This chapter shall be known as the "Building Numbering Ordinance."
The Board of Supervisors finds that the police, ambulance and
fire services have difficulty locating addresses of homes and businesses
on Township streets and roads due to the lack of lot and building
identification numbers. It is, therefore, the purpose of this chapter
to establish a system of numbering of all lots on which there is located
a dwelling unit or business so that police, ambulance and fire services
can locate addresses in emergencies.
This chapter is authorized by the Second Class Township Code,
53 P.S. §§ 65729, 65737, 65741, 65747 and 65762.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms are defined
as follows:
CLEARLY VISIBLE
Displayed in a manner which allows the sign to be clearly
seen, day or night, from the street in front of the building, unobstructed
by trees, shrubs, vegetation or structure upon the property.
HOUSE NUMBER
The number which has been legally assigned to a residence,
apartment building or business for the purpose of identification and
for use by the United States Postal Service for the delivery of mail.
PROPERTY OWNER
The person(s), corporation(s) or other legal entity(s) who
own or lease any residence, apartment building or business located
within the Township of North Franklin.
STREET SIGN
The sign which displays the name of the street as approved
by North Franklin Planning Commission and the North Franklin Township
Supervisors in any area under development and which street has not
yet been formally accepted by the Township of North Franklin.
The property owner of each residence, apartment building or
business shall provide and display the legally assigned house number
and/or other required identification as follows:
A. House number. The owner of any residence, apartment building or business
shall display the house number in such a fashion that it is clearly
visible from the street, day or night. The house number shall be made
of durable materials and shall be Arabic numbers or shall be the English
words for numbers, which are not less than three inches in height,
contrasting in color with the background on which they are affixed
and as near to the front entrance as possible and practical.
B. Private lane. The owner of any residence, apartment building or business
which is located on a private lane which intersects with a public
street shall display the legally assigned house number at the intersection
of the private lane and the public street and shall also display the
house number at the intersection of the private land and the driveway,
and shall furthermore display the house number on the residence, apartment
building or business nearest the point where a vehicle would stop
at the building. Each display of house numbers shall be made up of
numbers which are not less than three inches in height and contrasting
in color with the background on which they are affixed. At the intersection
of the private lane and the public street and each intersection of
the private lane and driveway, the numbers shall be placed upon a
post or other structure which displays the numbers 48 inches above
the ground.
C. Malls and shopping centers. The property owner of any business which
is located within a mall or shopping center shall display the legally
assigned number at the main entrance to the business. The numbers
shall be not less than three inches in height and contrasting in color
with the background on which they are affixed. Additionally, the property
owner of each business located within a mall or shopping center shall
display the name of the business on the rear door to the building
in letters which are not less than three inches in height and contrasting
in color with the background on which they are affixed.
D. Additional numbers. If any residence, apartment building or business
(except malls and shopping centers) is located so that the house number
is not clearly visible from the street, an additional house number
shall be posted at the intersection of the driveway with the public
street. The additional house number shall be made up of numbers which
are not less than three inches in height, contrasting in color with
the background on which they are affixed and placed upon a post or
other structure which displays the number 48 inches above the ground.
E. Street signs. The developer of any subdivision or development which
is under construction shall post stop signs and approved signs with
the approved name of the street and the intersecting street prior
to the occupancy of any home on said street.
The Zoning Officer shall be responsible for assigning numbers
to dwellings and businesses and each occupied lot or parcel. Any owner
of property on which there exists a dwelling unit or business which
does not presently have a number assigned to it shall apply to the
Zoning Officer for assignment of a number.
The Zoning Officer shall have the power and authority to change
numbers for the purpose of orderly numbering of addresses. The Zoning
Officer shall change the number of a dwelling or business by sending
a notice to the owner notifying the owner of the new numbers assigned
by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by personal service
or by posting the notice on the property. The owner or property receiving
such notice shall cause the numbers to be changed within 30 days of
receipt or posting of such notice by the Zoning Officer.
It shall be unlawful to cover or conceal or to permit the sight
obstruction of the numbers required to be displayed by this chapter.
It shall further be unlawful to post other numbers which would be
confusing. All old numbers shall be removed when a new number has
been assigned by the Zoning Officer in accordance with this chapter.
The property owner of any residence, apartment building or business
shall maintain the clearly visible display of house numbers as required
under this chapter at all times. Developers shall maintain street
signs that are clearly visible until such time as the street has been
formally accepted by the Township.
The following buildings and uses shall be exempt from the requirements
of this chapter:
A. Farm buildings and structures which are accessory to a farm use,
except that buildings used for the retail sale of products grown on
the farm and farm residences shall be numbered.
B. Unoccupied farm land or lots containing no dwellings or businesses.
The Board of Supervisors of the Township or any officer/employee
designated thereby for the purpose are hereby authorized to enter
upon private property for the purposes of inspection and to give notice
by personal service or certified mail to persons in violation of this
chapter, directing them to abate the situation within 10 days after
issuance of such notice. Each day that a violation continues shall
constitute a separate violation, if a separate proceeding is instituted
therefor and the violator shall be convicted thereof.
In the event that any property owner or lessee has violated the terms of this chapter and refuses and/or fails to abate the situation within the ten-day period prescribed in §
125-11 above, the Township, at its sole discretion, may:
A. Purchase and display house numbers and bill the property owner or lessee for the costs of the same. Failure to tender payment to the Township within 30 days from the date of receipt shall be construed as a violation of this chapter and shall be subject to the penalties prescribed in Subsection
B.
B. Upon conviction for violating any provisions of this chapter before
a Magisterial District Judge or the Court of Common Pleas of Washington
County, after hearing held, a violator shall be sentenced to pay a
fine of not more than $300 plus the costs of prosecution and, in default
of payment thereof, to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 30 days.