Sierra County Municipal Code Ch. 11.40 Street Addressing and Naming

This chapter is adopted to provide a county-wide comprehensive address numbering system to enable emergency vehicles from fire, Sheriff, and ambulance services to respond quickly to calls and to facilitate postal and other delivery service. A positive identification system that eliminates error and confusion and aids prompt response is deemed to be in the public interest and necessary to protect the public health, general welfare, and safety of the citizens of the county. (Ord. 784, eff. 5/7/92)

The Sierra County master street address numbering system shall consist of the “continuous mile” system. The beginning point of each road shall be determined by the Sierra County Planning Department. Addresses are then assigned using 1,000 addresses per mile, odd and even on alternate sides of the road using milepost markers as first two numbers followed by three digits (see SCC 11.40.040(F), (G), (H)). Within townsites/communities numbers will generally be from one to three digits total. (Ord. 784, eff. 5/7/92)

The system shall be implemented within the unincorporated areas of the county by the County Planning Director and supersedes any system used prior to its implementation. Private road sign installation and reception shall be accomplished by the County Public Works Director pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. Technical assistance and information shall be mutually exchanged among all county departments as may be required in carrying out the provisions of this chapter. Funds, if any, collected from fees pursuant to this chapter shall be maintained by the Department of Public Works. (Ord. 784, eff. 5/7/92)

A. The Planning Director shall determine and assign all address numbers to single-family dwellings, duplex residences, properties, and business establishments and issue the same to property owners and occupants without charge in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. A record of all numbers assigned pursuant to this chapter shall be maintained by the Planning Director and open for inspection by the public during business hours.

B. Multiple units within a residential, industrial, or commercial building or complex shall be identified with a sequential numerical or letter suffix as determined to be appropriate by the Planning Director. There shall be no duplications of identifiers within any building or complex.

C. Addresses shall be assigned on the basis of the driveway access location or in certain instances as decided by the Planning Director.

D. Odd numbers shall be assigned to the westerly and northerly sides of all roads and even numbers assigned to the easterly and southerly sides of all roads.

E. The predominant direction of curvilinear and diagonal roads shall be determined by the Planning Director.

F. In the established townsites/communities of the county and similar situations, there exist town road systems characterized by streets intersecting and flanking a central road. In these towns, and in similar situations, each road intersecting the central road shall generally have as its beginning the intersection with such central road and addresses shall continue north, south, east, west or other bearing.

G. When specified by the Board of Supervisors, existing addressing systems in established towns/communities may continue in use, until otherwise specified by the Board of Supervisors.

H. Other roads where both ends terminate at their intersections with another road, other than the situations described above: The following rules apply in the order presented:

1. One end terminates at a state, U.S. highway (49, 89, 80) or county road: The end terminating at the state, U.S. highway or county road is the beginning.

2. Both ends terminate at a state, U.S. highway or county road: The end nearest to the south or west county line is the beginning.

3. In any other situation the end terminating nearest to the south or west county line is the beginning. (Ord. 784, eff. 5/7/92)

A. Designation. Road names shall be maintained in a master road record, and new names shall be chosen in a manner to avoid duplication, similar sounding, confusing, or inappropriate names. Roads that are through roads and are planned to become through roads should be designated with the suffix “Court” or similar indication.

1. County road name assignments and road name changes shall be in accordance with Cal. Sts. & High. Code §§ 970.5 and 971.

2. Noncounty road name assignments and road name changes shall be determined by the Planning Director.

3. Any decision of the Planning Department or Planning Commission may be appealed to the Board of Supervisors pursuant to Chapter 15.36 SCC, Appeal of Planning Commission Decision.

4. New roads created by subdivision or lot line adjustment, or as the result of a county land use permit when at least two parcels or four dwellings, or a commercial, industrial or public use is served, shall be named through the recording of the location and name on the document creating the subdivision, or in connection with any approved land use document. The proposed name shall be verified by the Planning Department for conformance with name requirements. The matter of the road name shall be included as part of the public hearing at which the decision on the land use proposal is heard.

5. The Planning Department shall update the master road and address record and notify any affected persons, and the following: Assessor, utilities, Sheriff, EMS, County Clerk and the Post Office. (Ord. 784, eff. 5/7/92)

A. Upon receipt of the address number from the Planning Director, the owner of the property or building shall cause the number to be displayed upon the building or land in such a manner as to be visible from the road upon which the land or building fronts, and shall remove or obscure from public view any old or obsolete number not in accordance with the system.

B. In areas where buildings and/or property front roads where mail delivery is provided, the number and street name shall be displayed upon mailboxes or receptacles designed for receipt of mail.

C. Where residences and/or properties front upon roads not receiving mail delivery, the number and road name upon which the building and/or property fronts shall be displayed upon mailboxes or receptacles at the intersection of the frontage road and the road where mail delivery is provided.

D. Where residences and/or property are not clearly visible from the road, address numbers shall be posted at the main access to the residence/property and shall be conspicuous to ensure positive identification and placed in such a manner to be clearly visible through all weather conditions.

E. All address numbers shall be a minimum height of three inches, of reflective and/or a color contrasting with the surface where placed.

F. Before final inspection can be completed on new construction, including additions and alterations, the building address and any unit addresses assigned by the Planning Director shall be posted in accordance to minimum standards. (Ord. 784, eff. 5/7/92)