Acting under the authority granted under R.I.G.L.
1956 § 45-6-1, as amended, the Town Council of the Town
of Charlestown hereby establishes a uniform numbering system for the
numbering of residential, commercial and industrial buildings and
lots in the Town of Charlestown. All buildings in the Town of Charlestown
shall display street numbers in accordance with the provisions of
this section.
The standards set forth in this chapter are
made for the purpose of promoting the public health and safety by
providing a means of rapidly locating residential and other structures
by police, fire and other emergency services and for other purposes
requiring the location of residential and other structures as may
be required.
The following criteria shall govern the assignment
of numbers, wherever possible:
A. Number intervals.
(1) In the area south of Route US-1, one (1) number on
each side shall be allowed for each twenty-five (25) feet of street
frontage.
(2) In the area along both sides of Route US-1 and north of Route US-1, one (1) number on each side shall be allowed for each fifty (50) feet of street frontage, except that the streets in the Godon Subdivision shall be numbered at twenty-five-foot intervals as in Subsection
A(1) above.
B. Odd and even numbers. Odd numbers shall be assigned
to the right-hand side of a street, beginning at its point of origin,
and even numbers shall be assigned to the left-hand side of the street
in the same manner.
C. Number origin.
(1) Routes US-1 and US-1A (Old Post Road) shall be numbered
from east to west, continuing the numbering sequence established by
South Kingstown for those roads.
(2) Route RI-2 shall be numbered from north to south,
continuing the number sequence established by Richmond for that road.
(3) All other streets shall be numbered from their points
of origin with a major road or other intervening road.
(4) Exceptions to the above shall be decided on a case-by-case
basis.
D. Common access. Where several residential or other
structures are served by a common driveway or private right-of-way
that is not a street recognized by the Town Council, the number at
the entrance shall apply to all the structures served by the drive
or way, and each structure or dwelling unit shall be identified by
a suffix letter (for example, "5A") in a counterclockwise rotation,
starting with the structure on the immediate right of the drive or
way.
E. The number assigned to each residence or structure
shall be the number falling closest to the main entry or driveway
providing access to the property as shown on the official map of street
numbers.
[Amended 8-20-2012 by Ord. No. 352; 1-11-2016 by Ord. No. 372]
A. All residents and other occupants shall display assigned
numbers in the following manner:
(1) Number on the structure or residence. Where the residence
or structure is within fifty (50) feet of the edge of a street right-of-way,
the unobstructed assigned number shall be displayed on the front of
the residence or structure in the vicinity of the front door or entryway.
(2) Number at the street line. Where the residence or
structure is over fifty (50) feet from the edge of the street right-of-way,
the assigned number shall be displayed on a post, fence, wall or mailbox
at the property line adjacent to the walk or access drive to the residence
or structure.
(3) Size and color of number. Upon transfer of ownership,
numbers shall be displayed as follows: The number(s) is to consist
of numerals of at least four inches in size and be of a color that
contrasts with the background on which it is placed and shall be so
located as to be easily visible from the street. No owner, occupant,
lessee, tenant or subtenant of any building shall display any number
other than the assigned proper number designated by the town.
(4) Placing of numbers. Within thirty (30) days after
the mailing of notification of the assigned number to the owner, the
owner of the building shall display the designated number on the respective
building in the manner described above.
(5) Interior location. All residents and other occupants
are requested to post the assigned number and street name adjacent
to their telephone for emergency reference.
B. Violations. Any person violating the provisions of
this chapter shall be punished by a fine of not more than twenty dollars
($20.) for each violation. Violators shall be prosecuted by the Chief
of Police of the Town of Charlestown or his/her designee by issuance
of a summons in the Municipal Court.
Whenever any residence or other structure is
constructed or developed, it shall be the duty of the new owner to
procure an assigned number from the Town Planner. This shall be done
at the time of the issuance of the building permit.
Any prospective subdivider shall show a proposed
lot numbering system on the preliminary plan submission to the Charlestown
Planning Commission. The Planning Commission may modify the proposed
plan as it deems necessary in order to bring it into compliance with
the street naming and numbering policy. The approved street names
and numbering shall be included in the final map which is submitted
to the Planning Commission for approval and for recordation.
The naming and numbering of private streets
or roads shall not constitute the acceptance of those streets and
roads by the Town of Charlestown or the provision of maintenance of
those streets and roads by the town.
This chapter shall take effect upon passage,
and number and street name assignment shall be initiated by the Town
Council upon completion of the official map of street names and numbers
and the availability of such official map in the office of the Charlestown
Town Hall.