(A) Uniform numbering system. A plan for the orderly and systematic numbering of houses and structures located within the jurisdictional area of the County Area Plan Commission is hereby enacted (hereinafter “uniform numbering system”). Any and all ordinances previously adopted by the Board of Commissioners regarding the numbering of houses and structures are hereby repealed.
(B) Relation to health and welfare. The County Commissioners intend to implement a 911 emergency call system in the county, and the numbering of houses and other structures in an orderly and systematic manner will make the location for such houses and structure more expeditious in cases of fire emergencies, in situations involving immediate need for medical attention for members of family or occupants of a building, and in instances where police protection may be required. An orderly and systematic house numbering process will also enhance the delivery of goods and services, as well as increase the efficiency of operations such as postal delivery.
(C) Conformity. From the effective date of this section, the numbering of all houses and structures located on lots or parcels of land abutting public streets or roads within the jurisdictional area of the County Area Plan Commission shall be accomplished in conformity with the uniform numbering system as herein described. At the time of the issuance of any permit for the construction of a house or structure, a number shall be assigned by the County Building Commissioner to said house or structure as hereinafter provided. Such number shall be included on the permit, and no permit authorizing the occupancy of a house or structure shall be issued and no final inspection of a building performed for the purpose of permitting its occupancy shall be deemed complete unless such house or structure displays, at the time of inspection, the officially assigned number in full compliance with the standards of this section.
(D) Base lines and sequences.
(1) The general rule shall be 1,000 addresses per mile, except in certain areas where the irregular direction of the county highways makes variations necessary, and except in buffer areas adjacent to incorporated cities or towns.
(2) Even numbers shall be used on the north and east sides of roads and odd numbers on the south and west.
(3) The grid system to be used is to be constructed on a north, south, east and west basis. The starting point of zero for this grid system is at the southwest corner of Section 2, Township 6N, Region 8E in the Town of Vernon, with each mile portion of roadway becoming a “block” for uniform numbering purposes. Each dividing line is to be known as Base Road. Base Road North extends from said intersection due north to the Decatur County line. Base Road South extends from said intersection due south to the Jefferson County line. Base Road East extends from said intersection due east to the Ripley County line. Base Road West extends from said intersection due west to the Jackson County line.
(4) The uniform numbering system is to keep the current official county road numbers and add to them a prefix with a numerical location followed by a letter indicating the direction the road runs from the dividing lines.
(5) The current addressing scheme of the City of North Vernon shall be taken into account for areas adjoining such incorporated area, a determined buffer zone beyond the corporate limits. The current numbering scheme of Country Squire shall not be affected.
(E) Administrative Office.
(1) The County Area Plan Commission shall act as the Administrative Office (hereinafter “Administrative Office”) in charge of issuing numbers to houses or structures in compliance with the provisions of this section. The Administrative Office shall issue numbers to all new houses or structures, renumber houses and structures whenever it becomes necessary to do so in the implementation of the uniform system, and cause the numbering of all existing homes or structures which are not numbered to be numbered in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Barns, sheds and outbuildings not used for a habitation or business shall not be numbered.
(2) The Administrative Office may establish written guidelines to use in implementing this section and may amend such guidelines from time to time.
(F) Numbers other than on public streets and roads. The Administrative Office may, if it deems proper and necessary for the implementation of the uniform numbering system, assign numbers to houses or structures that are situated on private streets or roads within the jurisdictional area of the County Area Plan Commission.
(G) Standards for the posting of house numbers. The owner or occupant of a house or structure located within the jurisdictional area of the County Area Plan Commission shall post officially assigned numbers in English, using Arabic (not Roman) numerals in a location providing easy identification from the abutting street or road. Such numbers shall be minimum of four inches in height, made of durable, weather-proof material, and be a color made to stand out distinctly against its background. Such official number may be placed attached to the mailbox (as according to postal regulations) and on a post or outside light, or on any prominent place on the house or structure so that the number is identifiable. Provided, however, that if a building is not visible from a road or if a building is more than 200 feet from a road, the number shall be displayed at the entrance to the access road or driveway to such building by means of a separate marker or on a mailbox. Whenever the number is placed on a place other than the structure itself, it shall be positioned to allow the structure to be readily identified with the address number, on the same side of the road as the structure.
(H) Renumbering of houses and structures. Houses and structures that were numbered prior to the effective date of this section shall be renumbered in order that the same may comply with the uniform numbering system and so that the numerical harmony throughout an area or areas is substantially achieved. The Area Plan Commission, as designated in this section, shall authorize such changes.
(I) Notification of local agencies. The Administrative Office shall provide a uniform system of notification of the issuance of numbers or the renumbering of houses and structures.
(1) Notification shall be made reasonably ahead of impending changes so as to allow interested groups and agencies to plan and to prepare for proposed changes.
(2) The Administrative Office shall keep accurate records and shall, from time to time, prepare and make available to the County Commissioners a report of the status of the implementation of the uniform numbering system.
(3) In the assignment of house numbers, the Administrative Office shall use its best judgment and shall carefully consider and evaluate all contingencies and shall, with due regard to the sensitive nature of the job assigned to it, be considerate of the citizens of the county.
(J) Enforcement. The Board of Commissioners may institute a suit for injunction to restrain any person, firm or corporation who shall take down, alter, deface, destroy or conceal any number assigned to or placed upon any building in compliance with this section, or who shall place or substitute or permit to be placed or substituted upon any building an erroneous or improper number not in compliance with this section or who shall allow to be retained upon any building an erroneous or improper number not in compliance with this section. The Board of Commissioners may institute a suit for mandatory injunction directing a person, firm or corporation to correct any violation of the provisions of this section or to bring about compliance with the provisions of this section. If the Board of Commissioners is successful in any such suit, the defendant or respondent shall bear the costs of the action, including reasonable attorney’s fees.
(Ord. 1992-6, passed 7-6-1992)