[HISTORY: Adopted by the County Commissioners of Kent County 1-7-1992
as Bill No. 11-91. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter is to establish a system for
the assignment of road names and numbering of property in Kent County, Maryland,
to provide automatic location identification for enhanced 911 services and
to provide a better system for the delivery of emergency services, the delivery
of mail and goods and other private and public services.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
The committee of persons appointed by the County Commissioners of
Kent County to develop guidelines and criteria for the implementation of the
new numbering system.
The person designated by the County Commissioners of Kent County
to administer the provisions of this chapter or his/her successors or assigns.
A public or private way for vehicular traffic, including a right-of-way,
street, avenue, drive, lane, terrace, boulevard, circle, highway or other
similar terms.
Maps prepared by the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation
which show properties and roads in Kent County.
A.
This chapter shall apply to all the lands, properties,
buildings and other structures within the territorial limits of Kent County.
In no event, however, shall any provision of this chapter be deemed applicable
within the incorporated territory of any municipality in Kent County unless
the County Commissioners and the governing body of said town have passed appropriate
resolutions authorizing the same.
B.
Any agreement to apply this chapter within a town shall
include provisions for coordinating the issuance of subdivision and building
permit approvals, approval of new road or street names and collection, distribution
and use of fees. Such an agreement shall specify the Kent County Department
of Planning and Zoning as the authority for coordinating these actions.
C.
Any action of a municipality to annex property located
in the territorial limits of the county shall require the municipality to
enter into an agreement with the county to recognize and utilize the addressing
system authorized by this chapter.
A.
The Director of Planning and Zoning Administration shall
keep and maintain a Road Naming and Addressing Manual which describes in detail
the criteria, procedures and methods used to name roads and to assign address
numbers to properties in Kent County. This manual shall include the development
of a grid system from which the address numbers will be derived.
B.
The Director of Planning and Zoning Administration shall
keep and maintain a set of maps of Kent County which display the address grid
system and the names and route numbers of roads.
A.
The County Commissioners shall approve by resolution
an Official Road Name List for Kent County. For each road, the list shall
include the following minimum information:
B.
The Address Committee shall develop guidelines that define
which roads are to be included on the Official Road Name List and which are
to be used for the assigning of new address numbers. These guidelines shall
be incorporated into the Road Naming and Addressing Manual.
C.
Prior to adoption of the Official Road Name List, the
County Commissioners shall hold a public hearing and afford the public an
opportunity to comment on the proposed road names.
D.
The Official Road Name List may be amended from time
to time by the County Commissioners to change the name of or to delete a listed
road. The County Commissioners may hold a public hearing on the proposed changes
prior to adoption, if they deem it necessary to receive public comment on
the proposed amendments.
E.
Any new road opened, platted or created shall be incorporated
into the Official Road Name List by the Director of Planning and Zoning Administration
if the road meets the criteria contained in the Road Naming and Addressing
Manual. The Director of Planning and Zoning Administration shall have the
authority to approve or disapprove the name of any new road to prevent duplicate,
similar sounding or confusing road names. A public hearing shall not be required
for the naming of new roads, unless deemed necessary by the County Commissioners.
F.
For any new road opened, platted or created after the
effective date of this chapter, the subdivider or developer shall reimburse
the County Road Department for all costs to install the road signs. For any
new private road, the subdivider or developer shall submit to the Director
of Planning and Zoning Administration a binding agreement indicating the party
who shall be responsible for maintaining the road signs or who shall be responsible
for reimbursing the County Roads Department for any required sign maintenance
or replacements. Said agreement must be approved by the Director of Planning
and Zoning Administration.
A.
All property in the unincorporated area of Kent County
containing a home, business or other primary use or structure shall have an
address number assigned in accordance with the criteria and procedures specified
in the Road Naming and Addressing Manual. The Director of Planning and Zoning
Administration shall keep and maintain the list the properties and addresses.
B.
Subdivisions. Any subdivision plat submitted for review
and approval after the effective date of this chapter shall include an address
number for each lot. Address numbers shall be assigned in accordance with
the criteria and procedures specified in the Road Naming and Addressing Manual.
Address numbers shall be assigned based on the proposed location of the driveway
or entrance to the property. The Director of Planning and Zoning Administration
shall have the authority to disapprove any subdivision plat which does not
include properly assigned address numbers.
C.
Building permits. The Director of Planning and Zoning
Administration shall assign an address number to a property prior to the issuance
of a building permit. The address number shall be assigned and the applicant
notified within ten (10) business days of receiving the application for a
building permit.
D.
The utility company supplying the electricity in the
service area in which a building to be numbered lies shall notify the Director
of Planning and Zoning Administration by mail within ten (10) days of receipt
of an application for installation of a new electric service using the form
prescribed by the Director of Planning and Zoning Administration.
A.
Following the initial assignment of new addresses, notification
of the new address shall be mailed to the owner of the property by United
States mail, first class postage prepaid. The name and address of the property
owner shall be as obtained from the records of the Maryland Department of
Assessments and Taxation.
B.
The owner of any property who receives notification of
a new address number shall be responsible for informing all tenants or occupants
of the new address.
C.
The owner, tenant and/or occupant of an existing improved
property as of the effective date of this chapter shall have a period of one
(1) year from the date the notification is mailed to make all address changes
or adjustments. Thereafter, the address number assigned under this chapter
shall be the only street or location address used by the owner, tenant and/or
occupant of the property.
D.
Within one (1) year from the date the notification of
the new address is mailed, the owner of an existing improved property as of
the effective date of this chapter shall have placed on his/her property,
in a location visible from the road upon which the address number is assigned,
figures at least three (3) inches high showing the address number of the house
or building. Numbers placed on mailboxes or signs shall satisfy this requirement
only if the home or building is clearly identifiable in relation to the mailbox
or sign. All address numbers shall be displayed in conformance with guidelines
prepared by the Address Committee. The Address Committee may, from time to
time, revise the guidelines for the displaying of new address numbers.
E.
New dwellings to be constructed after the effective date
of this chapter shall comply with the guidelines for the display of address
numbers prior to the date construction is completed.
The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by those persons or
agencies designated by the County Commissioners of Kent County (hereinafter
referred to as the "designee"). It shall be a violation of this chapter to
interfere with the designee in the performance of his/her duties
A.
Violation of this chapter shall be a municipal infraction.
Any person, firm, corporation or other legal entity found to have committed
a municipal infraction by violating any provisions of this chapter or any
amendment thereto shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars ($100.),
and the person receiving a citation must correct the violation. Each and every
day during which such violation occurs or continues may be deemed a separate
offense.[1]
B.
Once the person charged with the violation has received
the infraction citation for the first violation, it shall not be necessary
to deliver an infraction citation for any subsequent violation of the same
provision or section of this chapter. A subsequent violation shall mean a
violation of the same section or provision of this chapter upon the same parcel
or piece of real property which has occurred not more than thirty (30) days
but not less than twenty-four (24) hours after the first violation.[2]
C.
If the person is found by the District Court to have
committed a violation of this chapter, he/she shall be liable for the costs
of the proceedings in the District Court.
D.
The county may enforce this chapter by civil action for
declaratory judgment and/or injunction in addition to or instead of citing
the violator for a municipal infraction. In the case of a successful action
for declaratory judgment and/or injunction, the legal fees and costs shall
be awarded to the county.
E.
The owner, tenant and/or occupant of any real property,
building, structure, premises or part thereof and any architect, builder,
contractor, engineer, agent or any other person who causes, commits, participates
in, assists in or maintains a violation of this chapter shall be guilty of
a separate offense and be subject to all the penalties set forth herein.
