[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:
HABITABLE BUILDING
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.
PRINCIPAL BUILDING
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.
PRIVATE STREET OR ROAD
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.
PUBLIC STREET OR ROAD
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.
Any person who violates the provisions of this chapter, upon first violation thereof, shall be notified with a warning. Upon second violation thereof, the penalties provided in Chapter 1, Article I, General Penalty, shall be imposed.
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.