[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of Mathews County 4-24-2001.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known as the "Street and Road Naming and Building
Numbering Ordinance for Mathews County, Virginia," or it may be referred to
by its short title of "Road Naming Ordinance" and will be referred to herein
as "this chapter."
The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the assignment of names
to streets and roads in Mathews County and the posting of street signs and
building numbers to enhance the easy and rapid location of properties for
the delivery of public safety and emergency services, postal delivery and
business delivery.
This chapter is authorized by the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended,
§§ 15.2-1200 and 15.2-1427, and is intended to provide for
the health, safety, and general welfare of the public to enhance provision
of emergency services to the citizens of Mathews County.
A.
Official list of names of roads by the Board of Supervisors.
The Board of Supervisors, in cooperation and consultation with the Transportation
Safety Commission, the Sheriff's Department, the United States Postmaster,
the Department of Planning and Zoning and the Commissioner of Revenue, shall
have a map prepared to be titled "Property Number Map of the County of Mathews,
Virginia," which shall be adopted as the official map by which roads are named
and property numbers assigned upon the signing and dating of said map by said
Board of Supervisors and the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, following
a public hearing. Said map shall be made up and adopted within 180 days of
the effective date of this chapter.
(1)
Every public way and all roads with more than three improved
properties shall have a name.
[Amended 1-24-2002]
(2)
The Transportation Safety Commission is the final authority
in accepting names for such roads. A road name accepted by the Transportation
Committee shall not constitute or imply acceptance of the road as a public
way.
(3)
The Mathews 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 Mathews County, and such streets and roads
are hereby assigned the names listed therein. As used in this chapter, the
terms "street" and "road" shall have the same meaning and shall also include
avenues, boulevards, highways, lanes, ways and similar street types.
B.
Administrator. The County Administrator, or his or her
duly authorized agent, is hereby authorized to assign names to any public
or private road or street in the County which provides access to two or more
occupied buildings, after the effective date of this chapter.
C.
Guidelines for road names. The County Administrator,
or his or her duly authorized agent, is hereby authorized to negotiate with
residents along streets or roads bearing duplicate of confusingly similar
names in the County and to change the names of such roads or streets to eliminate
such duplication, after the effective date of this chapter.
D.
New road name assignment.
(1)
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 or her duly authorized agent, approved and
added to the Mathews County Road Name Index. The County Administrator, or
his or her duly authorized agent, shall have the 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.
(2)
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 or her duly authorized agent, approved and added to the Mathews County
Road Name Index; provided, however, that this subsection 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, or
his or her duly authorized agent, 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, after the effective
date of this chapter.
E.
Street sign specifications.
(1)
All new street signs erected within Mathews County shall
be in conformance with the specifications of the Virginia Department of Transportation
(VDOT) or the Mathews County Board of Supervisors. Street name signs for use
on primary routes and secondary roads at their intersection with primary routes
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 Virginia Department of Transportation
(VDOT) District Traffic Engineer. The standard letter height shall be six-inch
Series C letters for the street name. 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 Virginia Department
of Transportation (VDOT) District Traffic Engineer.
(2)
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 Virginia Department of Transportation (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 height may be
allowed in special cases upon approval of the Virginia Department of Transportation
(VDOT) District Traffic Engineer.
(3)
All street name signs in Mathews 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-inch-by-two-inch galvanized signposts with the signs appearing
at a height of not less than seven feet above grade.
F.
Replacement of signs.
(1)
The County Administrator or his or her duly authorized
agent is hereby authorized to direct the placement of street signs at intersections
within Mathews County. The initial costs of such signs and installation are
to be appropriated from E-911 telephone taxes as approved by the Mathews County
Board of Supervisors.
(2)
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.
A.
House numbers.
(1)
A house or building number shall be assigned to each
dwelling or commercial or industrial building in Mathews 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.
(2)
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 or her the number or numbers assigned
under the uniform numbering system within 60 days of the notification of the
assigned address.
(3)
Such numbers shall be placed near the principal entrance
to the property and in a manner as to be legible from the road on which the
property is located.
(4)
Owners of buildings which are not visible from the road
shall place the assigned number on a post or on a mailbox at the entrance
to the property.
(5)
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. However, one number place shall be provided to each residential
structure with the address change notification.
(6)
Every person whose duty it is to display the assigned
number or road name sign shall remove any different number or name which might
be mistaken for, or confused with, the number or name assigned in conformance
with this chapter.
B.
Specification for address numbers.
(1)
Residences. Street address numbers for residences shall
be at least three inches in height and shall be 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 address numbers shall be of a contrasting
color to the background on which they are mounted.
(2)
Commercial. 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.
(3)
Apartments, trailer parks, etc. Apartments and similar
complexes assigned a single building number shall display address numbers
on each assigned structure using numbers having 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 at least three inches in height.
C.
Future address numbering. 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
be required to furnish such landmarks as shall be deemed necessary for assignment
of a valid address.
D.
Modification and adjustments. In applying the guidelines
specified herein, the County Administrator, or his or her duly 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 Mathews
County.
A.
Whenever the County Administrator, or his or her duly
authorized agent, has reason to believe there has been or there exists a violation
of this chapter, he or she 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 the notification. If such person fails to
comply with the duly issued order, the County Administrator, or his or her
agent, shall initiate necessary actions to terminate the violation through
criminal or civil measures.
B.
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.
Interpretation of what may not be clear in this chapter shall be according
to the intent of this chapter and the Comprehensive Plan.
Whenever the regulations of this chapter conflict with those of another
ordinance, the stricter shall apply.
