[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Board of the Charter Township
of Oakland 4-11-1995 by Ord. No. 66 (Ch. 4, Art. IV, of the 2007 Code of
Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter,
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where
the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
The numbers and/or letters assigned to, approved or utilized
by the Township as a mailing address or means of identifying a geographical
location on a street and/or within a building in the Township.
A principal structure in the Township, to which an address
has been assigned, approved or utilized by the Township.
A private road or drive that provides a means for vehicle
access to one building.
All persons with actual, or rights to, possession, use or
occupancy of all or part of a building or parcel of real property
in the Township on or for which an address is required to be displayed
by this chapter.
All persons with an ownership interest in all or part of
a building or parcel of real property in the Township, on or for which
an address is required to be displayed by this chapter, as a titleholder,
land contract purchaser or otherwise. For purposes of this chapter,
the Township may base and limit its determination of owners to those
shown on Township tax records.
A public or private street or thoroughfare that provides
a means of vehicle access to more than one building.
A.
General requirement. Addresses shall be displayed by placement and
maintenance on, in and for buildings and real property as provided
in this chapter.
(1)
Style, size and spacing. Each numeral or letter in an address shall
be at least four inches high and two inches wide. Block-style Arabic
numerals and English letters shall be used, with a space of at least
one inch between numerals or letters.
(2)
Colors and materials. Addresses shall be metal, wood or other sturdy,
permanent material, securely fastened or attached to, and of a color
that contrasts with, the surface upon which they are mounted or displayed.
B.
Building addresses. Addresses shall be displayed on and/or in all
buildings or parts thereof in the manner and locations specified in
this section.
(1)
Location on building exterior. Addresses shall be displayed on an
exterior surface, at or near an entrance on the front or other side
of the building that faces and is visible from the road that provides
the means of vehicle access to the building at a height at least four
feet above the ground and so as to be plainly visible and unobstructed
from the road by visual barriers such as trees, shrubs, landscaping
or structures.
(2)
Multiple occupancies. For buildings having more than one occupant, the address for each occupant shall be displayed on the building exterior as required in Subsection B(1) of this section, at any interior entrances to the occupant's use area within the building, and, when there is more than one exterior entrance to the building, at or near the entrance providing the most direct means of access to the occupant's use area within the building.
(3)
Building address number sizes. If a main address common to all occupants of a building is displayed in compliance with all requirements of this chapter, the size and spacing of address numerals and letters for individual occupants may be adjusted by the Township in response to a request for a waiver or variance under § 101-3.
C.
Property addresses. In addition to addresses required on and in buildings,
addresses shall be displayed in the circumstances, manner and locations
designated in this section.
(1)
When required. Property addresses are required:
(a)
For buildings, vehicular access to which is provided by a private
road serving more than one building;
(b)
Where the exterior portion of a building where an address is required to be displayed under Subsection B(1) of this section is more than 100 feet from the nearest edge of the traveled portion of the road providing access to the building; or
(c)
Where, due to topography, vegetation, layout or intervening sight
barriers, the address required to be displayed on the building is
not clearly visible on a year-round basis from the nearest edge of
the traveled portion of the road providing access to the building.
(2)
Manner and location of property addresses. When separate property
addresses are required, they shall be displayed on a post, gate, driveway
marker, mailbox, accessory structure or other sturdy and permanent
surface that is within 20 feet of, and closer to, the private road
or driveway providing access to the buildings than any other private
road or driveway and is located on the same side of the road as that
building. Property addresses shall be at least four feet above ground
level and be readily visible from a vehicle traveling in a forward
direction on the right side of the road. Continuous visibility of
property addresses shall be maintained by the maintenance, clearance
or removal of vegetation, accumulations of ice or snow and other obstructions
to view.
D.
Compliance responsibility and timing.
(1)
Owner-occupant liability. Compliance with this chapter shall be the
joint and several responsibility of all owners and occupants.
(2)
Existing buildings. The building and property address requirements of this chapter for existing buildings shall be complied with within one year of the effective date of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived or, as provided in Subsection D(3) of this section, whichever is earlier.
(3)
New buildings and building permits. All building and other permit
applications to the Township for any purpose shall include a plan
or description of existing or proposed address displays that do, or
upon completion will, comply with the requirements of this chapter.
Compliance with this chapter shall be a condition of any such permits
that are issued and a condition precedent to the issuance of a certificate
of occupancy or use for the permitted activity, property or building.
A.
Authorized officers. This chapter shall be administered and enforced
by the Township building director and/or such other persons as may
be designated by resolution of the Township Board of Trustees.
B.
Interpretations; waivers; variances. Interpretations, variances and
waivers of the requirements of this chapter may be made by the Township
on a case-by-case basis where it is demonstrated by an owner or occupant
that the purpose and intent of this chapter will be served and satisfied
by an alternative to the standards in this chapter.
Any person who shall violate the provisions of this chapter shall be responsible for a municipal civil infraction, and subject to a civil fine as set forth in Chapter 1, Article I, Definitions; General Penalty, of the Code of the Charter Township of Oakland. In addition to ordering a person determined to be responsible for a municipal civil infraction to pay a civil fine, costs, damages and expenses, the Judge or Magistrate shall be authorized to issue any judgment, writ or order necessary to enforce or enjoin violation of this chapter. Each act of violation, and on each day which any such violation shall occur, shall constitute a separate offense.
