The purpose of this chapter is to enhance the easy and rapid location of structures by law enforcement, fire, rescue, and emergency medical services personnel in the municipality of Wales.
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Wales 6-13-2015. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
Authority.
B.
Administration.
(1)
This chapter shall be administered by the Selectmen, the Addressing Officer, or designee who/which is/are authorized to and shall assign road names and numbers to all properties, both on existing and proposed roads, in accordance with the criteria outlined in § 7-3. The Addressing Officer can make changes to existing addresses to maintain proper addressing for an individual road. Property owners must change their address if it is found to be in error or not in compliance with this chapter.
(2)
It shall be the duty of the designated Addressing Officer to notify by mail each property owner and the U.S. Postal Service of their new address at least 60 days prior to the effective date of its use. It shall be the duty of each property owner to comply with this chapter, including the posting of new property numbers, within 60 days following notification. On new structures, numbering will be installed prior to final inspection or when the structure is first used or occupied, whichever comes first.
(3)
The Addressing Officer or designee shall be responsible for maintaining the following official data of record for this chapter:
(a)
The ability to generate/provide a municipal map(s) for official use showing road names and numbers.
(b)
The ability to generate an alphabetical list of all property owners as identified by current tax records, by last name, showing the assigned numbers.
(c)
The ability to generate an alphabetical list of all roads, with property owners listed in order of their assigned numbers.
(4)
The Selectmen shall designate an Addressing Officer, who is responsible for and authorized to provide all required addressing and database information to the state agency responsible for the implementation of Enhanced 9-1-1 service. The Selectmen may designate any Town official or employee as the Addressing Officer.
C.
Effective date. This chapter shall become effective as of June 13, 2015.
D.
Conflict with other ordinances. This chapter shall not be construed to repeal any existing bylaws or ordinances, other than those specifically identified, or to impair the provisions of private restrictions placed upon property; provided, however, that where this chapter imposes greater restrictions, its provisions shall control.
E.
Validity and severability. Should any section or provision of this chapter be declared by any court to be invalid, such decision shall not invalidate any other section or provision.
[Amended 6-13-2026]
A.
Naming system.
(1)
All roads that serve two or more structures shall be named regardless of whether the ownership is public or private. A "road" refers to any highway; road; street; avenue; lane; private way; or similar paved, gravel, or dirt thoroughfare. A road name assigned by the municipality shall not constitute or imply acceptance of the road as a public way.
(2)
The following criteria shall govern the naming system:
(a)
No two roads shall be given the same name (ex. Pine Road and Pine Lane).
(b)
No two roads shall have similar-sounding names (ex. Beech Lane and Peach Lane).
(c)
Where possible, each road shall have the same name throughout its entire length.
(d)
Where a road is a continuation of an existing road from another municipality, it may or may not use the existing name or numbering system.
B.
Numbering system.
(1)
Numbers shall be assigned every 50 feet along both sides of the road, with even numbers appearing on the left side of the road and odd numbers appearing on the right side of the road, as the numbers ascend.
(2)
All number origins shall begin from (lowest) west to (highest) east, (lowest) south to (highest) north, or that end of a road closest to the designated origin. For dead-end roads, numbering shall originate at the intersection of the adjacent road and terminate at the dead end. Existing, noncompliant numbering origins shall be maintained where there are no current discrepancies or issues on existing roads from the first adoption date, June 13, 2015, of this chapter.
(3)
The number assigned to each structure shall be that of the numbered interval falling closest to the driveway of said structure.
(4)
Every structure with more than one principal use or occupancy, be it duplex or apartment, shall have one road number with sequential letters for each unit, such as 235-A Maple Road.
C.
Numbering standards. All owners of structures shall display and maintain in a conspicuous place assigned numbers in the following manner:
(1)
Number on the structure or residence. Where the residence or structure is 50 feet or less from the edge of the road right-of-way, the assigned number shall be displayed on the front of the residence or structure in the vicinity of the front door or entry unless the number is displayed at the road line in accordance with § 7-3C(2). Numbers must be visible from the roadway.
(2)
Number at the road line. Where the residence or structure is over 50 feet from the edge of the road right-of-way, the assigned number shall be displayed on a post, fence, wall, the mailbox, or on some structure at the property line adjacent to the walk or access drive to the residence or structure. Numbers must be visible from both sides of the sign and/or mailbox.
(3)
Size, color, and location of number. Numbers shall be of a color that contrasts with their background color and shall be a minimum of four inches in height. Numbers shall be located to be visible from the road at all times of the year.
(4)
Proper number. Every person whose duty is to display an assigned number shall remove any different number which might be mistaken for, or confused with, the number assigned in conformance with this chapter.
D.
New construction and subdivisions.
(1)
New construction. Whenever any residence or other structure is constructed or developed, it shall be the duty of the new owner to obtain an assigned number from the Addressing Officer. This shall be done at the time of the issuance of the building permit.
(2)
New subdivisions. Any prospective subdivider shall show a proposed road name and lot numbering system on the preapplication submission to the Planning Board. Approval by the Planning Board, after consultation with the Addressing Officer or designee, shall constitute the assignment of road names and numbers to the lots in the subdivision. On the final plan showing proposed roads, the applicant shall mark on the plan lines or dots in the center of the streets every 50 feet so as to aid in the assignment of numbers to structures subsequently constructed.
A.
Enforcement of this chapter shall be the duty of the Addressing Officer, Code Enforcement Officer, Selectmen, or their designee. Upon notification of noncompliance with this chapter, the property owner will be given 30 days to display the correct address as outlined in this chapter. If the property owner fails to complete the required corrective action within 30 days the following action(s) will be taken:
(1)
A penalty of $5 per day will be assessed for each day of noncompliance from 31 days up to 60 total days following the initial notification.
(2)
A penalty of $10 per day will be assessed for each day of noncompliance from 61 days up to 90 total days following the initial notification.
(3)
Legal action will be pursued by the Town of Wales.
B.
Notification of each of these actions will be made by the Town of Wales to the property owner 10 days prior to the resulting implementation/assessment.
[Added 6-13-2026]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
A representative designated by the Town who is responsible for all issues involving the development and maintenance of address information for the Enhanced 9-1-1 addressing and routing databases.
Any public ways and private ways, including collector streets, minor streets, private streets, areas on activity plans designated as rights-of-way, and common driveways for vehicular access, designed and constructed in accordance with Chapter 153, Roads and Driveways, of the Code of the Town of Wales.