(A) The “Richmond County Road Name Index” to be adopted and filed in the Office of the County Administrator shall be the official listing of names for streets and roads in the county and such streets and roads are hereby assigned the names listed therein. As used in this section, the terms STREET and ROAD shall have the same meaning and shall also include avenues, boulevards, highways, lanes, ways, and similar street types.
(B) The County Administrator, or his or her duly authorized agent, is hereby authorized to assign names to any public or private road or street in the county which provides access to three or more occupied buildings.
(C) The County Administrator, or his or her duly authorized agent, is hereby authorized to negotiate with residents along streets or roads bearing duplicate or confusingly similar names in the county and to change the names of such roads or streets to eliminate such duplication.
(D) No street or road within the county shall be assigned a name on a subdivision plat or otherwise until such name is registered with the County Administrator or his or her duly authorized agent, approved, and added to the “Richmond County Road Name Index.” The County Administrator, or his or her duly authorized agent, shall have the authority to refuse registration of any name already in use, confusingly similar to a name already registered, or deemed confusing for purposes of emergency response.
(E) No street or road name currently shown on a subdivision plat filed with the county or otherwise shall be implemented by a subdivision owner until such name has been registered with the County Administrator or his or her duly authorized agent, approved and added to the “Richmond County Road Name Index” provided however, that this section shall not apply to any road or street presently constructed on which street signs have been placed prior to the effective date of this section. The County Administrator or his or her duly authorized agent shall have the right to refuse registration of any name already in use, confusingly similar to a name already registered, or deemed confusing for purposes of emergency response.
(F) (1) All new street signs erected within Richmond County shall be in conformance with the specifications of this section, unless a variance is granted by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) or the Richmond County Board of Supervisors. Street name signs for use on primary routes and collector secondary roads shall have a minimum height of nine inches, a minimum width of 30 inches and a maximum width of 48 inches. Widths greater than 48 inches may be allowed in special cases upon approval of the VDOT district traffic engineer. The standard letter height shall be six-inch series C letters for the street name. The standard letter height of the suffix and prefix (if any) shall be three-inch Series C letters. Non-standard letter height may be allowed in special cases upon approval of the VDOT district traffic engineer.
(2) Street name signs for use on local secondary roads, subdivision streets and private roads assigned names under this ordinance shall have a minimum height of six inches, a minimum width of 24 inches and a maximum width of 42 inches. Widths greater than 42 inches may be allowed in special cases upon approval of the VDOT district traffic engineer. The standard letter height shall be four-inch Series C letters for the street name. The standard letter height of the suffix and prefix (if any) shall be two-inch Series C letters. Non-standard letter heights may be allowed in special cases upon approval from the VDOT district traffic engineer.
(3) All street name signs in the county shall be fabricated with high intensity reflectorized sign sheeting. All sign text and numerals shall be white and the background of all signs shall be green. Signs at intersections of all public and private roads assigned names under this section shall be mounted atop two and three-eighths-inch galvanized pipes with the signs appearing at a height of not less than seven feet above grade.
(G) The County Administrator or his or her duly authorized agent is hereby authorized to direct the placement of street signs at intersections within the county. The initial costs of such signs and installation to be appropriated from E 9-1-1 telephone taxes as approved by the Richmond County Board of Supervisors.
(H) The owner of any subdivision or other development shall erect or cause to be erected street signs in conformance with this section at any and all intersections within such subdivision of development upon the construction on any street on or after the effective date of this section. Where any subdivision owner is currently required to erect street signs but has failed to do so, the future erection of street signs shall be in conformance with this section.
(I) All properties or parcels of land within the county shall hereafter be identified by reference to a uniform numbering system, as shown on maps filed in the Office of the County Administrator. Said maps and the explanatory matter thereon are hereby adopted and made a part of this section.
(J) A house or building number shall be assigned to each dwelling or other building in the county. The combination of such numbers and the road or street name shall be the official address of such dwelling or building. Such location shall serve as the official mailing address for postal patrons receiving home or rural delivery.
(K) When each house or building has been assigned its respective address, the owner, occupant, or agent shall place or cause to be placed upon each house or building controlled by him or her the number or numbers assigned under the uniform numbering system. Such numbers shall be placed on existing buildings within 60 days of notification of the assigned address. Such numbers shall be placed on new buildings prior to occupancy. The cost of posting the address shall be the responsibility of the property owner.
(L) Street address numbers for residences shall be at least three inches in height and shall be of a durable and clearly visible material. The numbers shall be conspicuously placed on, above, or at the side of the main entrance so that the number is discernible from the street. Whenever a residence is more than 75 feet from the street, or when the entrance is not visible from the street, the number shall be placed along a walk, driveway, or other suitable location so that address numbers shall be of a contrasting color to the background on which they are mounted.
(M) Street address numbers for commercial and industrial structures shall be at least four inches in height if located within 75 feet of a roadway or at least ten inches in height if located greater than 75 feet from the street. The number shall be placed above or on the main entrance to the structure when possible. If such number is not visible from the street, the number shall be placed along a driveway or on a sign visible from the street.
(N) Apartments and similar complexes assigned a single building number shall display address numbers on each assigned structure using numbers having a minimum height of eight inches. Trailer parks and similar complexes assigned a single building number shall display the assigned number at the main entranceway using numbers having a minimum height of eight inches. Numbers or letters for individual apartments, trailers, or units within these complexes shall be displayed on, above, or to the side of the main doorway of each apartment, trailer, or unit, and shall be at least three inches in height.
(O) Whenever any house, building, or structure shall be erected or located after the initial establishment of the uniform numbering system as provided herein, it shall be the duty of the property owner to procure the correct number or numbers for the said property and to affix said numbers to said building in accordance with this section. An application for a building permit for a new building shall be considered an application for an address assignment. The Building Official shall coordinate the application with the designated agent of the County Administrator responsible for the assignment of addresses, and forward the assigned address to the applicant not later than 60 days following issuance of said permit. The applicant shall be required to furnish such measurements in relation to other properties or be required to furnish such measurements in relation to intersections or other landmarks as shall be deemed necessary for assignment of a valid address.
(P) In applying the guidelines specified herein, the County Administrator or his or her duly authorized agent shall have the authority to make minor adjustments and modifications to ensure a logical and efficient street address system.
(Q) The provisions of this section shall be applicable in all areas of the county outside the incorporated Town of Warsaw. The provisions of this section shall be applicable within the Town of Warsaw if the Warsaw Town Council has adopted and endorsed this section by resolution.
(R) Whenever the County Administrator, or his or her duly authorized agent, has reason to believe there has been or there exists a violation of this section, he or she shall give written notice of such violation to the person failing to comply, and order said person to take corrective measures within 30 days from the date of notification. If such person fails to comply with the duly issued order, the County Administrator, or his or her agent, shall initiate necessary actions to terminate the violation through criminal or civil measures.
(Ord. passed 2-9-1995)