Chapter 13.10
HOUSE AND STREET NUMBERS

Sections:

13.10.010    Method designated.

13.10.020    Definitions.

13.10.030    Specifications for addressing buildings.

13.10.040    Street signs.

13.10.050    System of addressing of roads.

13.10.060    Street names and changes authorized.

13.10.070    System of numbering multi-tenant and/or multiple-structure housing.

13.10.080    Address assignments.

13.10.090    Notification of address assignments.

13.10.100    Violation – Penalty.

13.10.010 Method designated.

All houses, residences and places of business within the city of Buckley shall be numbered in accordance with this chapter. All homes, buildings, residences and places of business hereafter constructed shall be assigned such number as the building/planning department of the city of Buckley shall designate in the permit granted for such construction. (Ord. 01-17 § 3, 2017).

13.10.020 Definitions.

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

“Avenue” (AVE) means a public road that has a definitive east-west directional course.

“Boulevard” (BLVD) means a public road that is a broad, landscaped road generally containing a median.

“Circle” (CIR) means a public or private road that intersects with itself subsequent to an intersection with another road.

“Court” (CT) means a public or private road, generally less than 1,000 feet in length, which ingress is generally along a north-south direction course and that ends in a cul-de-sac.

“Highway” (HWY) means a designated state highway.

“Place” (PL) means a public or private road, generally less than 1,000 feet in length, which ingress is generally along an east-west directional course and that ends in a cul-de-sac or dead end.

“Street” (ST) means a public road that has a definitive north-south directional course.

“Way” (WAY) means a public or private road that runs at an angle, or is not parallel to a grid. (Ord. 01-17 § 3, 2017).

13.10.030 Specifications for addressing buildings.

(1) Every person, occupant, owner, householder, or organization shall cause to be affixed suitable numbers at least four inches in height with a minimum stroke width of one-half inch. The numbers shall be constructed of metal or appropriate construction based on the point of entry of such home, residence or place of business, readily visible from a point on the sidewalk and street in front of such home or building. The point of entry shall be determined to be either:

(a) A point on the street that is the main entry to the primary structure on the property; or

(b) A point at the driveway entrance when structure is set back beyond the abutting structures, such as flag lots or extended driveways.

(2) New and existing buildings shall be provided with approved address identification. The address identification shall be legible and placed in a position that is visible from the street or road fronting the property. Address identification characters shall contrast with their background. Address numbers shall be Arabic numbers or alphabetical letters. Numbers shall not be spelled out. Each character shall be not less than four inches high with a minimum stroke width of one-half inch. Where required by the building official or fire marshal, address identification shall be provided in additional approved locations to facilitate emergency response. Where access is by means of a private road and the building cannot be viewed from the public way, a monument, pole or other sign or means shall be used to identify the structure. (Ord. 01-17 § 3, 2017).

13.10.040 Street signs.

The city public works department should provide for the placing of street identification signs at all intersections and at other locations determined necessary by the city engineer. All signs shall have international style, size, and white lettering on a green background. (Ord. 01-17 § 3, 2017).

13.10.050 System of addressing of roads.

The following system of addressing and street identification is adopted for those areas of the city of Buckley for which said city is responsible for the issuance of addresses:

(1) The city shall be divided into quadrants by establishing a north-south baseline and an east-west baseline. The north-south baseline is Main Street and the east-west baseline is Naches Street. The resulting quadrants (north, south, east and west) shall be prefixed to named or numbered roads.

(2) Roads running east and west shall be designated as “avenues.”

(3) Roads running north and south shall be designated as “streets.”

(4) Roads running east and west ending in a cul-de-sac and which cannot be extended shall be designated as “places.”

(5) Roads running north and south ending in a cul-de-sac and which cannot be extended shall be designated as “courts.”

(6) Roads that intersect with itself subsequent to an intersection with another road shall be designated as “circles.”

(7) Roads which are located on the boundaries of the city limits, on which the property on one side of the road is located within the city limits while property on the opposite side is located within Pierce County, shall retain the name or number assigned by the county, if a name or number has been so assigned. Such roads which have not been assigned a name or number by the county shall be named or numbered according to this chapter. (Ord. 01-17 § 3, 2017).

13.10.060 Street names and changes authorized.

(1) The city council, by resolution, may change, rename or name an existing or newly established street within the limits of the city at any time, upon recommendation of the building/planning department.

(2) In addition to city council initiative to change, rename or name an existing or newly established street, the city council may consider individual requests for renaming of streets. Applications to the city council for street renaming shall contain the signatures of the majority of persons having ownership in properties addressed on the street to be renamed. Notice of proposed name changes shall be mailed to all property owners whose addresses would be changed at least 20 days prior to council action. A change of street names shall be accomplished by the adoption of a resolution directing such change.

(3) The council shall consider technical input from the department, locational and development characteristics relative to the street and the impact that a change may have on existing businesses and residences, as well as on emergency vehicle responsiveness, in determining whether the change should be granted. Only entire street lengths or distinct major portions of streets shall be separately renamed by the city. For purposes of this chapter, “distinct major portions” shall mean a separate portion of a street identifiable by either a directional shift of at least 45 degrees or an interrupted interval of at least one-quarter mile. (Ord. 01-17 § 3, 2017).

13.10.070 System of numbering multi-tenant and/or multiple-structure housing.

(1) An address shall be assigned to each primary structure except for situations where public safety or consistent numbering is better achieved by single addresses for multiple structures.

(a) Condominiums. A separate address shall be assigned to each unit. Addresses shall conform to the public street frontage of the condominium.

(b) Duplexes. A separate address shall be assigned to each unit and shall conform to regular numbering along the street.

(c) Apartments. Each apartment complex consisting of three or more buildings shall be assigned a single street address. Individual buildings shall be assigned a letter for emergency reference only. Such letter shall not be part of the official mailing address. Each unit within the complex shall be numbered individually with no number repeating itself within the complex. In multi-level structures, ground level numbers shall be preceded by a one, second level numbers shall be preceded by a two, etc. The first unit shall be 101. Apartment addresses and unit numbers shall be assigned by city building/planning department staff with review by the fire department and the postal service.

(i) If the number of units in a complex varies from one level or building to the next, the numbering of subsequent buildings shall continue from the highest preceding number as if all intervening numbers had been assigned to every floor.

(ii) A recreation building shall be lettered but shall not be assigned a unit number unless there are two or more recreation buildings in which case a unit number shall be assigned.

(iii) Directory signs listing structure address and secondary unit numbers shall be required at all public street entries to multi-tenant and/or multiple-structure complexes. Directory signs are subject to the city of Buckley sign code.

(d) Mobile Home and RV Parks. A primary street address shall be assigned to a mobile home and/or RV park. Space numbers beginning with No. 1 shall be assigned to individual units within the complex. Recreational buildings shall be lettered in the same manner as for apartments.

(e) One Organization with Multiple Structures on a Single Parcel. Multiple structures that house a single business, school, or other organization shall be assigned a single street address based on the main driveway location. Each building shall be assigned a letter or name for emergency location purposes only.

(i) Directory signs are required at all public street entries and are subject to the city of Buckley sign code.

(f) Multi-Tenant Structures with Flex-Space Floor Plans. Each structure or primary unit shall be assigned an address by the city building/planning staff with review by the fire department. At the department’s discretion, an address may be assigned to each major outside entrance when suite assignment is from interior hallways. When access to tenants is from individual outside entrances, a range of numbers shall be assigned to accommodate potential spaces. A master plan for addressing a complex may be created but individual address assignments will be at the discretion of the city.

(i) Addresses for individual tenant spaces shall be assigned by the building/planning department at the time of building permit application. Such addresses shall be reviewed by the fire department. No addresses shall be assigned without prior approval of the building and fire departments.

(ii) Number designations shall be in chronological order but need not be consecutive. Numerical spaces must be skipped to allow for future development and modification within the structure.

(iii) In multi-level structures, ground level numbers shall be preceded by a one; second level numbers shall be preceded by a two, etc. Suite numbers shall not repeat themselves.

(iv) Directory signs that list structure address, secondary unit number, and business name are required at all public street entries to multi-tenant complexes and are subject to the city of Buckley sign code.

(v) Multi-tenant addresses usually shall be assigned off the main driveway entrance. In the case of a linear development parallel to a street, the addresses shall be assigned based on the tenant building front door location. (Ord. 01-17 § 3, 2017).

13.10.080 Address assignments.

(1) In existing subdivision or short subdivision plats, in binding site plans, and in land not yet platted, the assignment of addresses for new buildings shall occur in conjunction with the issuance of a building permit.

(2) In subdivision or short subdivision plats approved after February 1, 2017, the assignment of addresses shall occur during the subdivision or short subdivision plat process. (Ord. 01-17 § 3, 2017).

13.10.090 Notification of address assignments.

Upon assignment of a building address, the building/planning department shall notify the:

(1) United States Postal Service;

(2) South Sound 911;

(3) Buckley fire department;

(4) Buckley police department; and

(5) Other agencies as determined by the building/planning department. (Ord. 01-17 § 3, 2017).

13.10.100 Violation – Penalty.

Any person in violation of this chapter is subject to a civil fine pursuant to Chapter 1.12 BMC. Each day during which a violation of any of the above sections occurs constitutes a separate infraction. (Ord. 01-17 § 3, 2017).