§ 12.300

Regulations regarding address numbers of residential and commercial buildings and properties.

(Ord. No. 1974, div. 1, 11-18-2019)

12.300.020 - Intent.

The purpose of this regulation is to provide minimum standards under which the city can provide a logical and consistent system for addressing which is easily recognizable by emergency response personnel and others trying to locate an address. The regulations and standards prescribed in this section shall be followed for address assignment or reassignment.

(Ord. No. 1974, div. 1, 11-18-2019)

12.300.030 - Duty of owner or agent.

Every property owner or agent thereof, shall apply for and receive from the building official an assigned address number for every residential, multi-residential, and every commercial building located within the City of San Rafael which does not have address numbers complying with the provisions this code.

(Ord. No. 1974, div. 1, 11-18-2019)

It shall be the duty of the building official or his designee to decide on a number and assign addressing in conformance with this code and the recognized standards of the city. Whenever the building official has knowledge of any violation of this chapter, the building official may notify and direct the property owner to correct the violation within thirty (30) days. If the owner cannot be located, the agent or occupant of the premises where said violation occurs shall be notified. If after thirty (30) days the complaint has not been corrected, the building official may act to enforce this chapter.

(Ord. No. 1974, div. 1, 11-18-2019)

The recognized standards used to determine the location, method or configuration of the addressing used by city are the recommended address standards.

(Ord. No. 1974, div. 1, 11-18-2019)

All buildings shall have the assigned address numbers posted. It shall be unlawful for any person, whether the owner or occupant of the building or any apartment therein, to place, maintain or allow to remain thereon, any number other than the one (1) required by this section. The address number shall be posted in the location specified in this code. The required, posted numbers shall be Arabic numerals and be visible from the street.

1.

Residential dwellings shall have numbers not less than four (4) inches in height with a proportionate width.

2.

All commercial buildings shall have numbers not less than six (6) inches in height with a proportionate width. For multi-tenant buildings, assigned unit numbers four (4) inches in height may be posted on the doors in lieu of the street number provided that the street address is posted in a location that is clearly visible and distinguishable from the unit numbers.

3.

The address number shall be a lighted sign or shall be at a minimum constructed with a contrasting color and background or with a reflective surface. All numbers shall be made of substantial and permanent material and shall be so placed or fixed so as not to be easily effaced or removed.

The assigned address must be posted for all buildings or structures under construction.

(Ord. No. 1974, div. 1, 11-18-2019)

Residential address numerals shall be posted to the immediate left of the front door of the dwelling, unless the garage is the furthest projecting building element, then the numerals shall be posted to the immediate left of the garage door. When such location is not visible from the street or access roadway fronting such residential dwelling, the required numerals shall be posted on a sign at the driveway entrance on the road which it departs. The sign shall not be located within the road right-of-way and shall be mounted to a minimum four (4) by four (4)-redwood post or equivalent, set to a height range of forty-two (42) inches to sixty (60) inches.

Commercial address numerals shall be posted over the main entrance doors, as well as on the rear door of the business. For multi-tenant buildings, assigned unit numbers may be posted on the front doors in lieu of street address, provided that the street address numerals are posted in locations that are clearly visible and distinguishable from the unit numbers. When such location is not visible from the street or roadway fronting such commercial building, the required numerals shall be at a location and a size specified by the public works department and the fire department.

(Ord. No. 1974, div. 1, 11-18-2019)

For streets running east and west, all buildings located on the north side shall be numbered with odd numbers and all buildings located on the south side shall be numbered with even numbers. For streets running north and south, all buildings located on the west side shall odd numbers and all buildings located on the east side shall be numbered with even numbers.

(Ord. No. 1974, div. 1, 11-18-2019)

The city's address system is based on the grid system outlined within recognized standards. The city shall have one thousand (1,000) addresses per mile, or five hundred twenty-eight (528) feet per hundred block and shall be in numerical sequence beginning from the baseline. Some neighborhood areas may have a baseline different than noted above and such baseline is isolated to that specific geographic area. When assigning the address numbers, the middle of a structure shall determine the address number or driveway at the discretion of the building official.

(Ord. No. 1974, div. 1, 11-18-2019)

Whenever any property owner or agent of any property owner has been notified to change the numbers of the building, the old numbers may be temporarily retained, in addition to the new numbers. In no case shall the old numbers be retained for a period longer than sixty (60) days after the final notice to change has been mailed.

(Ord. No. 1974, div. 1, 11-18-2019)

A person or agent thereof, owning any building otherwise in compliance with the above provisions of this chapter, may pursuant to this section, paint or cause to be painted upon the curb the address number of such building. The number shall be located on the outer (street) side of the city curb located in front of said building, and within the extended property lines. No other number or letter shall be used. The use of curb numbering authorized by this section is not required, nor shall it take the place of those requirements for numbering set forth above. All building numbers placed on curbs shall be of good quality black enamel paint, nearly centered upon a sixteen-inch background of good quality white outdoor reflective paint. The curb numbers themselves shall be four (4) inches high and formed by use of standard stencil series "C". Whenever possible, when the property is serviced by one (1) or more driveways, the curb numbers shall be placed not less than one (1) foot and not more than three (3) feet from the driveway edge nearest the main front entrance to the building. Curb numbers permitted by this section shall not be painted on any curb when such painting or numbering would conflict with any required restricted curb zones set forth by the public works department, including the "blue," "red," "yellow," "green," "white," and "orange" zones.

Every person desirous of painting house numbers on curbs as a business venture or in conjunction with any business venture shall have obtained a city business license.

It is unlawful for any person, firm, partnership, corporation or other association to paint or cause to be painted any house number on a curb without first having obtained the permission of the owner or occupant of the property adjacent to the curb.

(Ord. No. 1974, div. 1, 11-18-2019)

Chapter 12.310 - APARTMENTS AND HOTELS—PERIODIC HOUSING INSPECTION PROGRAM AND CARETAKER REQUIREMENTS