San Diego Municipal Code Div. 11 Naming or Renaming of Public Streets and Other Rights-of-Way

(“Naming or Renaming of Public Streets and Other Rights-of-Way” added 1-23-2013 by O-20235 N.S.)

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The purpose of this Division is to establish procedures for the careful selection of names for public streets and other rights-of-way to protect the public health, safety and welfare in consideration of the multi-agency computer aided dispatch service for police, fire, and paramedic vehicles and the policies and procedures of the United States Postal Service. It is the intent that the City avoid duplication and confusing similarity between public streets and other rights-of-way within the City, and with other cities and unincorporated areas in the County of San Diego. (“Purpose of the Procedures to Name or Rename Public Streets or Other Rights-of- Way” added 1-23-2013 by O-20235 N.S.; effective 2-22-2013.)

Approval from the City Engineer is required for any request to name or rename public streets and other rights-of-way, which for this section includes private streets, private driveways, non-dedicated roads on City property, and alleys. The City Engineer may designate a street name coordinator to reserve and approve street names. (“Approval Required to Name or Rename Public Streets or Other Rights-of-Way” added 1-23-2013 by O-20235 N.S.; effective 2-22-2013.)

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(a) An application to assign a name to a public street or other right-of-way shall
be submitted in accordance with section 112.0102 and the Land Development
Manual.

(b) Applicants requesting to change the name of an existing public street or other
right-of-way shall:

(1) Submit an application in accordance with section 112.0102 and the
Land Development Manual; and

(2) Submit documentation to the satisfaction of the City Engineer that a
petition for the proposed name change was circulated to all property
owners and tenants with either abutting property or property with an
address on the affected segment of an existing public street or other
right-of-way. The applicant shall demonstrate upon application that
the circulated petition contains signatures indicating at least 25 percent
support from affected property owners and tenants.
(“How to Apply for Approval to Name or Rename Public Streets or Other Rights-of-
Way” added 1-23-2013 by O-20235 N.S.; effective 2-22-2013.)

To protect the public health, safety, and welfare, names for public streets and other rights-of-way must comply with the street naming standards in the Land Development Manual. (“General Regulations” added 1-23-2013 by O-20235 N.S.; effective 2-22-2013.)

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(a) A decision on a request to name a new public street or other right-of-way
shall be made by the City Engineer in accordance with Process One, except
that a decision of the City Council shall be required for:

(1) Any request to name a public street or other right-of-way after an
individual using the first and last name of that individual; and

(2) Any request by an applicant for a public street or other right-of-way
name that, in the opinion of the City Engineer, does not comply with
the street naming standards in the Land Development Manual.

(b) A request to change the name of an existing public street or other right-of-
way shall be made in accordance with the following:

(1) The decision on a request for a proposed name change that is
supported by a petition containing signatures indicating 100 percent
support from all affected property owners and tenants described in
section 125.1110(b)(2) shall be made by the City Engineer in
accordance with Process One.

(2) Where the circulated petition contains signatures indicating less than
100 percent support from all affected property owners and tenants
described in section 125.1110(b)(2), the decision shall be made by the
City Council. The request shall be processed in accordance with
Process Five, except that a Planning Commission recommendation
hearing shall not be required prior to a City Council decision.

(c) Where a decision is required by the City Council in accordance with section
125.1120(a) or (b), the Council shall deny any request for a name that would
adversely affect the multi-agency computer aided dispatch service for police,
fire, and paramedic vehicles or the policies and procedures of the United
States Postal Service.
(“Decision Process for Applications to Name or Rename Public Streets or Other
Rights-of-Way” added 1-23-2013 by O-20235 N.S.; effective 2-22-2013.)

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(a) Names for new public streets or other rights-of-way may be reserved through
the approval of a tentative map and will be reserved for the life of the
tentative map.

(b) Names for public streets or other rights-of-way may also be reserved for up to
three years by submitting an application to the City Engineer in accordance
with section 125.1110.

(c) Names reserved for public streets or other rights-of-way shall become
effective upon recordation of the associated map, drawing or deed.
(“Effective Date of Decision to Name or Rename Public Streets or Other
Rights-of-Way” added 1-23-2013 by O-20235 N.S.; effective 2-22-2013.)

(a) The City Council may name sections of streets not exceeding one block in length in honor and recognition of individuals or organizations that are of particular importance to the City of San Diego or have made significant contributions to improving the quality of life in the City. The honorary naming of streets under this section is separate and distinct from the process for naming or renaming streets provided by this Division and shall not replace, supersede, or otherwise affect existing names of streets.

(b) The criteria and procedure for selecting those individuals and organizations
for recognition with honorary street names and the design standards for the
accompanying signs shall be provided by Council Policy.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Chapter 14, Article 2, Division 12, signs
for honorary street names may be placed in streets. Signs for honorary street
names shall be clearly distinguishable from official street name signs by
color, use of the word “honorary” in the legend, or by other design aspects.
(“Honorary Street Names” added 1-18-2017 by O-20783 N.S.; effective 2-17-2017.)

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