This chapter provides a street naming and address numbering plan for the city of Buellton. These regulations are adopted to protect and promote the public health, safety and welfare of those who live and work in the city by:
A. 
Improving the response time for fire, police, and ambulance vehicles;
B. 
Expediting postal and business delivery services; and
C. 
Reducing confusion when locating businesses and residences.
(Ord. 11-01 § 4, 2011)
The regulations of this chapter are effective throughout the incorporated boundaries of the city of Buellton.
(Ord. 11-01 § 4, 2011)
For the purpose of this chapter, certain terms and words are herewith defined as follows:
"Alley"
means an unnamed public or private service road that primarily provides secondary means of access to abutting property but may also provide primary access. Address numbers are not assigned off of alleys.
"Driveway"
means a private access way providing access to a public or private street that does not meet city design standards for a street as defined in the general plan.
Street, Continuous.
"Continuous street" means two or more street segments within sight of one another at an intersection whose centerlines are offset by less than 100 feet or whose interior angle of intersection is greater than 110 degrees.
Street, Private.
"Private street" means a street providing the principal means of access which is not a public street but is designed to public street standards.
Street, Public.
"Public street" means all existing federal, state, and city public streets and all such public streets acquired in the future that have been accepted into a public maintenance system.
Street, Segment.
"Street segment" means a linear section of street being added to the address numbering system or a section which stands as a separate or noncontinuous street.
(Ord. 11-01 § 4, 2011)
City address numbering maps are available for public inspection at the city of Buellton planning department and Santa Barbara County fire department.
(Ord. 11-01 § 4, 2011)
The city shall maintain a road name index to identify the existing names of all roads. The index shall also indicate whether the road is public or private.
(Ord. 11-01 § 4, 2011)
The adoption and implementation of this chapter shall not affect the legal description of any property.
(Ord. 11-01 § 4, 2011)
The adoption and implementation of this chapter shall not affect or supersede city standard details relative to street standards, and shall not limit the authority of the director of public works relative to activities within public road rights-of-way.
(Ord. 11-01 § 4, 2011)
A. 
Street Naming Required. A street name shall be required for all public and private streets and for any other streets deemed necessary by the director of public works.
1. 
Exceptions. Public and private alleys, and driveways providing access to 20 or less residential units do not require street names.
B. 
Procedure for Naming and Renaming Existing Streets.
1. 
Who May Initiate Naming. Naming or renaming of an existing public or private street may be initiated by the owner of abutting property, the city council, planning commission, or the planning and public works departments.
2. 
Application and Petition Required. The initiating property owner or other entity shall file a completed street name application and street name petition with the planning department.
a. 
When a naming or renaming is initiated by a property owner, the petition shall be completed with signatures of the property owners or tenants representing at least two-thirds of the dwellings or businesses located along the existing street segment to be named or renamed.
b. 
When a naming or renaming is initiated by a public agency and the affected street segment is a continuation of a previously named street, the petition shall be completed with the signature of a representative from the initiating agency.
c. 
When a naming or renaming is initiated by a public agency and the affected street segment is not a continuation of a previously named street, the petition shall be completed with signatures of the property owners or tenants representing two-thirds of the dwellings or businesses located along the unnamed portion of the street or other verification of support deemed appropriate by the planning department.
3. 
Public Hearing Procedure.
a. 
Scheduling of Hearing. Upon receipt of the completed application and petition, the planning department shall schedule a public hearing before the planning commission.
b. 
Notice of the Hearing. At least ten days before the public hearing, notice of the hearing shall be posted by the planning department in a minimum of three public places along the affected street. Notice of the public hearing shall be sent to all property owners or tenants of parcels abutting the affected street.
c. 
Action of Planning Commission. At the public hearing, the planning commission shall hear and consider all name proposals and objections. If upon conclusion of the public hearing the planning commission finds that one or more names satisfy the requirements of this chapter, the planning commission shall name or rename the affected street and shall make all findings necessary to support that action.
d. 
Recording Action. Upon the naming or renaming of the street, the planning commission, shall enter in its minutes the officially designated name of the street. Thereafter, the street shall be known by the designated name.
4. 
Appeal. The decision of the planning commission may be appealed in writing by any person, agencies, or association to the city council within ten calendar days of the action.
5. 
Notification After Change. After adoption of the street name, the planning department shall notify all the appropriate public agencies and the property owners and tenants of the dwellings and businesses along the affected street of the road name change.
C. 
Procedure for Naming a Public or Private Road Created by the Subdivision of Land. This subsection applies to a street which is located completely within or along a proposed subdivision. Streets created by a proposed subdivision which continue an existing street with a designated name shall bear the name of the existing street.
1. 
Application. The naming of streets created by a proposed subdivision shall be initiated by the property owner or his or her agent. The review and approval or proposed street names shall occur as part of the tentative map process.
2. 
Review and Approval. Proposed street names shown on the tentative map shall be approved by the planning department in consultation with the county fire department and county sheriff's department. The approved names shall be shown on the tentative map and on the final map submitted for approval and recordation.
D. 
Street Name Selection.
1. 
Objectives. Proposed street names should be pleasant sounding; easy to read (so that the public, and children in particular, can readily pronounce the name in an emergency); and add to pride of home and community.
2. 
Criteria. Street names shall meet the following standards:
a. 
Street names shall not be duplicated within the area served by the same United States post office or police or fire department. No name should duplicate another street name used elsewhere in the county. Similar sounding names are considered duplicates regardless of spelling.
b. 
Streets are encouraged to be named after family surnames prominent in Santa Barbara County history, even if family members still reside in the area.
c. 
Street names shall have less than 24 letters, including punctuation, spacing and road classification (e.g., lane, way, street).
d. 
Street names shall be easy to pronounce and spell.
e. 
Street names shall be grammatically correct whether in English or a foreign language.
f. 
Street names shall include an appropriate road classification (e.g., street, lane, way, etc.).
3. 
Continuity.
a. 
A continuous street, or one proposed to be continuous, shall have the same name throughout its length.
b. 
If an otherwise continuous street is interrupted by a drainage channel, freeway, railroad, etc., with no planned connection, the segments shall have different names.
c. 
Where streets intersect at an interior angle of 110 degrees or less, each segment shall be given a different name if doing so will reduce confusion when locating an address.
4. 
Extra Words. Unnecessary words are to be avoided. Words that may be used are:
a. 
"East," "west," "north," and "south" indicating direction from a numbering base line; and
b. 
"Street," "road," "place," "way," "lane," etc., indicating road classification in English.
E. 
Street Name Signs.
1. 
Objectives.
a. 
Street name signs should be clearly visible to passing motorists.
b. 
The letters and numbers used should contrast with the background color and should be large enough to be legible from a vehicle on the roadway.
2. 
Signs for Private Streets. The property owners shall install and maintain permanent street name signs for all private streets.
a. 
All street name signs shall be installed per the prevailing city standard requirements.
b. 
All street name signs for private streets shall adhere to the requirements of Section 17.10.080(E)(3).
c. 
Private owner(s) responsible for private street maintenance are responsible for providing and maintaining street name signs.
3. 
Signs for Public Streets. Agencies responsible for street maintenance are responsible for providing street name signs for all streets within their jurisdiction. Street name signs for public streets shall meet the requirements for city standard street name signs as approved by the director of public works. The department of public works is responsible for providing street name signs for all city roads in conformance with the standards of this chapter.
4. 
Signs for Existing Streets Affected by Subdivision. The property owner shall install street name signs at unsigned intersections to provide identification for the subdivision as determined by the subdivision review process:
a. 
Street name signs shall be required for all street created by the subdivision.
b. 
Street name signs may be required for existing streets providing access to the subdivision.
c. 
Street name signs shall meet the requirements for city standard street name signs as approved by the director of public works.
F. 
Fees. A nonrefundable fee may be required to process a street name application submitted by a private party. This fee shall be established by the city council through a resolution.
(Ord. 11-01 § 4, 2011)
A. 
Procedure for Assigning Address Numbers.
1. 
Assignment of Number. The planning department, in consultation with the county sheriff and fire departments, shall determine and assign all address numbers and shall issue such numbers to property owners and occupants. A record of all assigned numbers shall be maintained by the planning department, county fire department, and county sheriff's department and shall be available for public inspection during business hours.
2. 
Notification of Change. If an address number is changed, the owner and tenant in charge of a house or building to which a number has been assigned will be notified in writing by the planning department at least ten days prior to the effective date.
B. 
Standards for Address Numbers. Address numbers shall be determined according to the incremental distance between system grid lines and the following section standards when applicable:
1. 
Multiple Units. Separate internal units within residential and business complexes may be identified by a suffix (apartment, suite, space, unit, etc.) determined by the planning department in consultation with the property owner, emergency service agencies, and the United States postal service.
2. 
Corner Lots. Corner lots will be addressed from the street upon which the principal entrance faces; except when the principal entrance is not visible from that street or is inaccessible for fire access from that street, then the parcel shall be addressed from the street intersected by the driveway.
3. 
Parcels Less Than One Acre. The address shall be assigned at the center point of the parcel frontage.
4. 
Parcels Greater Than One Acre. The address shall be assigned where the driveway intersects the parcel frontage.
5. 
Unnamed Streets/Alleys. The address number shall be assigned corresponding to the numbering on the street where the unnamed/alley originated.
6. 
Vacant Lots. Vacant lots may be assigned an address number at the center point of the parcel frontage. This pre-assigned address may be changed at the time a building permit is issued in order to comply with this chapter.
7. 
Accessory Structures. Accessory structures will not be issued an address number unless the property owner can demonstrate special circumstances requiring a separate number.
C. 
Display of Address Numbers.
1. 
New Construction. The property owner shall display the assigned address number before requesting a final building inspection. The address number shall be displayed in compliance with paragraphs 3, 4, and 5 of this subsection.
2. 
Existing Structures. Within 30 days after receiving written notification of an address change, the owner or tenant shall display the number in compliance with paragraphs 3, 4, and 5 of this subsection and shall remove any obsolete number.
3. 
Size of Numbers. All address numbers shall be a minimum height of three inches, reflective, and a color contrasting to the background color.
4. 
Number Location. Address numbers shall be placed at front doors, on mailboxes, on private lamp posts, near garage doors, at driveway entrances, or other places of similar proximity, so that the number is visible from the public right-of-way.
5. 
Number Location for Obscured Structures. Where residences or businesses are not clearly visible from the street, address numbers shall be posted on a marker other than a mailbox. The address number shall be elevated at least three feet from the ground for clear visibility and easy directional identification. This section also applies to the names of streets with private driveways or forks. The address numbers of the homes on the private driveway shall be posted on the named street and shall include a directional arrow to indicate location of the residence or business.
6. 
Mailboxes. When the mailbox of a residence or business is located on the same street as the residence or business, only the number need be posted on the box. When the mailbox and building are located on separate streets, both the street name and address number are required to be placed on the mailbox.
(Ord. 11-01 § 4, 2011)
A. 
Issuing Agency. All street names and address numbers shall be issued by the planning department in compliance with this chapter.
B. 
Street Name Signs. Street name signs along city-maintained roads shall be installed by the public works department or at its direction.
(Ord. 11-01 § 4, 2011)
A. 
Enforcement Responsibility.
1. 
Planning Department. It is the duty of the planning department to enforce this chapter and all of its provisions.
2. 
Santa Barbara County Building and Safety Division. The Santa Barbara County Building and Safety Division shall require the installation of address numbers in compliance with this chapter for any construction associated with the issuance of a building permit.
B. 
Penalties. Those who fail to meet the requirements of this chapter shall be subject to the penalties provided in Chapter 1.28 of the Buellton Municipal Code.
(Ord. 11-01 § 4, 2011)