[Ord. 2-96, 4/10/1996, § 300]
1. The purpose of this Part is to provide for a uniform, logical and
readily observable street address identification system for all occupiable
properties in the Township, whether residential, commercial or industrial.
Such a system is necessary in order to ensure that appropriate emergency
response (police, fire, medical, etc.) can be effectively achieved
throughout Lower Oxford Township. With the recent establishment of
a County-wide 911 communications system, it is essential that a unique
identifier be established for each property and that the correct identification
can be directly associated with the actual, physical location of the
property.
2. Every effort will be made to minimize inconveniences to present residents
of Lower Oxford Township due to this system, but changes to some current
numbers are inevitable where confusing, overlapping or irregular numbering
exists. Further, some existing properties have never had a number
assignment and even though mail delivery at the property is not presently
contemplated, a number must still be assigned and posted in order
to identify the property for potential emergency access.
[Ord. 2-96, 4/10/1996, § 301]
This Part applies to all principal buildings within Lower Oxford
Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, and upon each tract, lot or
parcel of land.
[Ord. 2-96, 4/10/1996, § 302]
As used in this Part, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
ACCESSORY BUILDING
A subordinate building, the use of which is customarily incidental
to that of a principal located on the same lot and is used for an
accessory use only.
PRINCIPAL BUILDING
Any building or structure present on a tract, lot or parcel
of land in which a regular occupancy or use is carried out. This includes
a dwelling, place of business or industry, or any other use requiring
a location identity.
[Ord. 2-96, 4/10/1996, § 304]
1. Street address numbers shall be assigned to each building, tract,
lot or parcel of land, placed on file in the Lower Oxford Township
office and assigned to owners or occupants of such buildings, tracts,
lots or parcels of land by the Township Administrative Officer or
by such other person as may be designated by a resolution of the Board
of Supervisors. Once assigned, all such properties shall be designated
for all purposes by the number assigned and thereafter all persons
shall take due notice thereof and comply with the provisions of this
Part.
2. The Township Administrative Officer, or such other person as may
be designated, shall have the power and duty to correct any errors
with respect to assignment of street address numbers, as and when
such errors are discovered. The Board of Supervisors shall have the
right and power to change a street address number or numbers assigned
to any property whenever it may deem such a change necessary and desirable,
and require the owner or the occupant thereof to comply with the provisions
of this Part with respect to such change.
[Ord. 2-96, 4/10/1996, § 305]
The owner or occupant of each tract, lot or parcel of land to
which no street address number has previously been assigned shall,
upon purchase or occupancy thereof or within seven days of discovery
that no such number has been assigned, make application to the Township
Administrative Officer or designated agent for assignment of such
number, and thereupon a correct street address number shall be assigned
to that property.
[Ord. 2-96, 4/10/1996, § 306]
1. The Township Administrative Officer shall be responsible for assigning
proper street address number sequences to the lots which are created
as a result of a subdivision. Said numbers shall be in proper municipal
sequence in relation to the numbers assigned to other lots fronting
on the same street and shall be properly recorded on the subdivision
plan.
2. When the assignments required under Subsection
1 hereof have been completed for previously approved subdivisions, they shall be appended to the final subdivision plan and thereby incorporated therein by reference. No subdivider shall sell or convey any lot or dwelling unit or other principal building upon said lot, nor lease or otherwise permit the use and occupancy thereof, without first complying with the requirements of this Part.
3. The requirements for application for street address number and display
thereof shall be a condition precedent to the submission of any application
for an occupancy permit.
[Ord. 2-96, 4/10/1996, § 307]
1. In order to comply with this Part, street address numbers shall be
Arabic in design, shall have a minimum height of three inches and
shall be mounted in secure fashion by one or more of the approved
manners. The numbers shall be sufficiently legible as to contrasting
background, arrangement, spacing, size and uniformity of numerals
so that the numbers may be read with ease during daylight hours by
a person possessing normal vision, if he views the numbers from the
center line of the facing street. The numbers shall be placed so that
trees, shrubs and other obstructions do not block the line of sight
of the numbers from the center of the street. Auxiliary numbers, when
required, shall be mounted at a height between four feet and 10 feet
upon the adjacent grade or exterior landing beneath, but never higher
than 15 feet above the adjoining grade. The following are approved
manners for displaying street address numbers:
A. Occupancies with mailboxes at the end of driveways shall display
numbers on both sides of the mailbox or support post. When mailboxes
are placed on the opposite side of the facing street from the occupancy,
auxiliary numbers shall be provided on the property in addition to
the mailbox numbers. When two or more mailboxes are located side-by-side
together in a row, then numbers shall be placed on the fronts of the
mailboxes.
B. Occupancies without mailboxes at the end of driveways shall place
numbers in the general vicinity of the main entrance or path of travel
which leads to the principal building(s). Such numbers must be clearly
visible from the center of the street.
C. Those occupancies with no mailboxes which are built down long driveways
or occupancies which are not visible from the street shall have a
marker or post of noticeable size placed at the driveway entrance.
If more than one occupancy or principal building shares the driveway,
then each occupancy shall be so numbered and in a manner which clearly
distinguishes each one.
D. Occupancies with shared driveways shall also display auxiliary numbers
at or near the main entrance of each principal building according
to the specifications herein.
[Ord. 2-96, 4/10/1996, § 308; as amended by Ord.
2-98, 3/11/1998]
1. The absence of street numbers, or the insecure fastening or absence
of any numeral thereof, or the use of any street address number not
assigned by the Township Administrative Officer, or the failure of
a street address number to meet the elevation requirements or the
visibility requirements shall be a violation of this Part. Upon discovery,
a notice of violation shall be sent by certified mail to the property
owner or occupant, or shall be posted in a prominent place upon the
property by the Township Code Enforcement Officer or his agent, or
shall be personally served upon the property owner or occupant by
his agent. Such notice shall specify the specific provision of the
Part violated and shall require compliance with that provision within
15 days from the service or posting of the notice.
2. When any person fails to comply with the notice of violation within
the stated time frame, the Township shall have the right to place
the appropriate identification signs on the property and to charge
the owner/occupant with the costs associated therewith. If such costs
are not reimbursed to the Township within 30 days of notice thereof,
the Township shall have the right to place a lien against the property
for same.
3. Penalties. Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any
provision of this Part, upon conviction thereof in an action brought
before a district justice in the manner provided for the enforcement
of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure,
shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 plus costs
and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment
not to exceed 90 days. Each day that a violation of this Part continues
or each section of this Part which shall be found to have been violated
shall constitute a separate offense.
[Ord. 2-96, 4/10/1996, § 309]
The final authority for determining and assigning the street number or numbers to be used upon any particular property, as well as the enforcement of this Part, shall be in the office of the Township Code Enforcement Officer, his agent, or such other person as provided for in §
10-303 of this Part.