Nevada County Municipal Code Ch. 2 Uniform System for Road Naming

The purpose and intent of this Section is to provide a uniform system for the naming of public and private roads within the County of Nevada consistent with road naming standards of the incorporated cities and town located within the County of Nevada.

This Chapter is intended to provide clarification of road naming policies and procedures and to assist emergency providers in locating properties.

(Ord. 2474. (01/14/2020); Ord. 2531. (10/24/2023))

A. Driveway means vehicular access constructed pursuant to, Title 4, Fire Safety Regulations, of this Code that serves no more than two (2) parcels with no more than two (2) dwelling units on each and any number of accessory buildings.

B. Public Road means vehicular access constructed pursuant to Title 4, Fire Safety Regulations, that serves more than two (2) parcels or connects two (2) or more roads, whether providing access or not, and is within the County maintained road system.

C. Private Road means vehicular access constructed pursuant to Title 4, Fire Safety Regulations, of this Code that serves more than two (2) parcels or connects two (2) or more roads, whether providing access or not, and is not within the County maintained road system.

D. Standard Drawings means the latest edition of the Nevada County Standard Drawings kept on file in the Department of Public Works and adopted by a Resolution of the Nevada County Board of Supervisors.

(Ord. 2474. (01/14/2020); Ord. 2531. (10/24/2023))

A. The County Planning Department shall maintain records of all public and private roads within the County and shall process such names in accordance with procedures established in this Chapter.

B. The Planning Commission of the County shall report and recommend to the Board of Supervisors the naming of new County-maintained roads within the County.

C. Tentative maps approved by the Planning Agency shall contain conditions of approval which require the naming and posting of new roads, pursuant to the provisions established for the naming of roads in this Chapter.

D. All Roads as defined above shall be named.

(Ord. 2474. (01/14/2920); Ord. 2531. (10/24/2023))

A. Road names should be no longer than fourteen (14) letters (exclusive of street, avenue, road, etc.) and preferably in one (1) word.

B. Road names shall have simple spelling and easy pronunciation.

C. Numbers or letters used as road names are to be avoided.

D. Inappropriate or offensive names will not be permitted.

E. Road names identical, or sounding similar ("Karry" and "Carrie"), to others within the County will not be permitted.

F. Road names will be deemed duplicates even if they have a different suffix such as boulevard, lane, avenue, street, etc.

G. Road names which would be geographically misleading in regards to physical location, place or landmark are to be avoided (i.e., Lakefront Drive should be located along a lake front).

H. A road having a continuous alignment shall bear the same name.

I. Road extensions shall bear the same name as the existing road.

J. Roads intersecting each other or forming an angle of less than one hundred ten (110) degrees shall generally have different names.

K. Prefixes such as north and south, east and west, upper and lower, etc., should be avoided.

L. Dead end roads or cul-de-sacs that are less than eight hundred (800') feet shall be known as "Courts" or "Places."

M. All roads which come off a named road and re-access onto that named road may be known as "Loops" or "Circles."

(Ord. 2474. (01/14/2020); Ord. 2531. (10/24/2023))

A. County maintained roads shall be posted by the Department of Public Works, pursuant to the County's Standard Drawings.

B. It shall be the responsibility of the property owner(s) to post non-County or State-maintained road names.

C. Road name signs shall be located so as to be visible from the street. Such signs shall be located at the convergence of the road with another named road. Posts shall be set six (6) to twelve (12') feet off the traveled way or two (2') feet from curb or dike face. The base of the street sign shall be a minimum of seven (7') feet above the plane level with the edge of the traveled way.

D. All non-County or non-State-maintained roads/driveways requiring a name shall be posted as a requirement of the issuance of any building permit for any use taking access from that road/driveway.

E. All addresses and road name signs shall be inspected for proper installation at the framing inspection of the subject building permit by the Building Inspector. The type, style and size of the private road name signs shall be in accordance with the County's Standard Drawings.

F. As a condition of approval of any tentative map, a road or driveway providing access to two (2) or more lots shall be named and posted prior to map recordation.

G. Where two (2) to four (4) existing lots are served by an existing, common road or driveway identification may be provided by one (1) of the following methods:

1. Name and post the access driveway or road, or

2. Post the addresses for all lots at the common intersection of the driveway and the road providing access to said driveway.

(Ord. 2474. (01/14/2020); Ord. 2531. (10/24/2023))

A. County road name changes shall require a public hearing before the Planning Commission.

B. Non-County road name changes shall be reviewed and approved by the Planning Department.

C. Any decision of the Planning Department or Planning Commission may be appealed to the Board of Supervisors pursuant to Section 12.05.120 of this Code.

D. A road name change may be approved for any of the following reasons:

1. An existing road name is a duplication of another road name within either the Eastern or Western portion of the County.

2. The location or direction of a named road changes or is shown incorrectly on County maps.

3. An existing road name is determined to be contrary to road naming procedures established in this Chapter.

(Ord. 2474. (01/14/2020); Ord. 2531. (10/24/2023))