Town of Thompson, NY Street Names and Building Numbers

Sullivan County, New York, has implemented an enhanced 911 telephone system whereby an individual is able to dial a 911 telephone number in the event of an emergency. A Town-wide uniform numbering system of all buildings will assist emergency personnel in responding efficiently and quickly to an emergency. It is, therefore, in the best interest of the public health, safety and welfare of the Town of Thompson to enact this article of the Code of the Town of Thompson.

§ 113-29 Determination of buildings to be numbered.

The Code Enforcement Officer or any other officer designated by the Town Board is authorized to decide which building or buildings on any particular lot shall be numbered.

§ 113-30 Designation of numbers; review of determination.

Designation of numbers. The Code Enforcement Officer, after consulting with the Sullivan County E-911 Coordinator, shall designate separate numbers for buildings which have no designated street number and shall also have the authority to redesignate numbers for buildings when deemed necessary.

Review of determination. Any property owner aggrieved by the determination of the Code Enforcement Officer may seek review of that determination by the Town Board. The Town Board may uphold, modify or change the determination of the Code Enforcement Officer, and such determination shall be final and binding.

§ 113-31 Size and display of numbers.

Residential properties (noncommercial). The figures comprising the number are to be at least four inches in height and shall be placed on the front of said building or on a post of at least four feet in height and not exceeding 10 feet in height or other structure in a prominent and conspicuous place and in such a manner as to be plainly legible and visible from the center of the street when facing the building at all times between sunrise and sunset. At no times will said numbers be placed on any door.

[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]

Commercial property (nonresidential). The figures comprising the number are to be reflective and at least six inches in height and shall be placed on the front of said building or other structure in a prominent and conspicuous place and in such a manner as to be plainly legible and visible from the center of the street when facing the building at all times between sunrise and sunset. At no times will said numbers be placed on any door.

Determination of front. So far as the purpose or intent of this article is concerned, the front of a building shall be construed as that side of the building which faces the street of address, and the number or numbers shall be displayed on such side of such building or premises; provided, however, if the building has a driveway which fronts on an adjacent street, the building number shall be displayed at the driveway entrance location.

Visibility. In all cases, the numbers shall be so placed that they may be seen from either direction while driving on the road or street. The numbers shall not be obstructed by trees, shrubbery, porches or other extensions of the building or shoveled or plowed snow.

Number type. The displayed numbers shall be in bold, clearly readable Arabic numerals or alphabet letters, with a minimum stroke width of 0.5 inch.

[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]

Color. The color of said figures shall be in sharp contrast to the color of their background.

Lighting. Whenever practicable, said number shall be placed near some light or source of illumination so that it may be readily seen at night.

Additional requirements. Where the front of the building in which the number is to be displayed is more than 80 feet from the edge of the road surface of the road serving the building, the number shall, in addition to the other requirements of this article, be displayed on a post, mailbox or other structure visible from the street and in no event farther back than 20 feet from said street and stationed on the same side of the street as the building or premises for which it is intended.

Multiple access. In the event that more than one house has access from a single driveway, a street number must be displayed at each location at which the driveway access diverges from the common access and at any other location where display of the building number might otherwise be required.

§ 113-32 Duty of building owners.

It shall be the duty of every building owner in the Town of Thompson to cause to be displayed thereon the street number of said building on a building, post or other structure at or within the specifications set forth in the following chart:

[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]

Number Size (inches)	Maximum Distance from Edge of Road Surface (feet)
4	30
5	40
6	50
7	60
8	80

The post, or other nonbuilding structure, may only be used for the purposes of this article if it is stationed on the same side of the street as the building or premises for which the number is intended. At all times, the owner of a building shall maintain such number in compliance with the provisions of this article.

§ 113-33 Display of other numbers prohibited.

The display of any house number other than the number authorized or assigned by the E-911 Coordinator and/or Code Enforcement Officer is prohibited.

§ 113-34 Private roads and new Town roads.

New subdivisions. Prior to final approval of the Planning Board, any subdivision which has one or more private roads or proposed new Town roads shall be named by the developer or owner. All private road names and proposed new Town roads shall be approved by the Town Board prior to Planning Board approval.

Existing properties. For the purposes of Enhanced 911, any private road or driveway which has three or more buildings or separate parcels or building lots served by a private road or driveway shall be considered a private road. New private roads shall be named by the Town Board.

Signage. Each private road and each proposed new Town road name selected and approved shall be posted by street signs at each intersection of the roads. All signs shall be similar in terms of construction and character to those signs installed by the Town of Thompson for public roadways. In all cases, the private road signs shall state the name of the private road, followed underneath with the words "Private Road" in smaller letters. For private roads existing and not signed at the date of this article, the Thompson Highway Superintendent shall purchase and install the signs. In all new subdivisions the signs shall be in place prior to issuance of any building permits or construction of any structures and shall be paid for by the owner or developer. Private road signs shall have a blue background color and text shall be white. Private road signs shall not be displayed in colors used for public roads and highways.

§ 113-35 Noncompliance; notice; remedy.

Noncompliance deemed a violation. Any person, corporation, partnership, or other entity owning a building within the Town of Thompson failing for 60 days after the initial notice from the Code Enforcement Officer to place the proper designated number on said building shall be deemed in violation of this article.

Nonmaintenance deemed a violation. Any person, corporation, partnership, or other entity owning a building within the Town of Thompson who or which fails to maintain house numbers as provided herein shall be deemed in violation of this article.

Service of notice. The notice provided for herein may be given by personal service or by certified mailing to the last known address of the owner as shown on the last assessment roll on file in the Assessor's office of the Town of Thompson.

Defense, compliance, dismissal and limitations. It shall be a defense in any prosecution of this article that the building owner, after service of the first complaint alleging a violation of this article, brought the premises into compliance with this article, provided that such building owner obtained from the Code Enforcement Officer prior to the return date a certificate attesting to such compliance, and upon presentation of such certificate to the court, the court shall dismiss the complaint, but the defense of compliance with this article shall not be available if:

(1)

The Code Enforcement Officer shall have served a second or subsequent notice of violation upon such building owner prior to the return date; or

(2)

Notwithstanding such dismissal pursuant to this subsection, the building owner shall further violate this article with respect to the same building and the same violation of this article.

§ 113-36 Penalties for offenses.

[Amended 10-21-2003 by L.L. No. 7-2003]

Each calendar week or portion thereof that said violation continues shall be deemed a separate violation.