The purpose of this article is to enhance the easy and rapid
location of properties by law enforcement, fire, rescue and emergency
medical services personnel in the Town of Topsham.
This article is adopted pursuant to and consistent with the
Municipal Home Rule Powers as provided for in Article VIII, Part 2,
Section 1, of the Constitution of the State of Maine and 30-A M.R.S.A.
§ 3001.
[Amended 5-25-2022 STM by Art. 14]
This article shall be administered by the Town of Topsham Addressing Officer, which is authorized to and shall assign road names and numbers to all properties, both on existing and proposed roads, in accordance with the criteria in §§
185-12 and
185-13. The Addressing Officer shall be responsible for maintaining the following official records of this article:
A. An alphabetical list of all property owners as identified by current
assessment records, by last name, showing the assigned numbers.
B. An alphabetical list of all roads with property owners listed in
order of their assigned numbers.
All owners of structures shall, by the date stipulated in §
185-16, display and maintain, in a conspicuous place on said structure, the assigned numbers in the following manner:
A. Number on the structure or residence. Where the residence or structure
is within fifty (50) feet of the edge of the road right-of-way, the
assigned number shall be displayed on the front of the residence or
structure near the front door or entry.
B. Number at the street line. Where the residence or structure is over
fifty (50) feet from the edge of the road right-of-way, the assigned
number shall be displayed on a post, fence, wall, the mailbox or on
some structure at the property line next to the walk or access drive
to the residence structure.
C. Size and color of number. Numbers shall be displayed in a contrasting
color to the background on which they are applied, shall be located
to be visible from the road, and shall be of sufficient size to be
easily readable from the road. The minimum size of any numbers shall
be four (4) inches.
D. Every person whose duty is to display the assigned number shall remove
any different number that might be mistaken for, or confused with,
the number assigned in conformance with this article.
E. Interior location. All residents and other occupants are requested
to post the assigned number and road name next to their telephone
for emergency reference.
All new construction and subdivisions shall be named and numbered
in accordance with the provisions of this article and as follows:
A. New construction. Whenever any residence or other structure is constructed
or developed, it shall be the duty of the new owner to obtain an assigned
number from the Addressing Officer. This shall be done at the time
of the issuance of the building permit.
[Amended 5-25-2022 STM by Art. 14]
B. New subdivisions. Any prospective subdivider shall show a proposed
road name and lot numbering system with the preliminary plan submission
to the Planning Board. Approved by the Planning Board, after consultation
with the addressing officer, the plan shall constitute the assignment
of road names and numbers to the lots in the subdivision. On the final
plan showing proposed roads, the applicant shall mark on the plan
lines or dots in the center of the streets every fifty (50) feet to
aid in assignment of numbers to structures subsequently constructed.
[Amended 5-25-2022 STM by Art. 14]
This article shall become effective by adoption at Town Meeting
May 15, 1996. It shall be the duty of the Addressing Officer to notify
by mail each property owner and the post office of a new address at
least thirty (30) days before the effective date of its use. It shall
be the duty of each property owner to comply with this article, including
the posting of new property numbers, within thirty (30) days following
notification. On new structures, numbering will be installed before
final inspection or when the structure is first used or occupied,
whichever comes first.