Town of Charlestown, RI Chapter 93 Buildings, Numbering of

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Charlestown 9-14-1987 as Ch. 159. Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Planning Commission — See Ch. 40.

Building construction — See Ch. 91.

Sale of land — See Ch. 143.

Subdivision of land — See Ch. 188.

§ 93-1 System established; compliance required.

Acting under the authority granted under R.I.G.L. 1956 § 45-6-1, as amended, the Town Council of the Town of Charlestown hereby establishes a uniform numbering system for the numbering of residential, commercial and industrial buildings and lots in the Town of Charlestown. All buildings in the Town of Charlestown shall display street numbers in accordance with the provisions of this section.

§ 93-2 Purpose.

The standards set forth in this chapter are made for the purpose of promoting the public health and safety by providing a means of rapidly locating residential and other structures by police, fire and other emergency services and for other purposes requiring the location of residential and other structures as may be required.

§ 93-3 Administration; official records.

A. This building and lot numbering system shall be administered by the Town Planner, who shall assign building numbers to all residential, commercial and industrial structures and lots in conformity with the plan developed pursuant to this chapter.

B. The Town Planner shall also be responsible for maintaining the following official records of this numbering system:

(1) A town map for official use, showing said numbering system.

(2) A townwide alphabetical list of property owners by last name, showing the assigned numbers.

(3) A townwide alphabetical list of street names, with property owners listed in order of their assigned numbers.

§ 93-4 Criteria for assignment of numbers.

The following criteria shall govern the assignment of numbers, wherever possible:

A. Number intervals.

(1) In the area south of Route US-1, one (1) number on each side shall be allowed for each twenty-five (25) feet of street frontage.

(2) In the area along both sides of Route US-1 and north of Route US-1, one (1) number on each side shall be allowed for each fifty (50) feet of street frontage, except that the streets in the Godon Subdivision shall be numbered at twenty-five-foot intervals as in Subsection A(1) above.

B. Odd and even numbers. Odd numbers shall be assigned to the right-hand side of a street, beginning at its point of origin, and even numbers shall be assigned to the left-hand side of the street in the same manner.

C. Number origin.

(1) Routes US-1 and US-1A (Old Post Road) shall be numbered from east to west, continuing the numbering sequence established by South Kingstown for those roads.

(2) Route RI-2 shall be numbered from north to south, continuing the number sequence established by Richmond for that road.

(3) All other streets shall be numbered from their points of origin with a major road or other intervening road.

(4) Exceptions to the above shall be decided on a case-by-case basis.

D. Common access. Where several residential or other structures are served by a common driveway or private right-of-way that is not a street recognized by the Town Council, the number at the entrance shall apply to all the structures served by the drive or way, and each structure or dwelling unit shall be identified by a suffix letter (for example, "5A") in a counterclockwise rotation, starting with the structure on the immediate right of the drive or way.

E. The number assigned to each residence or structure shall be the number falling closest to the main entry or driveway providing access to the property as shown on the official map of street numbers.

§ 93-5 Street names.

A. General. Where possible, existing street names will continue to be used. When duplicate street names or no street names exist, names shall be chosen that relate to the location and historical significance of an area.

B. Unacceptable street names. Unacceptable street names shall be numerical (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.), alphabetical letter (A, B, C, etc.), frivolous, complicated, undesirable and unconventional names.

C. Affixes. Unnecessary affixes are to be avoided. Terms that may be utilized are as follows:

(1) "East," "West," "North," "South," "Upper" and "Lower," indicating direction.

(2) "Old" and "New," to indicate changes in differing or separate roads.

D. Name duplication. Duplication of street names shall not be permitted within the town. Similar sounding names are considered to be duplication, regardless of spelling.

E. Continuity. A continuous street or one proposed as continuous should bear the same name throughout, even if it changes direction.

§ 93-6 Display; penalties.

[Amended 8-20-2012 by Ord. No. 352; 1-11-2016 by Ord. No. 372]

A. All residents and other occupants shall display assigned numbers in the following manner:

(1) Number on the structure or residence. Where the residence or structure is within fifty (50) feet of the edge of a street right-of-way, the unobstructed assigned number shall be displayed on the front of the residence or structure in the vicinity of the front door or entryway.

(2) Number at the street line. Where the residence or structure is over fifty (50) feet from the edge of the street right-of-way, the assigned number shall be displayed on a post, fence, wall or mailbox at the property line adjacent to the walk or access drive to the residence or structure.

(3) Size and color of number. Upon transfer of ownership, numbers shall be displayed as follows: The number(s) is to consist of numerals of at least four inches in size and be of a color that contrasts with the background on which it is placed and shall be so located as to be easily visible from the street. No owner, occupant, lessee, tenant or subtenant of any building shall display any number other than the assigned proper number designated by the town.

(4) Placing of numbers. Within thirty (30) days after the mailing of notification of the assigned number to the owner, the owner of the building shall display the designated number on the respective building in the manner described above.

(5) Interior location. All residents and other occupants are requested to post the assigned number and street name adjacent to their telephone for emergency reference.

B. Violations. Any person violating the provisions of this chapter shall be punished by a fine of not more than twenty dollars ($20.) for each violation. Violators shall be prosecuted by the Chief of Police of the Town of Charlestown or his/her designee by issuance of a summons in the Municipal Court.

§ 93-7 New construction.

Whenever any residence or other structure is constructed or developed, it shall be the duty of the new owner to procure an assigned number from the Town Planner. This shall be done at the time of the issuance of the building permit.

§ 93-8 New subdivisions.

Any prospective subdivider shall show a proposed lot numbering system on the preliminary plan submission to the Charlestown Planning Commission. The Planning Commission may modify the proposed plan as it deems necessary in order to bring it into compliance with the street naming and numbering policy. The approved street names and numbering shall be included in the final map which is submitted to the Planning Commission for approval and for recordation.

§ 93-9 Acceptance of private roads.

The naming and numbering of private streets or roads shall not constitute the acceptance of those streets and roads by the Town of Charlestown or the provision of maintenance of those streets and roads by the town.

§ 93-10 When effective.

This chapter shall take effect upon passage, and number and street name assignment shall be initiated by the Town Council upon completion of the official map of street names and numbers and the availability of such official map in the office of the Charlestown Town Hall.