Chapter 11.55
NAMING AND ADDRESSING ROADS/PROPERTY

Sections:

Article I. Generally

11.55.010    Purpose.

11.55.020    Title.

11.55.030    Provisions.

11.55.040    Fees.

Article II. Address and Street Names

11.55.050    Abbreviations, definitions, and suffixes.

11.55.060    Baseline.

11.55.070    Street naming standards.

11.55.080    Street naming process.

11.55.090    Renaming an existing street.

11.55.100    Review of applications.

11.55.110    Street name sign standards.

11.55.120    Placement of street name signs.

11.55.130    Grid system of addresses.

11.55.140    Addressing assignment standards.

11.55.150    Notification of address assignments.

11.55.160    Posting address numbers.

11.55.170    Appeals.

Article I. Generally

11.55.010 Purpose.

The board of commissioners finds that it is in the interest of the public health, safety, and welfare to have a uniform system for road naming and addressing so as to facilitate emergency services and provide the general advantages of a uniform system. [Ord. 1153 § 1, 2001.]

11.55.020 Title.

This chapter shall be known as the Marion County address and street name ordinance and may be so cited and pleaded. [Ord. 1153 § 2, 2001.]

11.55.030 Provisions.

The provisions of the Marion County address and street name ordinance are in Article II of this chapter. [Ord. 1153 § 3, 2001.]

11.55.040 Fees.

Fees for the assignment of addresses and other fees the board deems reasonable for the administration of this chapter shall be as set by order of the Marion County board of commissioners. [Ord. 1153 § 4, 2001.]

Article II. Address and Street Names

11.55.050 Abbreviations, definitions, and suffixes.

A. Abbreviations – Numbered Streets. Numbered streets shall be numeric, as outlined below:

1st St., 2nd St., 3rd St., 4th St., etc.

B. Abbreviations – Street Types. The following is a list of authorized abbreviations for streets within unincorporated Marion County:

AV

Avenue

BV

Boulevard

CR

Circle

CT

Court

DR

Drive

HT

Heights

HY

Highway

LN

Lane

LP

Loop

PK

Park

PL

Place

PY

Parkway

RD

Road

RT

Route

SQ

Square

ST

Street

TR

Terrace

WY

Way

C. Abbreviations – Directional Suffixes. The following is a list of authorized directional suffixes for streets within unincorporated Marion County:

N

North

S

South

E

East

W

West

NE

Northeast

NW

Northwest

SE

Southeast

SW

Southwest

D. Definitions.

“Access ways” means a highway, street, road, easement or right-of-way adjacent to or within the subject property, all of which may be public or private.

“Address” means a number that assigns a reference point to a site based on the appropriate regional grid system.

“Avenue” means a street or road that runs in any direction. Abbreviated as “AV.”

“Boulevard” means a meandering street, road or highway. Abbreviated as “BV.”

“Circle” means a street that has its only ingress and egress at one point on the same local or collector street. Abbreviated as “CR.”

“Court” means a street or road that is of a short length, with no cross streets, that ends in a cul-de-sac or hammerhead. Abbreviated as “CT.”

Directional Suffix. Direction should be used as a suffix to a street name and not a part of the street name, i.e., River Road North.

“Drive” means a meandering street, road or highway. Abbreviated as “DR.”

“Front property line” means any boundary line separating the lot from a public or private road providing street access.

“Grid” means the addressing matrix used to identify street numbers.

“Highway” means a major roadway. Abbreviated as “HY.”

“Lane” means a dead-end street or private drive which cannot be made into a through street. Abbreviated as “LN.”

“Loop” means a local street that has its only ingress and egress at two points on the same local or collector street. Abbreviated as “LP.”

“Maintain” means the level of maintenance necessary to permit access for emergency services.

Numbered Streets. Numbered streets shall be numeric and not alphabetic, i.e., 320 2nd St., not 320 Second Street.

“Place” means a dead-end street or private drive which cannot be made into a through street. Abbreviated as “PL.”

Prefix. Prefixes are not used as part of the Marion County address and street name system.

“Private access” means a street or road, serving two or more parcels, which was created without dedication to the public, including easements, and is not maintained by Marion County department of public works. Designated as a way, place or lane.

“Public road” means a road that has been created by deed or dedication and accepted by Marion County to provide a public way, which may or may not be accepted by Marion County department of public works for maintenance.

“Quadrant” means a regional area that identifies, geographically, its location in the grid system, i.e., southeast, east, south, north, northeast, etc.

“Road” means a street or highway that runs in any direction. Abbreviated as “RD.”

“Street” means a road, street or highway that runs in any direction. Abbreviated as “ST.”

“Street type” means a designation used for the type of street (i.e., avenue, circle, court, etc.).

“Suffix type” means a designation used for the direction of a street (i.e., State St. NE).

“Way” means a dead-end street or private drive which cannot be made into a through street. Abbreviated as “WY.” [Ord. 1153 Exh. A § 1, 2001.]

11.55.060 Baseline.

A. Quadrant Divisions. For the purpose of street naming and numbering, the county is divided into quadrants by means of a north/south baseline which intersects with an east/west baseline.

B. Designation. The baseline separating north and south halves of the county and separating the east and west halves of the county shall be as described in Exhibit B, attached to the ordinance codified in this chapter and available in the offices of the county.

C. Directional Suffixes.

1. Those addresses lying in the quadrant north and east of the intersecting baseline shall bear the suffix “northeast” which shall be abbreviated “NE.”

2. Those addresses lying in the quadrant north and west of the intersecting baseline shall bear the suffix of “north” which shall be abbreviated “N.”

3. Those addresses lying in the quadrant south and east of the intersecting baseline shall bear the suffix of “southeast” which shall be abbreviated “SE.”

4. Those addresses lying in the quadrant south and west of the intersecting baseline shall bear the suffix of “south” which shall be abbreviated “S.” [Ord. 1153 Exh. A § 2, 2001.]

11.55.070 Street naming standards.

A. All public and private roads and streets shall be named in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and as approved by the Marion County planning division.

B. As of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, all existing street names and addresses approved by the county are hereby ratified and adopted as if they had been adopted under this chapter, save and except those that clearly create a difficulty for the provision of emergency services.

C. All street, road, highway, and private road names shall bear a street type suffix to be determined as follows:

1. North and south running streets will bear the street type “Street” (ST), except as otherwise provided.

2. East and west running streets will bear the street type “Avenue” (AV), except as otherwise provided.

3. Dead-end streets and roads will bear the street type “Court” (CT), “Way” (WY), “Place” (PL), or “Lane” (LN), except as otherwise provided.

4. All other streets, except as otherwise provided, shall bear the street type designation as specified in their definition, i.e., “Circle” (CR) or “Loop” (LP).

D. The name of any street or private road that appears on a recorded plat approved by the county shall be the name of the road or street, unless changed as provided in MCC 11.55.080.

E. A suffix shall follow the street name to indicate the directional location of the road, i.e., 3150 Lancaster Dr. NE.

F. A street name change may be initiated by the community development director or his designee, the Marion County board of commissioners, or by application in accordance with MCC 11.55.080.

G. The process in MCC 11.55.080 shall be utilized for processing a street name change. The final decision shall be sent to Marion County public works, assessor, elections, county surveyor, postmaster, Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments, and the 911 Emergency Services.

H. Road names shall not be duplicated within the same emergency service area or be similar to the name of an existing road. However, duplicate names may be allowed where the address ranges and postal delivery name are clearly different so that confusion will not occur.

I. Maximum number of characters in a street name shall be limited to 20, i.e., 3150 Lancaster Dr. NE has nine characters.

J. All access ways (any easement serving a parcel) shall be named according to the State of Oregon Survey Law. Sites being served by this road shall be addressed on this road using the grid system in effect for the area.

K. Manufactured dwelling park and/or subdivision streets shall be named and each manufactured dwelling space shall be numbered off the park street using the grid system in effect in the area. [Ord. 1153 Exh. A § 3, 2001.]

11.55.080 Street naming process.

A. Application for Street Name. A property owner may initiate naming of a street by filing an application and fee with the Marion County planning division. The application will contain certain information depending upon which of the two following situations exists: (1) naming of a street in conjunction with a land use action; (2) naming a street when no land use action occurs.

B. Naming a Street in Conjunction with a Land Use Action. The application shall contain the following information:

1. A completed application form including the designated fee;

2. Four suggested names for the street, in order of preference;

3. Location of street (include from and to address numbers as well as names of all cross streets);

4. If a private road, a copy of the easement or legal document creating the road;

5. A map showing existing dwelling or business locations and driveway locations that will have access off this easement;

6. A list of the name and address of the owners of properties relying on the road or street for access.

C. Naming a Street Not in Conjunction with a Land Use Action.

1. A completed application form including the designated fee;

2. Four suggested names for the street, in order of preference;

3. The signatures of at least 51 percent of the owners of property abutting the subject street relying on the street for access signifying that one or more of the suggested names will be acceptable;

4. Location of street (include from and to address numbers as well as names of all cross streets);

5. If a private road, a copy of the easement or legal document creating the road;

6. A list of the name and address of the owners of properties relying on the road or street for access;

7. A map showing existing dwelling locations and driveway locations that will have access off this easement. [Ord. 1153 Exh. A § 4, 2001.]

11.55.090 Renaming an existing street.

A. Application for Street Name. A property owner may request a change in the name of a street by filing an application and fee with the Marion County planning division. The application will contain certain information:

1. A completed application form;

2. Four suggested names for the street, in order of preference;

3. The signatures of at least 51 percent of the owners of property abutting the subject street relying on the street for access signifying that one or more of the suggested names will be acceptable;

4. Location of street (include from and to address numbers as well as names of all cross streets);

5. If a private road, a copy of the easement or legal document creating the road;

6. A list of the names and addresses of the owners of properties relying on the road or street for access;

7. A map showing existing dwelling locations and driveway locations that will have access off this easement. [Ord. 1153 Exh. A § 5, 2001.]

11.55.100 Review of applications.

A. After determining that the application is complete, the Marion County community development director, or designee, will render a decision on the request for street name or renaming. Property owners abutting the subject street and relying on the subject street for access and those public agencies identified in MCC 11.55.070(G) will be sent a notice of the decision and given 12 days to appeal. If the proposal is to name an unnamed street, the notice will include the new address numbers assigned for all developed or previously addressed parcels that have access to the road or street being named.

B. The naming of streets shall be coordinated with other jurisdictions during the preliminary and final subdivision review process, as outlined in this chapter, to avoid duplication of names within the Salem urban area.

C. The community development director or his designee shall select a name, taking into consideration the following criteria:

1. The degree of acceptance by those provided with notice;

2. Historical significance of the street name;

3. Common usage of the street name;

4. Association of the street name to local geographic or other points of distinction;

5. Access by emergency service providers; and

6. Other factors pertinent to the case as deemed relevant by the director.

D. The director’s decision is final unless a written request for review and a public hearing is requested within 12 days following the date the decision is mailed. See MCC 11.55.170, Appeals.

E. Notice of the public hearing shall be mailed to each property owner and to those public agencies identified in MCC 11.55.070(G) least 10 days prior to the public hearing.

F. In the case of a proposal to rename a street the director or hearings officer may deny the proposal if an evaluation of the criteria shows that the existing name should be retained. Another application to rename the street shall not be submitted within one year of a denial, unless the applicant includes evidence of 100 percent concurrence by the property owners and all other application requirements are met. [Ord. 1153 Exh. A § 6, 2001.]

11.55.110 Street name sign standards.

All streets shall be identified with an approved street sign. Street signs shall comply with the following standards:

A. An approved street sign shall be a sign built and installed by the Marion County road department.

B. Permanent street signs shall be installed as deemed appropriate by the Marion County department of public works.

C. Upon approval of a street name, temporary street signs that are visible and legible during all times must be installed prior to the installation of a permanent street sign. Temporary signs must have the name of the street, including street designations and suffixes. Prior to the issuance of a building permit for new construction the temporary sign must be in place.

D. Street signs shall be placed and maintained so they are fully visible from the intersecting roadway. After the initial installation of a street sign, the sign shall be maintained and displayed at all times. Street signs shall be maintained by the Marion County public works department.

E. Every street sign shall display the correct block number of the street.

F. If the street is private, the street sign shall bear the designation for private, i.e., “Pvt.” or “Private.”

G. Notification to the emergency services agencies, including fire districts, is required upon removal of street signs; see MCC 11.55.120(E). [Ord. 1153 Exh. A § 7, 2001.]

11.55.120 Placement of street name signs.

A. All street signs for public or private streets shall conform to the standards specified by the Marion County department of public works for size, shape, and color.

B. When an application for naming or renaming a street has been approved, as provided in this chapter, the naming or renaming shall not be final until the applicant has met all requirements.

C. Cost of the sign installation shall be the responsibility of the applicant. A work order shall be submitted to the Marion County department of public works for installation of the sign on a reimbursable basis.

D. When a land use action involves street naming, the planning division will not consider the conditions of approval listed in the land use decision as being completed or sign off on building permits until the street signs have been established as provided in this section.

E. After the initial installation of a permanent street sign, the sign shall be placed and maintained and displayed at all times. No street sign shall be removed without prior approval of Marion County public works. Notification to emergency services agencies, including fire districts, is required upon removal of street signs. All street signs shall be maintained by the Marion County public works department. [Ord. 1153 Exh. A § 8, 2001.]

11.55.130 Grid system of addresses.

A. The community development director or his designee shall have the authority to assign addresses to commercial buildings, residences, and other buildings requiring addresses as provided by this chapter. The community development director or his designee shall have the authority to change existing addresses when deemed necessary. Upon the assignment of an address, the community development director or his designee shall inform affected emergency services agencies, post office, utility companies, county departments, and the property owner of the address assignments. The owners shall have 45 days to discontinue use of old addresses, begin use of the new addresses, and satisfy the requirements of this chapter.

B. A grid system of house and building numbering is established as follows:

1. In those areas of the county which have been subdivided into blocks of rectangular shape, houses and buildings requiring numbers shall be allocated numbers at the rate of 100 per block.

2. In those areas of the county which have been subdivided by other methods, numbers shall be allocated as evenly as possible so that the particular number of any address will reflect as accurately as possible its relative position in the block and its relative distance from the baseline.

3. The allocation of numbers for all addresses shall begin at each baseline with the numbers progressing upward beginning with the numbers 100 and 101 according to the relative distance of the address from the baseline, taking into account shifts in the baseline when it follows a street that varies from a north/south or east/west alignment. [Ord. 1153 Exh. A § 9, 2001.]

11.55.140 Addressing assignment standards.

A. Eligibility for Address.

1. The addressing, or readdressing, of properties may be considered upon receipt of a permit application for:

a. Residential Buildings. All houses and buildings, except those buildings accessory to the principal building on the same property, shall be assigned address numbers consistent with the addressing grid:

i. Single-family dwellings shall have one address number.

ii. Duplexes and triplexes shall be given a street address number for each living unit.

iii. Apartment complexes, i.e., four-plexes, five-plexes, etc., shall be given one address number for each structure. Each living unit shall have a separate suite number with an apartment number designation being the first number of a space or suite consistent with the floor level.

iv. Carports and garages shall not be given an individual street address.

b. Commercial and Industrial Business Parks.

i. All commercial buildings, except buildings accessory to the principal building on the same property, shall be assigned address numbers consistent with the addressing grid.

ii. When a building is used by several businesses, an address number shall be assigned for each tenant building space. It is preferential for interior businesses (those businesses that do not have their own entrance, either exterior or interior) not to have their own address, but, if it is required, all addresses must be posted at the main entrance.

c. Subdivisions, partitions and planned unit developments (PUD) shall be given one street address number for each dwelling unit in accordance with the development plan.

d. Manufactured dwelling parks shall be given one street address number for each dwelling unit and shall be assigned subsequent to final planning approval.

2. Unoccupied structures or properties may be assigned addresses if it is necessary to identify the site because of utility connections, assessment, permit issuance, emergency dispatching, or other similar reason.

3. Reassignment or change of addresses without property owners’ consent may occur under the following circumstances:

a. Emergency service providers identify in a written request that the numbering sequence identifying that property is in such disarray that emergency response time may be compromised; or

b. Emergency service providers identify in a written request that the numbering sequence identifying the property where grids cross jurisdictions creates confusion and emergency response time may be compromised.

B. Grid Sequence Numbering and Assignment.

1. Addressing any residence, building, or premises at or near a city boundary shall be coordinated with the city and numbers assigned to provide for a smooth transition from city to county addresses.

2. Wherever possible, natural or established features shall be used as grid lines, i.e., streams, streets, railroad tracks or any other feature that is not likely to change in the future.

3. Sites located on the south or east side of a road shall be assigned even-numbered addresses and remain consistent the entire length of the road regardless of its meandering.

4. Sites located on the north or west side of a road shall be assigned odd-numbered addresses and remain consistent the entire length of the road regardless of its meandering.

5. Street numbers for urban areas shall be assigned according to the front property line.

6. Corner lots shall be addressed according to the grid on which the front door of the building is located.

7. Street numbers for rural areas shall be assigned at that point where the driveway intersects the road. Should a driveway be relocated, the address shall be changed consistent with the grid system in effect.

8. Sites without access to a road adjacent to a front property line shall be addressed in reference to the grid of the road accessing the site.

9. The maximum number of digits in a street number shall be five.

10. The addressing of any road shall remain sequential along the entire length of that road regardless of its meandering.

11. The addressing of loops or circles shall start the lowest number at one end where the street intersects the roadway giving access to these roads, and shall progressively increase, consistent with the grid.

12. Addresses of sites with circular driveways shall be assigned to that access point having the lowest number on the grid. [Ord. 1153 Exh. A § 10, 2001.]

11.55.150 Notification of address assignments.

A. The Marion County master address file shall be used as the official record of address assignments.

B. New road names, renaming roads, and assigning addresses requiring changes to existing addresses require notification to the following parties:

1. Marion County assessor’s office;

2. The 911 dispatch agency;

3. The fire district(s) having jurisdiction;

4. The main U.S. Post Office (Salem) address information system;

5. All property owners whose address will be changed;

6. All occupants of properties whose address will be changed when records identify a different mailing address for the property owner;

7. Marion County public works department;

8. Marion County building inspection division;

9. Other affected county or local agencies and utilities as deemed necessary (i.e., Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments, Marion County sheriff, and other county departments). [Ord. 1153 Exh. A § 11, 2001.]

11.55.160 Posting address numbers.

A. New road names, renaming of roads, assignment or reassignment of addresses requiring changes to existing addresses shall be considered final unless written objections are received within 10 days of the mailing of the address/road name decision.

B. Time Limit. Within 45 days after being notified, all structures, which are required to be numbered, will have assigned numbers placed on them or on the premises.

C. Location, Height, and Color.

1. Residential Use. Numbers shall be affixed to the front of the building in a location easily visible from the street. The assigned numbers shall be no less than four inches in height and shall be painted or affixed to the house or building in a contrasting and highly visible color.

2. Commercial Use. Numbers shall be affixed to the front of the building in a location easily visible from the street. The assigned numbers shall be no less than six inches in height and shall be painted or affixed to the house or building in a contrasting and highly visible color.

3. Numeric Format. Numbers displayed shall be in a basic numeric format. No script or roman numerals are permissible.

4. Roadside Markers. In cases where the residential or commercial building’s address markings are not easily visible from the access point on the street of address, the resident or owner shall place a roadside marker with numbers not less than three inches in height for residential and not less than six inches in height for commercial uses at the access point, as approved by the local fire district. These roadside markers must be posted so that the address faces all directions of travel afforded by the street upon which the marker is posted.

D. Roadside Markers.

1. Where multiple private residences share a common driveway, a single roadside marker showing all addresses will be posted on the street of address at the access point. The roadside marker must be posted so that the address numbers face all directions of travel afforded by the street upon which the marker is posted.

2. Where the occupant’s individual driveway accesses the common drive or roadway, a marker must be posted indicating the address that driveway accesses.

3. Any place that a common driveway divides, directional signs must be conspicuously posted indicating which addresses are located in each direction.

4. All access ways off of a street shall display the address range.

5. Flag lots shall display signs at the entrance off of the public street. The signs shall be contrasting and of highly visible colors.

6. Directional signs shall be placed in a conspicuous location at every intersection of driveways in apartment complexes, planned unit developments, manufactured dwelling parks or other types of housing complexes. The directional signs shall indicate address numbers of individual buildings and indicate the direction of individual units.

E. Responsibility for Placement. It shall be the duty of every owner or agent in charge of any structures to have the proper number or numbers displayed.

F. Display during Construction. It shall be the duty of every owner to ensure that the address number is displayed on the building site and/or on the building under construction.

G. Address numbers shall be permanently affixed prior to occupancy of the structure. The building official shall inspect to ascertain whether numbers have been affixed as required. [Ord. 1153 Exh. A § 12, 2001.]

11.55.170 Appeals.

A. The director’s or designee’s decision on new road names, renaming of roads, or assignment or reassignment of addresses requiring changes to existing addresses shall be considered final unless a written appeal is received within 12 days of the mailing of the address/road name decision.

B. If the director’s or designee’s decision is appealed the hearings officer shall conduct a public hearing in accordance with Chapter 111 of the Marion County rural zoning ordinance.

C. The hearings officer shall consider those factors listed below and any of the factors deemed relevant to making the decision. The hearings officer’s decision shall be final. The decision of the hearings officer shall be subject to judicial review as provided by ORS 34.102. The hearings officer shall make written findings of fact and approved name, unless another name, which has 100 percent concurrence by the property owners and is approved, is submitted to the hearings officer at the hearing:

1. The degree of acceptance by those provided with notice;

2. Historical significance of the street name;

3. Common usage of the street name;

4. Association of street name to local geographic or other points of distinction;

5. Access by emergency service providers; and

6. Other factors pertinent to the case deemed relevant by the hearings officer.

D. In the case of a proposal to rename a street, the director or designee, or hearings officer may deny the proposal if an evaluation of the criteria shows that the existing name should be retained. Another application to rename a street may not be submitted within one year of a denial, unless the applicants include evidence of 100 percent concurrence by the property owners and all other application requirements are met.

E. The hearings officer’s decision is the final decision by the county. [Ord. 1153 Exh. A § 13, 2001.]