Chapter 12.50
STREET NAMES AND BUILDING ADDRESSES
Sections
12.50.050 Grid system adopted.
12.50.060 Street designations.
12.50.070 Council redesignation.
12.50.100 Address designations.
12.50.110 Address assignments.
12.50.120 Notification of address assignments.
12.50.130 Building Official powers and duties.
12.50.140 Compliance required.
12.50.010 Title.
This chapter shall be entitled “Street Names and Building Addresses.” [Ord. 1578 § 143, 2013.]
12.50.020 Application.
The chapter shall apply to all buildings and structures within the City. [Ord. 1578 § 144, 2013.]
12.50.030 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to grant the Building Official the authority to assign street names and numbers and to address the principal entrances of all buildings or other uses in conformance with the grid system adopted by this chapter. [Ord. 1578 § 145, 2013.]
12.50.040 Authority.
This chapter is authorized by the general police provisions granted to the City pursuant to Title 35A RCW and other applicable laws. [Ord. 1578 § 146, 2013.]
12.50.050 Grid system adopted.
The grid system adopted by King County Resolution No. 16622, as amended by Ordinance Nos. 1630, 1721, 1874, 1970, 2081, 2221, and 2362, as presently constituted or as may be subsequently amended, and as amended, added to, or excepted in this chapter, together with all amendments and additions provided in this Title, is adopted and is applicable within the City. [Ord. 1578 § 147, 2013.]
12.50.060 Street designations.
(1) The Building Official shall:
(a) Designate all public and private streets using the guidelines of the grid system; and
(b) Not name a street unless the Building Official determines that the number assigned to the street by the grid system is not feasible.
(2) The Building Official may redesignate existing streets if the Building Official determines the street name or number is inconsistent with the grid system.
(3) Public and private streets shall carry a cardinal point prefix or suffix. Public and private streets designated as:
(a) Avenues are preceded by a numerical designation, are assigned a cardinal point suffix, and are in a generally north-south direction;
(b) Streets are preceded by a numerical designation, are assigned a cardinal point prefix, and are in a generally east-west direction; and
(c) Circles, courts, drives, highways, lanes, places, and ways are assigned a cardinal point:
(i) Suffix if it is in a generally north-south direction; and
(ii) Prefix if it is in a generally east-west direction.
(4) A person may appeal a street designation to the Hearing Examiner in accordance with the Hearing Examiner Code, provided a written appeal is filed with the City Clerk within 10 days following the designation. [Ord. 1578 § 148, 2013.]
12.50.070 Council redesignation.
(1) Notwithstanding DMMC 12.50.030 through 12.50.060, the City Council reserves the option of changing street names or changing numbered streets to named 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. The filing fee for a street name change application is established by administrative order of the City Manager or the City Manager’s designee. The Building Official shall provide written notification to affected property owners at least 20 days before final City Council action.
(2) In its deliberations, the City Council shall consider technical information from the Building Official, location and development characteristics relative to the street, and the impact of the change on existing businesses and residences, as well as on emergency vehicle responsiveness. Only entire street lengths or distinct major portions of streets are eligible for renaming by the City Council. For the purposes of this chapter, “distinct major portion” means 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.
(3) A street name change is accomplished by the adoption of an ordinance directing the change. [Ord. 1578 § 149, 2013.]
12.50.080 Block designations.
The grid system shall determine numerical block designations. [Ord. 1578 § 150, 2013.]
12.50.090 Street signs.
The City traffic engineer shall provide for the placing of street identification signs at all intersections and at other locations determined necessary by the City traffic engineer. All signs shall have international style, size, and white lettering on a blue background. [Ord. 1578 § 151, 2013.]
12.50.100 Address designations.
(1) The Building Official shall assign building addresses using the following criteria:
(a) Even-numbered addresses are used on the:
(i) Northerly side of streets having a generally east-west direction; and
(ii) Easterly side of streets having a generally north-south direction; and
(b) Odd-numbered addresses are used on the:
(i) Southerly side of streets having a generally east-west direction; and
(ii) Westerly side of streets having a generally north-south direction.
(2) Buildings not visible from a public street or set back from a public street to the extent that the building address is not readily visible, are addressed from the driveway access.
(3) Addresses shall contain only whole numbers. The Building Official shall redesignate an existing address if the Building Official determines the address is inconsistent with this subsection.
(4) Multiple-dwelling units shall receive one building address. The location of the main entrance determines that number. The multiple-dwelling unit owner shall provide individual units within the complex a number composed of the unit number and floor in a clockwise direction from the main entrance. [Ord. 1578 § 152, 2013.]
12.50.110 Address assignments.
(1) In existing subdivision or short subdivision plats, in binding site plans, planned unit developments, 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 September 14, 1993, the assignment of addresses shall conform with DMMC 17.40.090. [Ord. 1578 § 153, 2013.]
12.50.120 Notification of address assignments.
Upon assignment of a building address, the Building Official shall notify the:
(1) United States Postal Service;
(2) South King Fire and Rescue;
(3) Des Moines Police Department; and
(4) Other agencies as determined by the Building Official. [Ord. 1578 § 154, 2013.]
12.50.130 Building Official powers and duties.
(1) The Building Official shall promulgate rules to implement this chapter.
(2) The Building Official shall maintain the official record of current addresses. [Ord. 1578 § 155, 2013.]
12.50.140 Compliance required.
(1) Should the Building Official find that a building is not provided with an address, is not correctly addressed, or is not using the assigned address, the Building Official shall notify the owner or occupant of the correct address.
(2) The correct address number shall be placed and used by the effective date shown on the notice from the Building Official. [Ord. 1578 § 156, 2013.]
12.50.150 Appeal.
Any decision of the Building Official under this chapter may be appealed to the Hearing Examiner pursuant to DMMC 18.20.150 and 18.20.160 and chapter 18.240 DMMC. [Ord. 1578 § 157, 2013.]