Chapter 12.20
911 EMERGENCY LOCATOR SYSTEM
Sections:
12.20.060 Property or structures that must be addressed.
12.20.070 Emergency locator numbers.
12.20.080 Emergency locator number signs.
12.20.090 Emergency locator numbers that do not meet criteria.
12.20.110 Roads that must be named.
12.20.130 State routes and federal highways.
12.20.140 Road names that do not meet criteria.
12.20.150 Road name changes initiated by property owner petition.
12.20.160 Master address database.
12.20.170 Authority and responsibility.
12.20.210 Conflicting code sections.
12.20.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to establish a uniform system for naming roads and numbering (addressing) properties and structures as a component of the E911 system and to provide a uniform addressing system for unincorporated Jefferson County to assist emergency response personnel to determine the location of people and property in emergencies. [Ord. 1-10 § 1]
12.20.020 Scope.
This chapter governs the unincorporated area of Jefferson County. The uniform road naming and property numbering system shall apply to all roads in unincorporated Jefferson County, including private roads, county roads, and state highways and all properties requiring identification for emergency service. This system will also be used for postal service addressing and county permitting. [Ord. 1-10 § 2]
12.20.030 Title.
This chapter shall be entitled “Jefferson County E911 emergency locator ordinance.” [Ord. 1-10 § 3]
12.20.040 Definitions.
(1) “Board” means the Jefferson County board of commissioners.
(2) “County” means Jefferson County, Washington.
(3) “County administrator” means the person hired and designated by the board to administer the board’s business. If the board does not designate a county administrator in the future, the board or their designee shall administer this chapter.
(4) “County road” means a road that is included in the Jefferson County road log.
(5) “County road log” means the official list of all county roads and their origin points and lengths that is maintained by the county engineer.
(6) “Designated department” means the county department designated by the county administrator to perform specific tasks relating to the administration of this chapter.
(7) “Driveway” means a vehicular access to an addressable site or structure that is located on and serves only one lot, tract, or parcel and that begins at the property line abutting a county road or a private road.
(8) “E911” means a system by which the local exchange telephone company provides telephone number and location information to the county’s public safety answering point when 911 is called.
(9) “E911 address” means the combination of an emergency locator number and a full street name.
(10) “E911 system” means the entire emergency locator system that is made up of all the component data, infrastructure, personnel, equipment, agencies, procedures, and the provisions of this chapter.
(11) “Emergency locator number” means the numeric portion of an E911 address that indicates, in hundredths of a mile, the distance from the origin of a road to an access point.
(12) “Full street name” means the combination of directional prefix, street name, and street type.
(13) “Master address database” means the database containing all of the E911 addresses issued by the county.
(14) “Master street address guide (MSAG)” means the enhanced 911 database of emergency locator data based on the standards of the National Emergency Number Association and compiled by JEFFCOM.
(15) Origin. The origin of a road is that point where the centerline of that road intersects the centerline of another road as determined by the county on county and private roads and by WSDOT on state highways.
(16) “Permanent mileposts” means signs placed at one-mile intervals along a road showing the distance in miles from the road’s origin.
(17) “Private road” means a road that is not included in the county road log that provides access to two or more lots, tracts, or parcels.
(18) “Private road index” means a list maintained by the county of all private roads and their origins and lengths.
(19) “Rural addressing system” means the type of addressing system in which the emergency locator number is determined based on the distance from the origin of the road.
(20) “State route” means a road that is under the authority of the state of Washington through the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). [Ord. 1-10 § 4]
12.20.050 E911 addresses.
This rural address system requires an E911 address. A valid E911 address includes two features: the emergency locator number and the full street name. For effective emergency response, both features shall be assigned according to the standards of this chapter. [Ord. 1-10 § 5]
12.20.060 Property or structures that must be addressed.
(1) At least one E911 address shall be assigned to every residence, business, industrial site, institutional building, general assembly building, and utility site. Application shall be required at the time of application for a building or road approach permit when no other number has been assigned at the site of a proposed structure.
(2) An E911 address may be reassigned in accordance with the criteria contained in this chapter when a road is named, a road name is changed, a new road is established, an existing road is vacated, or an access point is relocated.
(3) All E911 addresses shall be entered into the master address database that is the official record of Jefferson County site addresses. [Ord. 1-10 § 6]
12.20.070 Emergency locator numbers.
(1) An emergency locator number is the numeric portion of an E911 address. All the digits of an emergency locator number, except the last one, indicate the distance in hundredths of a mile from the origin of a road to a property or structure’s primary access point. For example, the access point for the address 1375 Valley Road is 1.37 miles or 137 hundredths from the origin of Valley Road. The designated department, in cooperation with the appropriate fire district, shall determine the primary access point when a property or structure has multiple access points or is a corner lot.
(2) The last digit of the emergency locator number indicates on which side of a named road a property or structure’s access is located. From the origin of the road, an even number indicates the access is on the right side and an odd number indicates the access is on the left side of the road. For example, the access for the E911 address in subsection (1) of this section is on the left side of Valley Road.
(3) The last digit of the emergency locator number also indicates the relative distance of the site from the named road. A final digit of 0, 1, 2, or 3 indicates that the site adjoins or is very close to the named road. A final digit of 6, 7, 8, or 9 indicates that the site is relatively far from the named road. A final digit of 4 or 5 indicates an intermediate distance.
(4) If two sites share the same address distance, such as in a platted development or for adjacent driveways, the final digit of the emergency locator number should be lower for the site access closest to the origin.
(5) A unit number or letter may be added to the emergency locator number for apartments, condominiums, accessory dwelling units, or other addressed sites with multiple structures.
(6) For streets that form a closed loop, emergency locator numbers should proceed counter-clockwise from the base of the loop, unless the local fire district determines that, based on the particular conditions of the road, numbering should proceed clockwise. [Ord. 1-10 § 7]
12.20.080 Emergency locator number signs.
(1) All emergency locator numbers shall be identified by a sign that meets the specifications in the county’s adopted implementation procedures. Emergency locator number signs shall be issued by the county’s designated department.
(2) The emergency locator sign shall be displayed where the property or structure’s access intersects with the road on which the property or structure is addressed. The sign shall be posted three feet above the roadway and positioned so the numbers can be seen from both directions.
(3) On long driveways with multiple intersections, it may be necessary to place multiple emergency locator number signs to ensure adequate emergency response. In this event, the designated department will consult the local fire district to determine the number of signs required and their locations. The cost of multiple emergency locator number signs shall be the responsibility of the property owner or tenant. [Ord. 1-10 § 8]
12.20.090 Emergency locator numbers that do not meet criteria.
(1) Within the constraints of available resources and other county priorities, the county is authorized to correct emergency locator numbers that do not meet the criteria of this chapter and compromise the E911 system.
(2) Property owners would be primarily affected by an incorrect emergency locator number that impairs emergency response. When the county or a fire district identifies an incorrect emergency locator number that should be corrected, the county or fire district may notify the affected property owners and recommend that they apply to correct the emergency locator number. If the property owners do not apply to correct the emergency locator number, the county or fire district may do so. [Ord. 1-10 § 9]
12.20.100 Full street names.
(1) A full street name is comprised of a directional prefix, road name, and road type. Not all full street names have a directional prefix, but all must have a road name and road type.
(2) If a road extends in two directions from its origin, a directional prefix based on the primary compass direction (N, S, E, or W) may be assigned as part of the full street name. There will be no other use of directional prefixes in the addressing system except when the road name includes a directional reference to a geographical feature. Directional suffixes shall not be used for new road names or road name changes. Directional prefixes shall not be added to existing roads that have a directional suffix.
(3) The road name is the principal identifying component of a full street name. It should distinguish a road from all others.
(4) In addition to emergency response, the addressing system is used for postal service addressing, for county permitting, and to record the location of events and objects. All of these require an address database that uses road names that are easy to input correctly. The following road name criteria are intended to meet these needs.
(5) Road Name Criteria.
(a) No road name shall be used more than once. For example, two roads shall not be named Cedar even if they have different road types.
(b) Road names shall not sound alike. For example, two roads shall not be named Stephen and Steven.
(c) Names that tend to be mispronounced or misspelled shall not be used. For example, names like Javelina, Weimaraner, and Perseverance are difficult to spell or pronounce and shall be subject to increased scrutiny during the road naming process.
(d) Two-word names or one word names that can be confused as the same name shall not be duplicated. For example, names like Clearlake and Clear Lake shall be considered the same name.
(e) Names that include directional words such as North, South, East, or West shall be avoided. Exceptions may be made when the road name refers to an important geographical feature. Names with directional words shall not be approved when a directional prefix is present. For example, East Beach or Northridge are acceptable. North East Beach is not acceptable.
(f) Names that include punctuation shall not be used. Words that normally require punctuation shall not be used with the punctuation omitted.
(g) The county shall promote road name continuity. For example, a private road extending from the end of a dead-end county road shall retain the name of the county road.
(h) Road names shall be composed of one word whenever possible and limited to 15 characters.
(i) Road names shall not include any of the road types listed in this section. For example, Mountain Terrace Road shall not be an acceptable name.
(6) Acceptable road types, abbreviations (based on the standards of the National Emergency Number Association), and uses are described below. The designated department will provide a list of appropriate road types to persons petitioning to name or rename a road. Existing roads without a road type may have one appended through the road renaming procedures in this chapter.
(a) Alley (Aly). A short, narrow passage between close buildings that is used to access the rear of a lot and not for traffic circulation.
(b) Avenue (Ave). A generic road type typically used in urban grid systems. Avenues should run perpendicular to streets.
(c) Circle (Cir). A short road that intersects another road only once and terminates in a closed loop, for example Deer Hollow Circle.
(d) Court (Ct). A short dead-end road with no intersecting roads.
(e) Drive (Dr). A connecting road that does not dead-end or a dead-ended road that is likely to be extended to another road in the future.
(f) Ext (Ext). This road type shall not be used for addressing purposes. Where a road changes from county ownership to private ownership, the road type of the county road shall be used for the length of the road and emergency locator numbers shall begin at the origin of the county road and continue for the length of the road.
(g) Lane (Ln). A short road ending in a cul-de-sac with no intersecting roads.
(h) Loop (Loop). A short road that begins and ends at two different points on the same parent road.
(i) Place (Pl). A short dead-end road with no intersecting roads.
(j) Point (Pt). This road type shall not be allowed because it is widely used for road names, for example Zelatched Point Road. An existing road with this word may have an allowable road type appended to it as per this chapter.
(k) Road (Rd). A generic road type typically used for rural roads.
(l) Street (St). A generic road type typically used in urban grid systems. Streets should run perpendicular to avenues.
(m) Terrace (Ter). A road flanked by a decline, often with an incline on the opposite side and often overlooking a river, gorge, park, or other scenic area. Roads with an additional road type appended to the terrace road type may have the additional road type removed from the full street name.
(n) Trail (Trl). A curvilinear road.
(o) Way (Way). A thoroughfare designation, typically used in residential areas for aesthetic purposes.
(p) Wye (Wye). A short connector road between two other roads that connect to one another at an acute angle.
(7) When a road is named or a road name is changed through the provisions of this chapter, the county shall ensure that the name conforms to the criteria of this section and, as feasible, to the preferences of a majority of adjoining property owners. [Ord. 1-10 § 10]
12.20.110 Roads that must be named.
(1) All county roads and private roads with four or more assigned emergency locator numbers shall be named in accordance with this chapter and the county’s adopted procedures. County roads and named private roads shall be recorded in the master address database that is the official record of approved road names and spellings. County roads will also be recorded in the county road log and private roads in the private road index. The county may also assign unique identification numbers to all roads and other coding in order to maintain and administer this chapter or for any other official purpose.
(2) A driveway shall not be considered a road for the purposes of this chapter and shall not be required to be named.
(3) Roads that are established through the subdivision process shall be named prior to final plat approval if they serve a total number of lots, tracts, or parcels that exceed the threshold in subsection (1) of this section or if they extend more than 1,000 feet from a named road as provided for in subsection (5) of this section. The road name shall be depicted on the final plat.
(4) When an application is received for a fourth emergency locator number on an unnamed road, the road shall be named at the expense of the applicant. Unnamed roads that have four or more assigned emergency locator numbers shall not be required to be named unless an application is made for an additional address on the road or the county or a fire district determines that the situation compromises the E911 system.
(5) When an address application is received for a site on an unnamed road that is more than 1,000 feet from a named road or for a site on an unnamed road that has an existing addressed site that is more than 1,000 feet from a named road, the road shall be named at the expense of the applicant. Unnamed roads that extend more than 1,000 feet from a named road to an existing addressed site shall not be required to be named unless an application is made for an additional address on the road or the county or a fire district determines that the situation compromises the E911 system.
(6) Property owners would be primarily affected by an unnamed road that impairs emergency response. When the county or a fire district identifies an unnamed road that exceeds the thresholds in this section and should be named, the county or fire district may notify the affected property owners and recommend that they apply to name the road. If the property owners do not apply to name the road, the county or fire district may do so.
(7) A property owner adjoining an unnamed road that is not required to be named under this chapter may initiate road naming as a voluntary action. [Ord. 1-10 § 11]
12.20.120 Road name signs.
(1) All county roads and named private roads shall be designated by road name signs that meet the specifications in the county’s adopted implementation procedures.
(2) When a road is accepted as a county road through a road establishment petition or subdivision, the county shall install road name signs at the expense of the petitioner or developer.
(3) When a private road is named, road name signs shall be installed by the county at the expense of the person initiating the action that requires the road to be named. These actions shall include applications for addresses or building permits, road name and road name change petitions, and subdivisions.
(4) Private road name signs shall only be displayed on roads that have been named through the county’s adopted procedures. The county may remove unauthorized private road name signs from county road rights-of-way.
(5) The property owners adjoining a private road shall be responsible for maintenance of the private road name signs. Property owners may request that the county replace lost, damaged, or destroyed signs at the property owners’ expense. The county may provide this service; provided, that it does not significantly affect the county’s capacity to install and maintain public road signs and the county is reimbursed for its expenses. [Ord. 1-10 § 12]
12.20.130 State routes and federal highways.
(1) State routes and highways shall be included in the master address database. Alternate local names for state routes and highways (e.g., Rhody Drive and Beaver Valley Road for SR 19) shall also be included in the master address database.
(2) Addresses on state routes and highways shall use the state route or highway name except for the segments of State Routes 19 and 116 where alternate local names are used.
(3) Addresses on State Routes 19 and 116 that use state route names where alternate local names apply may be revised using the procedures in this ordinance.
(4) Emergency locator numbers on state routes and federal highways shall be based on state and federal mileage markers rather than where the alternate local names begin and end. [Ord. 1-10 § 13]
12.20.140 Road names that do not meet criteria.
(1) Except as specified in subsection (2) of this section, existing road names shall not be required to meet the criteria of this chapter.
(2) Within the constraints of available resources and other county priorities, the county is authorized to change road names that do not meet the criteria of this chapter and compromise the E911 system.
(3) Property owners would be primarily affected by a road name that does not meet the criteria of this chapter and impairs emergency response. When the county or a fire district identifies a road name that does not meet the criteria of this chapter and should be changed, the county or fire district may notify the affected property owners and recommend that they petition to change the road name as provided for in JCC 12.20.150. If the property owners do not apply to change the road name, the county or fire district may do so.
(4) If the county or a fire district determines that two or more roads with duplicate or similar-sounding names compromise the E911 system and this situation should be corrected, the road that was named first shall retain its name. If it cannot be determined which road was named first, the road with the most addressed structures or units shall retain the name.
(5) When the county or a fire district initiates a road name change, the property owners adjoining the road shall be provided an opportunity to propose new road names that meet the road name criteria of this ordinance. Proposed names shall be reviewed to determine if they meet the criteria. The county shall, to the extent feasible, choose a name that represents the preference of a majority of property owners adjoining the road.
(6) Road name changes shall be reviewed by the board in a public hearing.
(a) Notice of a public hearing on a proposed road name change shall be made by mail to property owners adjoining the road and all other affected persons or agencies. When a county road name is proposed to be changed, notice shall also be made by publishing in the newspaper of record. Notice shall be made at least 10 days prior to the hearing and shall state the name and location of the road proposed to be renamed, the reason for the name change, the proposed new names, and the date, time, and location of the hearing.
(b) The board shall conduct a public hearing to review the proposed road name change and comments by the public and affected agencies and take public testimony. The board shall consider whether the benefit to the E911 system is commensurate with the expense and inconvenience to the public.
(c) Road name changes shall be adopted by resolution.
(7) Corrections to emergency locator numbers shall be coordinated with road name changes to minimize inconvenience to property owners. In conjunction with a road name change, the county shall review and correct emergency locator numbers to ensure that they meet the criteria of this chapter. [Ord. 1-10 § 14]
12.20.150 Road name changes initiated by property owner petition.
(1) Changing a road name may be initiated by a petition signed by at least 75 percent of the property owners adjoining the road. The petition shall specify a lead petitioner. Each owner shall have one vote regardless of how many parcels or addresses are owned or assigned. The petition shall list three names in order of preference. The petition shall be submitted to the designated department along with appropriate fees for processing the petition, the public hearing notice, reviewing emergency locator numbers, and installing new road name signs.
The requirement for 75 percent of the property owners to petition shall be waived when the county or a fire district under JCC 12.20.140 identifies a road name that does not meet the criteria of this chapter and impairs emergency response. In such a case any property owner or group of property owners may petition to change the road name.
(2) Within 15 business days from receipt of the petition, the county shall determine whether the petition is valid by confirming that sufficient valid signatures have been submitted. Petitions without sufficient valid signatures shall be denied.
(3) Within 10 business days from the date that the petition has been validated, the proposed road names shall be reviewed to determine which names meet the road name criteria of this chapter. If the petition does not propose an acceptable name, it shall be returned to the lead petitioner. The petitioners may submit additional road names for review.
(4) Within 15 business days of the determination that at least one of the proposed names is acceptable, the designated department shall submit an agenda request to the board to schedule a public hearing to consider the proposed road name change.
(5) Road name changes shall be reviewed by the board in a public hearing.
(a) Notice of a public hearing on a proposed road name change shall be made by mail to property owners adjoining the road and all other affected persons or agencies. When a county road name is proposed to be changed, notice shall also be made by publishing in the newspaper of record. Notice shall be made at least 10 days prior to the hearing and shall state the name and location of the road proposed to be renamed, the proposed new names, and the date, time, and location of the hearing.
(b) Within 30 business days of a proposed road name change being submitted to it, the board shall conduct a public hearing to review the proposed name change and comments by the public and affected agencies and take public testimony. The board shall determine whether the road name should be changed and, if so, the board shall select a new road name.
(c) Road name changes shall be adopted by resolution.
(6) Corrections to emergency locator numbers shall be coordinated with road name changes to minimize inconvenience to property owners. In conjunction with a road name change, the county shall review and correct emergency locator numbers to ensure that they meet the criteria of this chapter. [Ord. 1-10 § 15]
12.20.160 Master address database.
(1) JEFFCOM’s master street address guide shall be the county’s master address database. The master street address guide shall be the source of site address data for other county databases. Only addresses that appear in the master street address guide shall be considered valid.
(2) A property owner may apply to have an existing address that was omitted entered into the master street address guide.
(3) The master street address guide shall be designed to meet anticipated needs of the E911 system as well as other county departments. The spatial coordinates of the addressed site and the location of the beginning of the site access driveway should be recorded in the database. [Ord. 1-10 § 16]
12.20.170 Authority and responsibility.
The effectiveness of the E911 addressing system requires the coordination and cooperation of county departments and public agencies. The county administrator is authorized to administer this chapter. The county administrator shall develop and revise implementation procedures, allocate county resources, assign tasks to designated departments, develop budgets, enter into lawful agreements with other agencies, and conduct any other administrative actions necessary to implement and achieve the purposes of this chapter. [Ord. 1-10 § 17]
12.20.180 Appeals.
(1) Administrative determinations implementing this chapter may be appealed to the board or its designee as provided for in this section and the county’s adopted procedures. Appeals shall be submitted in writing to the department making the determination within 10 days of notification of the determination. The appeal shall state the nature of the determination, how it does not conform to this chapter, and the remedy sought. Decisions regarding appeals shall be made in writing and shall be final.
(2) Road name selections and determinations made under JCC 12.20.110 to require an unnamed road to be named may be appealed.
(3) Road name selections and determinations made under JCC 12.20.110 shall be upheld unless shown to be clearly inconsistent with the intent and purpose of this chapter. [Ord. 1-10 § 18]
12.20.190 Fees.
The Jefferson County fee schedule shall establish the fees applicable to this chapter.1 [Ord. 1-10 § 19]
12.20.200 Immunity.
Jefferson County shall be immune from any and all civil liability for any actions taken pursuant to this chapter or for any failure to take action to enforce the provisions of this chapter. It is not the purpose or intent of this chapter to create on the part of Jefferson County any special duties or relationships with specific individuals. This chapter is enacted for the welfare of the public as a whole. [Ord. 1-10 § 20]
12.20.210 Conflicting code sections.
To the extent that any other provision of the Jefferson County Code as enacted or hereafter amended conflicts with or contradicts this chapter, then this chapter shall control with respect to the substance and purpose of this chapter. [Ord. 1-10 § 23]
Code reviser’s note: Fee schedules are found in the appendix to the Jefferson County Code.