Trinity County Municipal Code Ch. 12.17 Naming and Numbering of Streets

Footnotes:

--- (2) ---

* Prior ordinance history: Ord. 1124.

This chapter shall be known as the "Uniform System for the Naming and Numbering of Streets and Highways."

(Ord. 1276 §1(part), 2003)

It is the intent of this chapter to establish an orderly street naming and numbering system for the identification of residences and businesses in Trinity County. Such an ordinance is necessary to provide for the delivering of emergency services to places within the county as well as to expedite postal and other delivery services.

(Ord. 1276 §1(part), 2003)

The processes for street (road) naming shall be as stated in Section 12.17.060. The processes for street numbering shall be as stated in Section 12.17.070.

(Ord. 1276 §1(part), 2003)

The planning department shall be responsible for maintaining pertinent records as well as assigning street names and numbers when building permits are issued in accordance with this chapter. Prior to naming streets the department shall consult with other affected agencies. Street numbers may be assigned to existing buildings and undeveloped par cels if the planning director determines that it is in the public interest to do so.

(Ord. 1276 §1(part), 2003)

For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply.

"County" means the county of Trinity or any county agency or department authorized by the board of supervisors to construct and maintain roadways within Trinity County.

"Driveway" means a vehicular access that serves no more than one parcel of land.

"County road" means vehicular access to more than one parcel that is maintained by the county of Trinity.

"Other publicly maintained road" means vehicular access to more than one parcel that is managed or maintained by a governmental agency other than the county of Trinity.

"Private road" means vehicular access to more than one parcel that is maintained by private property owners.

"Street" includes: road, lane, circle, way and other similar terms associated with vehicle access, but excludes the term "driveway".

"Street naming" means the assignment and posting of a name for a county road, private road, or other publicly maintained road.

(Ord. 1276 §1(part), 2003)

A. General Provisions.

1. All street names shall be chosen in a manner to avoid: duplication, similar sounding names, confusing names or inappropriate names. Attempts shall be made to retain historically accurate names, or in the case of new streets, to name streets in accordance with historical events, places or names common to the specific area.

2. Road signs shall be visible and legible from both directions of vehicle travel for a distance of at least one hundred feet.

3. Size of letters, numbers and symbols for street and road signs shall be a four inch letter height, three-eighths inch stroke, reflectorized and contrasting with the background color of the sign. Neon, flashing or other types of signs that may distract motorists are not allowed.

B. County Roads.

1. All street names as indicated on the county's maintained mileage map shall be recognized as the legal name of county roads.

2. Any county road may be officially named in accordance with Section 971 of the California Streets and Highways Code.

3. The board of supervisors may change the name of a county road after giving notice and conducting a public hearing in accordance with Section 970.5 of the California Streets and Highways Code. A county road name-change may be initiated only by the director of transportation, or by the director of transportation acting under direction of the board of supervisors.

C. Other Publicly Maintained Roads. The naming or changing of street names on public roads shall be completed in accordance with the procedures established by the governmental agency responsible for the road. All public roads must have a street name (i.e.: a road number is not sufficient), except for state highways. Street names formally established by a non-county governmental agency responsible for maintaining a road shall be accepted by the county.

D. Private Roads.

1. The naming of streets serving private property may be initiated by the property owners served by the road or by the planning director. Application for a road name may be obtained from the planning department and shall be completed and returned to the planning director for routing to affected agencies. After receiving clearance or comments from the other agencies, the planning director shall process the request in accordance with the procedures established in Section 971 of the California Streets and Highways Code; provided, however, that if sixty percent or more of the landowners agree with the road name, as submitted with the application, then the road shall be approved without the formal public noticing process. Road name changes shall be completed in the same manner. Approval of road names and road name changes shall be made by adoption of a resolution by the board of supervisors for approval.

2. The board of supervisors finds and declares that there is an urgent need to complete a county wide system of roads and, therefore, authorizes the planning director to approve road names until July 1, 2005. After July 1, 2005 the planning director shall submit a complete list of private road names to the board of supervisors for approval. Thereafter, all new road names and road name changes shall require approval by the board of supervisors, as provided in subsection 12.17.070.D.1.

(Ord. 1276 §1(part), 2003)

(Ord. No. 1286, § 1, 3-1-05)

A. The uniform street numbering system shall apply county-wide and shall be based upon the individual numbering of each road beginning at its point of origin and increasing in sequence to its point of termination. In the case of a loop road which has two points of intersection on one road, or other matters requiring a determination, the point of origin shall be determined by the planning director, and the numbering shall start at that point.

1. Addresses shall be assigned at one thousand numbers per road mile, and two numbers shall be assigned to approximately each ten feet of street or road frontage; one odd number and one even number, with even on the right and odd on the left side of the road. Where development is irregularly spaced or in areas of little development, the designation of a series of numbers shall be determined or estimated in a logical manner by the planning department.

2. A multiple-family building, or commercial building with multiple tenants, or a parcel with more than one dwelling shall be assigned only one address number for the parcel and shall carry a letter designation (i.e.: A, B, C, etc.) or be numbered sequentially for each residential unit or tenant space. Provided, however, that if access to separate dwellings is by separate driveways, then separate addresses shall be provided to the dwellings.

3. A mobile home park, RV park or a parcel with more than one dwelling served by a common driveway shall be assigned only one address number for the parcel and shall carry a letter designation (i.e.: A, B, C, etc.) or be numbered sequentially for each residential unit or space.

B. House Numbers. Every owner, occupant or agent shall, within one year after a house number has been assigned or at the time a certificate of occupancy is issued for residential construction, whichever occurs first, permanently install the number issued subject to the following provisions:

1. All assigned numbers shall be placed so as to be easily visible and legible from the road upon which said premises front. All buildings shall have a permanently posted address, which shall be placed at each driveway entrance and be visible from both directions of travel along the road. In all cases, the address shall be posted at the beginning of construction and shall be maintained thereafter, and the address shall be visible and legible from the road on which the address is located. Address signs along one-way roads shall be visible from both the intended direction of travel and the opposite direction. Where multiple addresses are required at a single driveway, they shall be mounted on a single post. Where a roadway provides access solely to a single commercial or industrial business, the address sign shall be placed at the nearest road intersection providing access to that site.

2. Size of letters, numbers and symbols for addresses shall be minimum three inch and maximum eight inch letter height, minimum three-eights inch stroke, contrast with the background color of the sign and preferably reflectorized. Neon, flashing or other types of signs that may distract motorists are not allowed.

(Ord. 1276 §1(part), 2003)

The planning director shall have the authority to determine the appropriate method of addressing parcels and buildings and initiate corrective actions to resolve street name conflicts in situations that may develop that have not been addressed in this chapter.

(Ord. 1276 §1(part), 2003)