[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Portsmouth 5-9-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-05-09D. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 339.
This chapter shall apply to all buildings, new and existing, located within the limits of the Town of Portsmouth, Rhode Island.
All building numbers shall be assigned by the Chief of the Portsmouth Fire Department or his/her designee. All new construction shall be assigned numbers as the construction occurs. The Fire Department shall keep records of all numbers so assigned.
Within 30 days of notification of the proper assigned number of an existing building, and prior to the occupying of a new building, the owner of that building shall be required to display on the building numbers in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
Buildings shall be numbered in accordance with the following system:
A. 
One number shall be allowed for each 10 linear feet of street or highway frontage.
B. 
Numbering shall commence at the beginning of each street. The beginning of each street shall be determined by its approach from the center of Town or by the Fire Chief or his/her designee, except for East Main Road, which shall be numbered from south to north, and West Main Road, which shall be numbered from north to south.
C. 
Odd numbers shall be assigned on the right side of the streets traveling down the street from the beginning, and even numbers assigned to the left side.
All numbers shall be of the numerical type. Alphabetical type will not be acceptable. The numerals shall be at least three inches in height and uniform in height and width. They shall be placed on a contrasting background.
Numbers shall be located on the street side of the building, between five and eight feet from ground level, and shall be clearly visible from the street. If the street side of the building is not visible from the street, the building number shall be displayed on a post at the entrance to the building at least three feet back from the edge of the street. Numbers on mailboxes or mailbox posts will be acceptable only if the mailbox is directly in front of the building on the same side of the street as the building, the number is on the side of the mailbox visible from the approaching side, and the number is also on the driveway side of the house and visible from the driveway. Numbers on mailboxes must also comply with § 118-5 of this chapter.
No owner, occupant, lessee, tenant or subtenant of any building shall display any number other than the proper number designated by the Fire Chief or his/her designee for that building.
The owner of any building who fails or refuses to comply with the requirements of this chapter shall be punished by a fine of not more than $100, to be recovered to the use of the Town, and each day any violation of this chapter continues shall constitute a separate offense.