annexation occurs.
A. 
Subdivision requiring names. All commercial, industrial and residential subdivisions, including manufactured home parks and subdivisions, in Page County shall be named. Subdivisions in the towns shall he named pursuant to County ordinances.
B. 
Review and approval of proposed subdivision names. All proposed names shall be reviewed by the agent for conformance with the guidelines established herein. If a proposed subdivision name is found to be in accordance with all provisions in this chapter, the agent shall approve the name.
C. 
Subdivision naming guidelines. All subdivision names proposed within the County and the towns shall be reviewed to avoid potentially confusing situations for emergency responders.
(1) 
Duplication. A proposed subdivision name shall not duplicate an existing or reserved subdivision name in the County or the towns. A subdivision name and a road/street name may be the same only if the road/street is within that subdivision.
(2) 
Confusion. A proposed subdivision name shall not sound like or be similar to the name of an existing or reserved subdivision name or an existing or reserved road/street name in the County or towns.
(3) 
Directionals. Compass points (such as north, northeast, etc.) shall be avoided in subdivision names.
(4) 
Community or geographic features. The use of names derived from community names or geographic features should be limited to locations in such communities or geographic features.
D. 
Subdivision naming process.
(1) 
Change in existing subdivision name. The fee(s) for processing a subdivision name change must be paid at the time the request is submitted. An administrative fee shall be levied by the County Administrator or designee for subdivision name review, name-change notification of the affected landowners or residents, the processing of name changes to cover corrections to all copies of the Master Road/Street and Subdivision Names Directory, the maps used by emergency services and any other related costs.
[Amended 5-18-2010]
(a) 
When the request is initiated by the subdivision residents or landowners. Requests to change a Page County subdivision name shall be in writing to the County Administrator or designee and shall include the following information:
[1] 
A description of the request for the change, including:
[a] 
Proposed subdivision name or names. Several should be submitted in order of preference.
[b] 
Location of subdivision on a map, giving the direction and distance from the nearest intersection of two public roads/streets.
[c] 
Existing subdivision name.
[d] 
Reason for request to change subdivision name.
(2) 
A list of all property owners within the subdivision in question, identified by tax parcel number and address.
(a) 
Each landowner must sign a notarized statement to indicate favor or opposition to the proposed road name(s).
(b) 
All notarized statements must be attached to the written request for a road name change {See § 127-5D(1)(a)[1] above}.
(3) 
A minimum of 75% of the landowners must be in favor of the proposed name(s) for a name change to occur. If a landowner does not respond within 30 days of the date of the letter from the County Administrator or designee, the landowner's right for input in proposing the road/street name will be forfeited.
[Amended 5-18-2010]
(a) 
When the request is initiated by the developer. If the subdivision has sold lots, the developer shall involve the residents or landowners in the name change request and follow the above procedure. If no lots have been sold, the developer may request a name change. A description of the request for the change shall include:
[1] 
Proposed subdivision name or names. Several should be submitted in order of preference.
[2] 
Location of subdivision on a map, giving the direction and distance from the nearest intersection of two public roads/streets.
[3] 
Existing subdivision name.
[4] 
Reason for request to change subdivision name.
(4) 
Subdivision and road/street naming in the subdivision and site development review process. No fee is required for processing the proposed name(s) for a new subdivision.
(a) 
A developer may contact the County Administrator or designee prior to submission to determine the availability of proposed names. Subdivision name and road/street names may be reserved as provided in § 127-5D(3) of this chapter.
(b) 
Proposed subdivision name and road/street names shall appear on all final site development plans and subdivision plats, where applicable.
(c) 
No final site development plan or final subdivision plat shall be approved until the subdivision name and all roads/streets are named and approved.
(d) 
A subdivision name or a road/street name is approved for a five-year period within which time a final plat must be recorded. It is the responsibility of the developer to renew the reserved names on the preliminary plan or plat if the final plat is not approved within five years of the preliminary plan approval.
(e) 
It shall be the developer's responsibility to notify the County Administrator or designee when the final plat has been recorded with the Clerk of the Court, giving the deed hook and page number. It shall also be the responsibility of the developer to notify the agent when the subdivision name and the road/street name is in use. The subdivision name and road/street names on the approved final plat shall be reserved for five years. Renewal of the reserved status is the responsibility of the developer.
(5) 
Subdivision and road/street name reservation. The submittal of a preliminary plan or plat for review will reserve any subdivision name and the subdivision road/street names therein unless those names fail to meet the criteria, the approval of the governing body in the respective jurisdiction or unless the project is disapproved, abandoned, or otherwise voided.
A. 
County Administrator or designee receives request pursuant to the guidelines established in §§ 127-3, 127-4 and 127-5 above.
B. 
County Administrator or designee reviews name(s), pursuant to the name criteria established in §§ 127-4C and 127-5C above.
C. 
County Administrator or designee approves or denies name(s) and notifies applicant.
D. 
If name(s) submitted is approved and appears on the final plat recorded with the Clerk of the Court, agent contacts the appropriate governing jurisdiction. It shall be the responsibility of the appropriate governing jurisdiction to notify pertinent entities and agencies of any change within its boundaries.
E. 
County Administrator or designee updates the Master Road/Street and Subdivision Names Directory and the Road/Street and Subdivision Names Map, pursuant to § 127-7 of this chapter.
A. 
All approved road/street names shall be listed in a Master Road/Street and Subdivision Names Directory to be maintained in the office of the County Administrator or designee.
B. 
The location of all approved road/street names listed in the Master Road/Street and Subdivision and Subdivision Names Directory shall be illustrated on a master set of Road/Street and Subdivision Names Maps to be maintained in the office of the County Administrator or designee.
C. 
The County and towns must report to the County Administrator or designee any new roads/streets or subdivisions and/or road/street or subdivision names.
A. 
Public and private road name signs are constructed and maintained by the Page County E-911 Department. Residents are encouraged to notify the E-911 Department about damaged or missing road signs.
B. 
New road name signs will be erected within 60 business days of the issuance of the new road name.
C. 
Public roads are those maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). Private roads are maintained by owners/residents.
D. 
Public road signs shall be white lettering on a green background to distinguish from private roads.
E. 
Private road signs shall be white lettering with a blue background.
F. 
A name is not official until so designated and a sign erected by Page County E-911 Department.
G. 
No address numbers, flyers, private signs or other objects shall be placed on any road sign or post.
H. 
Trees, brush and other obstructions should be kept clear of road signs.
I. 
All signs must comply with Page County Zoning Ordinances.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 125, Zoning.
A. 
Page County maintains a uniform distance-based address numbering system based upon the increasing travel distance along a named road.
B. 
All roads will be assigned a point of origin to mark the beginning of addressing along a named road.
C. 
Structure numbering shall proceed in ascending order from the beginning of the named road and continue to the end of the road.
D. 
One odd and one even number will be reserved for every 10.56 feet incrementally along the road's center line, resulting in approximately 1,000 possible address numbers per mile of traveled road.
E. 
Odd numbers are assigned to the left side of the road and even numbers are assigned to the right side of the road from the beginning of the road.
F. 
The center lines of divided highways shall carry odd numbers on one lane and even numbers on the other.
G. 
Address numbers will be assigned where the primary driveway intersects the named road.
H. 
Multi-unit structures such as apartments, townhouses and office buildings shall be assigned a single building address for each structure. Unit identification numbers and/or letters will be assigned for individual apartments or office suites. The combination of the road name, structure number and unit number will define each unit's address.
[Amended 5-18-2010]
I. 
In cases where there is no driveway because the structure is so close to the road, the address number will be determined from a perpendicular line through the center of the structure to the road center line. Where the perpendicular line intersects the road center line will determine the address.
J. 
In cases where a structure's driveway accesses a side road, but the structure faces another road, the address will be assigned by access point.
K. 
The United States Post Office and other applicable departments and offices where the new private road is assigned will be notified by the Page County E-911 Department.
L. 
New structure owners will be notified by mail of their new address by the Page County Administrator's office or the office of the County Administrator's designee.
[Amended 5-18-2010]
M. 
Vacant parcels of land will not be assigned addresses. Exceptions can be made at the discretion of the County Administrator, or designee, for structures such as a boat landing, a public restroom or pavilion.
[Amended 5-18-2010]
N. 
No other address numbering system will be allowed in Page County.
O. 
When errors in assignments are discovered, corrections to existing address numbers will be made by the County Administrator or designee.
[Amended 5-18-2010]
A. 
It shall be the property owner's responsibility to place address numbers on the structure.
B. 
Address numbers must be conspicuously placed on the structure so that the number is clearly visible from the road. In cases where the structure is more than 50 feet from the road or not visible from the road, the number must also be placed near the walk, driveway or common entrance to the structure or upon the mailbox, gatepost, fence, address placard or other appropriate place so as to clearly be visible from the road to guide emergency vehicles to the structure.
[Amended 5-18-2010; 9-18-2012]
C. 
If primary address numbers are to be placed on a mailbox or mailbox post on the road, then the mailbox must be immediately adjacent to or opposite the entrance to the driveway.
D. 
Residential address numbers shall be no less than three inches in height and shall be placed on a contrasting color background for high visibility. Business address numbers shall be no less than five inches in height. In all cases numbers should be reflective with a contrasting background.
[Amended 5-18-2010]
E. 
Structure address numbers for apartments or similar complexes shall be placed on the building, and in addition the unit number shall be placed on or near the door to each individual unit.
F. 
Manufactured home parks should have similar styles of address numbers placed in similar locations on the individual homes. Example: If all homes are set perpendicular to the street or parking lot, then all address numbers should be placed on the end (or front) of the home at a uniform height above the ground.
G. 
Trees and brush should be cleared from obstructing address numbers.
H. 
Owners and/or inhabitants of existing structures are required to post their assigned numbers using these guidelines.
I. 
Residents with concerns about proper address number placement are encouraged to contact the E-911 Department.
J. 
Residents shall have six months from the date of adoption of this chapter to comply with the address number placement requirements.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 127-11, Enforcement, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 5-18-2010.
[Added 8-19-2014]
Whenever the County Administrator or his designee has reason to believe there has been or there exists a violation of this chapter, the County Administrator or his designee shall give written notice of such violation to the person or organization failing to comply and order the person or organization to take corrective measures within 30 calendar days from the date of notification. If such person or organization fails to comply within such time period, such person or organization shall be guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor punishable by recommended penalties of a fine of $50 for the first offense, a fine of $100 for the second offense, and up to a fine of $250 for the third and subsequent offense(s).