[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of Northumberland County 12-14-1995. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The Northumberland County Road Name Index, to be adopted and filed in
the Office of the County Administrator, shall be the official listing of names
for streets and roads in Northumberland County, and such streets and roads
are hereby assigned the names listed therein. As used in the chapter, the
terms "street" and "road" shall have the same meaning and shall also include
avenues, boulevards, highways, lanes, ways and similar street types.
The County Administrator, or his duly authorized agent, is hereby authorized
to assign names to any public or private road or street in the county which
provides access to three or more occupied buildings.
The County Administrator, or his duly authorized agent, is hereby authorized
to negotiate with residents along streets or roads bearing duplicate or confusingly
similar names in the county and to change the names of such roads or streets
to eliminate such duplications.
No street or road within the county shall be assigned a name on a subdivision
plat or otherwise until such name is registered with the County Administrator
or his duly authorized agent, approved and added to the Northumberland County
Road Name Index. The County Administrator shall have authority to refuse registration
of any name already in use, confusingly similar to a name already registered
or deemed confusing for purposes of emergency response.
No street or road name currently shown on a subdivision plat filed with
the county or otherwise shall be implemented by a subdivision owner until
such name has been registered with the County Administrator or his duly authorized
agent, approved and added to the Northumberland County Road Name Index; provided,
however, that this section shall not apply to any road or street presently
constructed on which street signs have been placed prior to the effective
date of this chapter. The County Administrator shall have the right to refuse
registration of any name already in use, confusingly similar to a name already
registered or deemed confusing for purposes of emergency response.
A.
All new street signs erected within Northumberland County
shall be in conformance with the specifications of this section, unless a
variance is granted by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) or
the Northumberland County Board of Supervisors. Street name signs for use
on primary routes and collector secondary roads shall have a minimum height
of nine inches, a minimum width of 30 inches and a maximum width of 48 inches.
Widths greater than 48 inches may be allowed in special cases upon approval
of the VDOT District Traffic Engineer. The standard letter height shall be
six-inch Series C letters for the street names. The standard letter height
of the suffix and prefix (if any) shall be three-inch Series C letters. Nonstandard
letter height may be allowed in special cases upon approval of the VDOT District
Traffic Engineer.
B.
Street name signs for use on local secondary roads, subdivision
streets and private roads assigned names under this chapter shall have a minimum
height of six inches, a minimum width of 24 inches and a maximum width of
42 inches. Widths greater than 42 inches may be allowed in special cases upon
approval of the VDOT District Traffic Engineer. The standard letter height
shall be four-inch Series C letters for the street name. The standard letter
height of the suffix and prefix (if any) shall be two-inch Series C letters.
Nonstandard letter heights may be allowed in special cases upon approval from
the VDOT District Traffic Engineer.
C.
All street name signs in the county shall be fabricated
with high-intensity reflectorized sign sheeting. All sign text and numerals
shall be white, and the background of all signs shall be green. Signs at intersections
of all public and private roads assigned names under this chapter shall be
mounted atop two-and-three-eighths-inch galvanized pipes, with the signs appearing
at a height of not less than seven feet above grade.
The County Administrator is hereby authorized to direct the placement
of street signs at intersections within the county. The initial costs of such
signs to be appropriated from 9-1-1 telephone taxes as approved by the Northumberland
County Board of Supervisors.
The owner of any subdivision or other development shall erect or cause
to be erected street signs in conformance with this chapter at any and all
intersections within such subdivision or development upon the construction
of any street on or after the effective date of this chapter. Where any subdivision
owner is currently required to erect street signs but has failed to do so,
the future erection of street signs shall be in conformance with this chapter.
All properties or parcels of land within Northumberland County shall
hereafter be identified by reference to a uniform numbering system, as shown
on maps filed in the Office of the County Administrator. Said maps and the
explanatory matter thereon are hereby adopted and made a part of this chapter.
A house or building number shall be assigned to each dwelling or other
building in the county. The combination of such numbers and the road or street
name shall be the official address of such dwelling or building. Such location
shall serve as the official mailing address for postal patrons receiving home
or rural delivery.
When each house or building has been assigned its respective address,
the owner, occupant or agent shall place or cause to be placed upon each house
or building controlled by him the number or numbers assigned under the uniform
numbering system. Such numbers shall be placed on existing buildings within
60 days of notification of the assigned address. Such numbers shall be placed
on new buildings prior to occupancy. The cost of posting the address shall
be the responsibility of the property owner.
Street address numbers for residences shall be at least three inches
in height and shall be made of a durable and clearly visible material. The
numbers shall be conspicuously placed on, above or at the side of the main
entrance so that the number is discernible from the street. Whenever a residence
is more than 75 feet from the street, or when the entrance is not visible
from the street, the number shall be placed along a walk, driveway or other
suitable location so that the address number is discernible from the street.
Street address numbers shall be of a contrasting color to the background on
which they are mounted.
Street address numbers for commercial and industrial structures shall
be at least four inches in height if located within 75 feet of a roadway or
at least 10 inches in height if located greater than 75 feet from the street.
The number shall be placed above or on the main entrance to the structure
when possible. If such number is not visible from the street, the number shall
be placed along a driveway or on a sign visible from the street.
Apartments and similar complexes assigned a single building number shall
display address numbers on each assigned structure using numbers haviAng a
minimum height of eight inches. Trailer parks and similar complexes assigned
a single building number shall display the assigned number at the main entranceway
using numbers having a minimum height of eight inches. Numbers or letters
for individual apartments, trailers or units within these complexes shall
be displayed on, above or to the side of the main doorway of each apartment,
trailer or unit and shall be least three inches in height.
Whenever any house, building or structure shall be erected or located
after the initial establishment of the uniform numbering system as provided
herein, it shall be the duty of the property owner to procure the correct
number or numbers for said property and to affix said numbers to said building
in accordance with this chapter. An application for a building permit for
a new building shall be considered an application for an address assignment.
The Building Official shall coordinate the application with the designated
agent of the County Administrator responsible for the assignment of addresses
and forward the assigned address to the applicant not later than 60 days following
issuance of said permit. The applicant shall be required to furnish such measurements
in relation to other properties or intersections as shall be deemed necessary
for assignment of a valid address.
In applying the guidelines specified herein, the County Administrator,
or his authorized agent, shall have the authority to make minor adjustments
and modifications to ensure a logical and efficient street address system.
The provisions of this chapter shall be applicable in all areas of Northumberland
County outside the Town of Kilmarnock. The provisions of this chapter shall
be applicable within the Town of Kilmarnock if the Kilmarnock Town Council
has adopted and endorsed this chapter by resolution.
Whenever the County Administrator, or his authorized agent, has reason
to believe there has been or there exists a violation of this chapter, he
shall give written notice of such violation to the person failing to comply,
and order said person to take corrective measures within 30 days from the
date of notification. If such person fails to comply with the duly issued
order, the County Administrator, or his agent, shall initiate necessary actions
to terminate the violation through criminal or civil measures.
Any violation of this chapter shall constitute a Class 4 misdemeanor.
Subsequent to the thirty-day period following notification of violation, each
day of violation shall constitute a separate violation.
