Chapter 22.135
ADDRESSING STANDARDS
Sections:
22.135.040 Addressing grid systems.
22.135.050 Addressing standards.
22.135.060 Change in street or address status.
22.135.080 Final plat addresses.
22.135.090 Display of address.
22.135.100 List of established street names, assigned addressing, and mapping.
22.135.110 Deviations from literal compliance.
22.135.010 Purpose.
A. The purpose of Chapter 22.135 SVMC is to establish a uniform method for naming streets and assigning street addresses for real property and structures within the City.
B. The goals of Chapter 22.135 SVMC are as follows:
1. Facilitate expedient emergency response by medical, law enforcement, fire, rescue, and any other emergency services.
2. Regulate the display of property address numbers and provide for accurate street name signage, installation, and maintenance thereof.
3. Provide property owners, the general public, emergency responders, and government agencies and departments with an accurate and systematic means of identifying and locating property and/or structures. (Ord. 19-007 § 3, 2019).
22.135.020 Applicability.
A. Chapter 22.135 SVMC applies to addresses for real property and structures situated within the City. The City may name or rename streets pursuant to the adopted Spokane Valley street standards, and assign or reassign addresses as necessary to further the purposes of Chapter 22.135 SVMC.
B. These provisions shall apply to the assignment of addresses to all new buildings or properties.
C. All nonconforming addresses may be changed to conform to the standards set forth in Chapter 22.135 SVMC. (Ord. 19-007 § 3, 2019).
22.135.030 Administration.
The city manager shall administer the provisions of Chapter 22.135 SVMC, except as otherwise provided for herein. The City will coordinate with fire districts serving the subject area to be addressed. (Ord. 19-007 § 3, 2019).
22.135.040 Addressing grid systems.
A. The City shall participate in the use of the addressing grid system described as follows:
1. Sprague Avenue divides the City into north and south addresses.
2. Division Street divides the east and west addresses. All directional designations are referenced as east because no part of Spokane Valley is located west of Division Street in Spokane. All directional designations are referenced as east.
3. On streets running north and south:
a. Addresses north of Sprague Avenue shall have even numbers on the east side of the street and odd numbers on the west side of the street;
b. Addresses south of Sprague shall have even numbers on the west side of the street and odd numbers on the east side of the street.
4. On streets running east and west:
a. Addresses shall have even numbers on the south side of the street and have odd numbers on the north side of the street.
5. The appropriate directional designation or abbreviation (e.g., “North” or “N.”) is part of the address and follows the number. For example, the first lot south of Sprague Avenue on the east side of a street named “City Street” would have a street address of “11 S. City Street” or “11 South City Street.” (Ord. 19-007 § 3, 2019).
22.135.050 Addressing standards.
A. Each property owner who has addressable property within the City and has not been assigned an address has a responsibility to apply to the City for a physical address for that property.
B. Application for each address assignment prior to the issuance of a building permit (temporary addresses) shall include, at a minimum, a site map showing any proposed or existing structures, driveways, and approach locations.
C. The numbering of addressable properties or structures along each street shall begin at the appropriate grid point of origin and continue in sequence. No address along a street shall be out of sequence in relation to the adjacent addresses.
D. Each block along a street may have up to 100 address numbers. The hundred series shall change upon crossing a street intersection or in the best possible alignment with the established address grid if applicable, with the exception of intersecting driveways and/or alleys. The hundred series along a public street shall not change upon crossing a private street unless deemed necessary by the city manager for continuity of address sequencing.
E. Private streets wholly contained within plats shall be assigned the hundred series as if they were public streets. Except for loops and circles, two uniquely named streets may not intersect more than once (e.g., Main Street should not intersect Cherry Lane at 201 East Main Street, and also intersect Cherry Lane at 401 East Main Street). Loops and circles shall be reviewed on an individual basis and require approval by the city manager.
F. Addresses along a street shall have even numbers on one side of the street and odd numbers on the other side of the street pursuant to SVMC 22.135.040, as now adopted or hereafter amended.
G. Individual address numbers shall be assigned to fit within the block range of the street segment to which the address is assigned (e.g., a new address that is assigned to the 200 block of Main Street shall be assigned a number between 201 and 233). Individual addresses shall be assigned to be consistent with adjacent blocks of the same north-south or east-west orientation.
H. Addresses accessed via a shared driveway shall be assigned based on the point of origin of the driveway from the connecting street and shall be sequential.
I. Addressable property or structures shall be assigned based upon the street from which vehicular access to the property or structure is obtained, with the following exceptions as determined by the city manager:
1. Commercial and public facility structures may be assigned an address based upon the street the main entrance faces and not necessarily the access street.
2. Residential structures on corner lots may be assigned an address based upon the street the main entrance faces and not necessarily the access street.
J. Fractional addresses shall not be used (e.g., no “101 1/2 East Main Street”).
K. Address numbers shall not contain any nonnumeric characters (e.g., no “118a”).
L. Addresses on individual parcels shall comply with the following:
1. The street number shall range from one to five numbers.
2. No address shall have two or more zeros in a row at end of address unless referencing the location of a utility or communication facility.
3. The last two digits of street numbers shall not exceed 33. A deviation may be requested pursuant to SVMC 22.135.030. (Ord. 19-007 § 3, 2019).
22.135.060 Change in street or address status.
If a public or private street is altered, the city manager shall review the alteration and may assign a corrected street name and/or address pursuant to Chapter 22.135 SVMC. If the access to an individual address is altered, the city manager shall assign a corrected address pursuant to Chapter 22.135 SVMC (e.g., the owners of 201 East Cherry Lane change the location of their access from Cherry Lane to Houk Lane necessitating an address on Houk Lane). (Ord. 19-007 § 3, 2019).
22.135.070 Multiple units.
A. Duplex units shall be assigned a separate and unique address for each unit.
B. Accessory dwelling units shall be assigned a unit designation with reference to the same address as the primary dwelling and shall follow the addressing standards in SVMC 22.135.070.
C. Manufactured home parks which contain dwelling units fronting on a public or private street(s) shall be assigned one address for each dwelling unit. Manufactured home parks which contain dwelling units fronting on an unnamed private access street(s) shall be assigned one address for the entire property, and a secondary address assigned for individual spaces by the manufactured home park owner subject to approval by the city manager (e.g., “9801 East Appleway Blvd., Space 1”).
D. Multiple unit complexes shall be assigned one address for the property based upon the street from which vehicular access to the structure is obtained, except as otherwise provided herein. If necessary, the city manager may assign an address based upon the street the main entrance faces (e.g., “1124 North University Street, Space 10”). If additional parcels are added to an existing development, and access is taken through the existing development, a “0 Address Unknown” will be assigned to the new parcel to aid in emergency response.
E. Structures within multiple unit complexes shall be assigned a building designator for each structure, as opposed to a unique address (e.g., “123 East Main Street, Building A”), unless an exception is granted by the city manager. The building designators shall be generally arranged in a counterclockwise rotation from the point of entry.
F. When secondary addresses are assigned to multiple unit structures with individual building designations, the unit designator shall include the building designation (e.g., “123 East Main Street, Apartment A200” or “123 East Main Street, Building A, Apartment 200”).
G. When secondary addresses are assigned to buildings with multiple floors, all above-ground units shall be assigned a three-digit number (or higher) where the beginning number shall represent the floor upon which the unit is located (e.g., first-floor units would be assigned three-digit numbers beginning with 1, “Apartment 101”; tenth-floor units would be assigned four-digit numbers beginning with 10, “Apartment 1001”).
H. Units within below-grade stories shall include the alphabetical characters “LL” to indicate lower level, and then be assigned a three-digit number where the beginning number shall represent the floor upon which the unit is located (e.g., all units in the first level below grade would be assigned three-digit numbers beginning with 1, “Apartment LL101”; units on the second level below grade would be assigned three-digit numbers beginning with 2, “Apartment LL201”).
I. If a remodel of a multiple-unit structure alters the number or configuration of units, the addresses of units within said structure shall be updated to remain in compliance with Chapter 22.135 SVMC.
J. If a remodel of a single-unit structure creates a multiple-unit structure, the address units within said structure shall be updated to remain in compliance with Chapter 22.135 SVMC.
K. When secondary addresses are assigned to individual multifamily dwellings (including apartments and condominiums), the units shall use the unit designator for apartment (Apt) or unit (Unit).
L. When secondary addresses are assigned to individual dwellings/spaces in manufactured home parks, the units shall use the unit designator for space (Spc).
M. When secondary addresses are assigned to individual commercial suites or tenant spaces within a commercial structure(s), the units shall use the unit designator for suite (Ste).
N. All other multiple-unit structures not previously described shall contain a unit designator which most closely identifies the unit’s location and which is in accordance with current postal addressing standards. (Ord. 19-007 § 3, 2019).
22.135.080 Final plat addresses.
Temporary addresses assigned during the preliminary plat review shall be indicated on the final short plat, plat, or binding site plan drawings. The permanent physical addresses shall not be issued prior to recording the approved final short plat, plat, or binding site plan. (Ord. 19-007 § 3, 2019).
22.135.090 Display of address.
A. On currently existing structures, or hereafter erected, the owner of the property or structure shall conspicuously place the correct address pursuant to Chapter 22.135 SVMC. Addresses shall be displayed on all new and existing buildings. Letters, numbers, or symbols shall meet the following standards:
1. The posted address shall be metal or other durable material.
2. The numbering/lettering shall be at least four inches in height, and one-half inch in stroke width. In cases where conditions adversely affect the visibility and/or legibility of the numbers, additional numbers, larger numbers, or other modifications may be required in coordination with the City and fire districts serving the subject area to be addressed.
3. The posted address shall contrast with its background.
4. The address shall be placed on the structure plainly legible and visible from the street on which vehicular access is provided to the property or structure.
5. Addresses shall be visible from all directions of travel.
B. Structures located in excess of 100 feet from the street fronting the property shall display the address on a sign, monument, or post not less than three feet or greater than seven feet above the ground and located at the entrance to the property from the nearest street. The structure shall display additional posting at the structure location.
C. If two or more addressable structures share a common primary access, and any one of the addressable structures is located more than 100 feet from the street designated in the assigned address, the addresses for each structure shall be posted at the intersection of the shared access and the named street on a sign or post not less than three feet or more than seven feet above the ground, and each structure shall display additional posting at the structure location.
D. Address numbers, signage, location, and sizing shall be maintained by the responsible property owner. The fire districts, in coordination with the City, may require modifications to Chapter 22.135 SVMC if deemed appropriate for fire and life safety. (Ord. 19-007 § 3, 2019).
22.135.100 List of established street names, assigned addressing, and mapping.
Public and private streets and addresses within the City shall be maintained in a publicly viewable database which may be part of a larger database for all or a portion of Spokane County. The City may participate in any regional committees, organization, or entity to maintain, manage, review, or have control over such database. (Ord. 19-007 § 3, 2019).
22.135.110 Deviations from literal compliance.
Applicants may request minor deviations from any requirement in Chapter 22.135 SVMC. The applicant shall identify the requested deviation, including the basis for the request, to the City in writing. The city manager may grant minor deviations in instances where complete compliance would create an obvious practical problem, provided the deviation still adequately addresses the property for location by emergency service providers and to promote the other purposes of Chapter 22.135 SVMC. The City may consult with fire districts/other impacted agencies in approving deviations. (Ord. 19-007 § 3, 2019).