[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of North Franklin 5-5-1992 by Ord. No. 2-1992 (Ch. 4, Part 2, of the 1988 Code of Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]
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.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note:
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.