City of Lacey, Washington Municipal Code Title 12, Chapter 12.04

LACEY MUNICIPAL CODE

A Codification of the General Ordinances of the City of Lacey, Washington

Title 12: STREETS AND SIDEWALKS

Chapter 12.04

UNIFORM STREET NAMING AND HOUSE NUMBERING

Sections:

12.04.010 Title

12.04.020 Official map

12.04.030 Base lines and districts

12.04.040 Street designations

12.04.050 Grid numbering system

12.04.060 Street and road signs

12.04.070 Maintenance of system

12.04.072 Street names

12.04.074 Changes to names and/or numbers

12.04.076 Newly annexed areas

12.04.080 Application of regulations

12.04.010 Title. This chapter shall be known as the uniform street naming and house numbering ordinance of the city. (Ord. 159 §1, 1970).

12.04.020 Official map. The official map establishes base lines, divides Thurston County into four districts, and sets forth a grid numbering system. (Ord. 159 §2, 1970).

12.04.030 Base lines and districts. Thurston County shall be divided into four districts as determined by the base lines. All addresses shall be suffixed by the name of the quadrant in which it is located. Base lines, described herein, and depicted on the official map.

A. Base lines are described as follows:

1. North-South Base Line--From the north, south along the mid-point of Budd Inlet, south along Capitol Way and continuing south on Capitol Boulevard in Tumwater, then continuing south from Tumwater along the Olympia-Tenino Road (Old U.S. 99) through Tenino and continuing south along State Highway 507 through Bucoda to the Lewis County Line.

2. East-West Base Line--Beginning on the west at the Grays Harbor County Line on U.S. 410, continuing east to the junction with U.S. 101, then east along U.S. 101 to that point where the Mud Bay Road adjoins U.S. 101 (end of FAS 344), then east along Mud Bay Road (also known as Old Olympic Highway and Old 101) to the junction of Mud Bay Road and Fourth Avenue, east along Fourth Avenue, then east along Martin Way to the Old Nisqually Bridge at the Pierce County Line.

B. Districts are described as follows:

1. NE - Northeast--that portion of Thurston County north of the east-west base line, and east of the north-south base line,

2. NW - Northwest--that portion of Thurston County north of the east-west base line, and west of the north-south base line,

3. SE - Southeast--that portion of Thurston County south of the east-west base line, and east of the north-south base line,

4. SW - Southwest--that portion of Thurston County south of the east-west base line, and west of the north-south base line. (Ord. 159 §3, 1970).

12.04.040 Street designations. The following street designations shall apply to street and road names, streets, road signs, and to addresses:

A. Avenues shall run east and west. Avenues shall be numbered (both north and south sides of the east-west base line);

B. Streets shall run north and south, and shall be named;

C. Drive shall be an irregular or diagonal street over two grid blocks in length not conforming to the grid pattern to be called a “drive;”

D. Road shall be a lengthy irregular or diagonal street over ten grid blocks in length, generally an arterial, to be called a “road.” The designation “road” shall be used only where the name has long-standing meaning or public sentiment;

E. Places shall be a north-south street, parallel to, but between streets shall be called a “place;”

F. Ways shall be an east-west street parallel to, but between avenues, shall be called a “way;”

G. Courts shall be a cul-de-sac which cannot be extended. Courts are to be named or numbered and carry the number of the preceding street or avenue (in direction of the lowest house numbers);

H. Loops shall be small loop-type streets to carry the name of the street from which they originate;

I. Lanes shall be private streets or streets in a private street subdivision. (Ord. 159 §4, 1970).

12.04.050 Grid numbering system.

A. One Hundred Grid Block. The one hundred block for street naming and house numbering shall be determined by consulting the official grid map. Grid maps indicating the location of one-hundred block grid lines shall be prepared on one inch equals four hundred feet scale map and made available for use at a later date.

B. Numbering Interval.

1. The assignment of a number to a specific property location shall be determined by measuring distances from the one-hundred block grid lines.

2. A number shall be assigned each space of twenty feet, as measured from the one-hundred block grid line.

3. Measurements shall be taken from the grid line to the main entrance of the building or property for the purpose of assigning numbers.

C. Number Assignment. Number assignment shall be as follows:

1. Even numbers shall be assigned to north and east sides of streets; odd numbers shall be assigned to south and west sides of streets. Determination of street direction, north-south or east-west, can be decided by observing the overall length of a street and noting its general direction. The even and odd numbers shall be assigned consecutively and opposite one another wherever possible. Neither numeric fractions nor alphabetical letters shall be assigned as part of the unique address for stand-alone structures. All quadrant directionals (NW, SW, NE, SE) shall appear only after the street name. There will be no double directionals (e.g., E. Main Street NE). Where a street is prevented from being continuous by a natural barrier the addressing will be broken off at the barrier and continued again at the other side of the barrier consistent with the appropriate 100 grid block on the official grid map as described in Section 12.04.050.

2. Short loops and cul-de-sacs shall be numbered consecutively from that point where they originate and proceeding progressively around the loop or cul-de-sac.

3. Multi-family developments will have each building assigned a numbered address taken from the street each building fronts. Interior streets within multi-family developments will be named and such names will be approved as defined in Section 12.04.040. If the interior street is to remain private then the name will be qualified by designating that street as a Lane as specified in Section 12.04.040.I. Each of the multi-family buildings fronting that interior street will be numbered from said street. Each unit within a multi-family building will also be identified (e.g., 3515 Private Lane SE Unit #101). The unit numbering will be from left to right as seen from facing the building. The first digit of each unit number will indicate on which floor of the building each unit is located (i.e., #101 first floor, #201 second floor, etc.)

4. In large commercial development projects with a single access from a main street and a shared parking lot each building will be individually numbered from the main street. For those projects fronting on intersecting streets each building will be individually numbered from the intersecting street of which it fronts. Each tenant suite within a commercial building will also be identified (e.g., 3515 Main St SE Suite #201). The suite numbering will be from left to right as seen from facing the building. The first digit of each suite number will indicate on which floor of the building each suite is located (i.e., #101 first floor, #201 second floor, etc.)

D. Extension of Grid System. The grid system shall be extended at the rate of ten blocks per mile, or as determined by the grid pattern as shown on the official map. The grid shall increase by one-thousand at section lines, or as shown on the official map. (Ord. 1208 §3, 2003; Ord. 1040 §2, 1996; Ord. 159 §5, 1970).

12.04.060 Street and road signs.

A. All new street and road signs in the city shall display street names, district designations and grid numbers in conformance with the provisions of this chapter.

B. All replaced street or road signs erected after October 22, 1970, shall display at least two elements of this chapter:

1. Signs shall display the district suffix, NW, SW, SE, or NE;

2. Signs shall display the 100 grid block number. (Ord. 159 §6, 1970).

12.04.070 Maintenance of system.

A. The city engineering department shall be responsible for the development and maintenance of maps indicating street names and house numbers. This agency shall maintain a file of existing street names and a catalog of potential street names and be responsible for insuring that proposed street names are in conformance with this chapter and do not duplicate existing street names.

B. The building department of the city shall on all building permits for new residences, buildings, structures or places of business, excepting sheds and accessory buildings, assign an address number consistent with this chapter. On building permits other than new construction, the building department shall insure that the address listed thereon is consistent with this chapter. (Ord. 514 §1, 1978; Ord. 159 §7, 1970).

12.04.072 Street Names. Prior to assigning street names, all proposals will be provided by the city staff to the Thurston County Department of Communications for concurrence that the street name does not conflict or have similarity to existing names anywhere within Thurston County. (Ord. 1040 §1, 1996).

12.04.074 Changes to names and/or numbers. Minor changes, or corrections, to numbers can be made administratively by the community development department following the written request of a residential or commercial occupant. Minor changes can also be initiated by staff when in the interest of public safety.

Major changes, such as 100 block re-numbering or street name changes may be initiated by a written request from a residential or commercial occupant, or by the community development department in the interest of public safety and/or public benefits. In either case, the building official, or his/her designee, shall convene a review committee to include, but not limited to, representative of the Police Department, and the Fire Department.

If the committee determines that a change should be made a proposed plan shall be prepared and the affected neighborhood or commercial area notified for comment. The committee shall review any comments received and determine if the public safety interest is best served by the proposed change. Such determination must be made prior to any such change being effected. (Ord. 1040 §3, 1996.)

12.04.076 Newly annexed areas. All newly annexed areas will be re-addressed if it is determined that the existing addressing is inconsistent with the standards set forth in Chapter 12.04, the 100 grid block designations are inconsistent with the existing city 100 block grid system, or street names duplicate existing city street names. (Ord. 1040 §4, 1996.)

12.04.080 Application of regulations. The owner or occupant of any residence, building, structure or place of business, excepting sheds and accessory buildings, opening upon or having access to a street within the city shall place and maintain the proper and clearly visible address numbers in a conspicuous location upon the main entrance or at the principal place of ingress to such residence, building, structure or place of business. The knowing failure to place and maintain the proper clearly visible address numbers in such a location shall constitute a misdemeanor. (Ord. 514 §2, 1978; Ord. 159 §8, 1970).

City of Lacey, Washington, USA