[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of County Commissioners of Dorchester
County 7-11-89 as Ord. No. 151. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A uniform system of numbering properties and principal buildings within
Dorchester County, Maryland, is hereby adopted.
A.
All properties or parcels of land within the unincorporated
limits of Dorchester County shall hereafter be identified by references to
the uniform numbering system adopted herein; provided, further, that all existing
numbers of property and buildings not now in conformity with provisions of
this chapter shall be changed to conform to the system herein adopted.
B.
All numbers shall be assigned on the basis of one (1)
number for each one hundred (100) feet of frontage along the road. Grid lines,
as shown on the property numbering map, indicate the point at which numbers
will change to the next higher multiple of one hundred (100), and the range
of numbers between grid lines thereon shall be consistent with the range of
numbers as indicated on said map.
C.
No building shall be assigned more than one (1) number.
D.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter,
when multiple buildings have frontage within one (1) or more assigned one-hundred-foot-frontage
areas and, under the remaining provisions of this chapter, each such building
would be assigned a separate number designation but, due to a limited amount
of frontage, sufficient numbers are not available, then all such buildings
at that location will be assigned the same number, and each such building
will carry an additional number designation such as .1, .2 or .3 in addition
to the assigned number.
[Amended 3-26-1991 by Ord. No. 193]
A.
When each house or building has been assigned its respective
number or numbers, the owner, occupant or agent shall place or cause to be
placed upon each house or building controlled by him the number or numbers
assigned under the uniform system as provided in this chapter.
B.
Such numbers shall be placed on existing buildings on
or before the effective date of this chapter and within twenty (20) days after
the assigning of the proper number in the case of numbers assigned after the
effective date of this chapter. The cost of the numbers shall be paid by the
property owner. The numbers used shall not be less than three (3) inches in
height. These numbers shall be made of a durable and clearly visible material
and shall be in contrasting colors from the building.
C.
The numbers shall be conspicuously placed immediately
above, on or at the side of the proper door on each building so that the number
can be seen plainly from the road line. Whenever any building is situated
more than fifty (50) feet from the road line, the number must also be placed
near the entrance to the driveway or common entrance to such building or upon
a mailbox visible from both directions, if the mailbox is on the same side
of the road as the house is, so as to be easily seen from the road line.
A.
For the purpose of facilitating correct numbering, grid
maps of all roads, streets, avenues and public ways within the county showing
the proper numbers of all houses or other buildings fronting upon all roads,
streets, avenues or public ways shall be kept on file in the Department of
Planning and Zoning. These grid maps shall be open to inspection by all persons
during the normal office hours of the Department of Planning and Zoning.
B.
It shall be the duty of the Department of Planning and
Zoning to inform any party applying therefor of the number or numbers belonging
to or embraced within the limits of any said lot or property as provided in
this chapter. In case of conflict as to the proper number to be assigned to
any building, the Department of Planning and Zoning shall determine the number
of such building.
C.
Whenever any house, building or structure shall be erected
or located within Dorchester County after the establishment of the uniform
system of numbering provided for herein has been completed, in order to preserve
the continuity and uniformity of numbers of the houses, buildings and structures,
it shall be the duty of the owner to procure the correct number or numbers
as designated by the Department of Planning and Zoning for said property and
to immediately fasten said number or numbers so assigned upon said building
as provided by this chapter. No building permit shall be issued for any house,
building or structure until the owner has procured from the Department of
Planning and Zoning the official number of the premises.
The provisions of this chapter shall be applicable only in those portions
of Dorchester County which are not located within the confines of any incorporated
area within Dorchester County.
Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter shall
be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine not exceeding two
hundred dollars ($200.). Each day which such violation continues shall constitute
a separate offense.
