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D.C. Municipal Regulations (Last Updated: September 13, 2017) |
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Title 12. CONSTRUCTION CODES SUPPLEMENT OF 2013 |
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SubTilte 12-A. BUILDING CODE SUPPLEMENT OF 2013 |
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Chapter 12-A1. ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT |
Section 12-A118. ADDRESSES OF PREMISES
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Strike Chapter 1 of the International Building Code in its entirety and insert the following in its place to read as follows:
118.1 Purpose. The purpose of the provisions of this Section 118 shall be: (a) to establish a formal, legally based District of Columbia-wide system of assigning addresses to premises in order to facilitate their identification; (b) to facilitate protection of the public health and safety by enabling a quicker response time by police, fire, ambulance, and other emergency services; (c) to provide for the efficient delivery of public services, including building inspections, health inspections, property mapping, and property tax administration; and (d) to establish the minimum requirements for providing street numbers on premises.
118.2 Administration. The code official shall administer the provisions of this Section 118, including, but not limited to: (a) assigning addresses and approving the naming of new private streets within the District of Columbia; and (b) designating the street number of all premises, new and existing. Street numbers are required on all lots and buildings, new and existing, and the code official shall have authority to approve all street number assignments on any premises. The code official is also authorized to order changes in the numbering of any premises previously numbered if it is determined that the street number being used may endanger the public health and safety. A building or other structure fronting more than one street or avenue shall be assigned a street number based on the location of the face of the building or other structure containing the main entrance.
118.3 Responsibility. When a street number is assigned to a premises, the owner of a premises shall provide and maintain the street number in compliance with these requirements. A premises that is required to have a street number and does not comply with the requirements of this section shall not be occupied.
118.4 Definitions. The following words and terms are defined in Chapter 2.
ADDRESS RANGE.
ALLEY.
BLOCK FACE.
LOT.
MAIN ENTRANCE.
PRIMARY ADDRESS.
PRIVATE THOROUGHFARE.
PUBLIC THOROUGHFARE.
RECORD LOT.
SECONDARY ADDRESS.
STANDARDIZED ADDRESS.
STREET.
STREET NAME.
STREET NUMBER.
STREET NUMBER SUFFIX.
STREET QUADRANT.
STREET SEGMENT.
STREET TYPE.
TAX LOT.
UNIT NUMBER.
UNIT TYPE.
ZIP CODE.
ZIP PLUS FOUR.
118.5 Addressing Rules General
118.5.1 The District of Columbia has an existing street addressing and street naming scheme that is historic in nature. To the greatest extent possible, this Section 118 seeks to maintain that scheme while eliminating conditions created over time that are detrimental to the public safety and welfare of the citizens of the District of Columbia.
118.5.2 The existing pattern of alphabetically named and numbered streets found in the central jurisdictions of the District of Columbia shall be maintained.
118.5.3 When facing a quadrant dividing line (North Capitol Street, East Capitol Street, South Capitol Street or the Mall), the even number addresses are on the right side of the street and the odd numbers are on the left side of the street. Diagonal streets have even and odd sides that match the parity of the grid direction they most closely resemble; those at 30° angles are generally addressed as east-west, those at 60° are considered north-south. The 45° angle streets are variable, and should be maintained in their current form.
118.5.4 Address ranges are determined based on a progression from the point of origin, which is the United States Capitol, and the four quadrant dividing lines listed in Section 118.5.3. Each standard block was initially given an address range of one hundred (100), progressing outward from the Capitol. Streets that commence away from the quadrant dividing lines are examined and the ranges determined based upon the surrounding streets.
118.5.5 Address ranges shall not overlap or create any opportunities for the assignment of duplicate addresses on a given street within a single quadrant. Similarly, there should be limited or no gaps in the address ranges if the street to which the ranges are applied is continuous.
118.5.6 Breaks in address ranges may occur where a street with a given name is broken into distinct segments by a park, water body, or other impediment. In these cases, the integrity of the address grid shall be maintained, and a gap in the range created, to signify the break in the street’s continuity.
118.6 Street Number Assignment
118.6.1 Every lot that is legally capable of supporting a building or other structure shall have an address regardless of whether the lot is occupied or vacant.
118.6.2 When a record lot is vacant, but within an existing tax lot that contains a building or other structure, the vacant record lot shall be assigned the same street number as the tax lot.
118.6.3 Every building or other structure with an entrance from a public or private street, or from a named alley shall have an assigned street number.
118.6.4 Every lot and every building shall have either a street number or a unit-number depending upon whether or not it has a separate entrance fronting onto a public or private street.
118.6.5 No addresses shall be assigned to any driveway. The address for a building or other structure with a driveway shall reflect the name and the numbering sequence of the street to which the driveway is connected.
118.6.6 No street number shall be assigned to a premises that has as its only access an unnamed street or alley. If an address is required for a premises, the street or alley shall first be named according to the process described in Section 118.11 below.
118.6.7 Assigned street numbers shall be determined based upon the block face’s address range, the location of the main entrance and the existing street numbers that are assigned within that block face.
118.6.8 Street numbers shall be logically and spatially consistent, increasing in numeric order from the low number end of the block face to the high end of the block face.
118.6.9 Street numbers shall be assigned in accordance with the parity (odd/even) designation for the block face. Even numbers shall not be used in the odd-sequenced side of a street, nor shall odd numbers be used on the even side of a street.
118.6.10 If a street segment exists where both odd and even numbers exist on both sides of the street, or where only one side contains addresses, and both odd and even numbers have been used, the code official shall issue a street number that is logically consistent with the numbers on adjoining premises.
118.6.11 No street number shall be assigned that duplicates the number for any existing premises on the same named street.
118.6.12 No new street number shall be assigned that contains a letter designation (e.g., 112A Vermont Avenue).
118.6.13 The code official is authorized to maintain an existing fraction if there is no available street number in the address sequence for the block in which the address is located. The fraction shall be stored in the STREET NUMBER SUFFIX field.
118.6.14 Existing letter designations shall be maintained in the STREET NUMBER SUFFIX field or UNIT NUMBER field rather than as part of the street number field.
118.6.15 No street number shall be assigned to a proposed building or other structure on multiple lots or for a location where the subdivision process is incomplete.
118.6.16 The code official shall hear and consider requests for changes in street numbers for existing addresses.
118.6.16.1 The code official is authorized to change street numbers where there are duplicates, or where the street number is out of sequence, or on the opposite side of the street in terms of parity (odd number found on the even numbered side, or vice-versa).
118.6.16.2 The code official is authorized to change street numbers where existing numbers contain a fraction or a letter suffix, and there is sufficient space in the existing number range for the block-face to support renumbering to remove the fraction and/or letter suffix.
118.6.17 The code official shall not change an existing address to one that is not consistent with the addressing structures, parity and sequences that already exist.
118.6.18 The code official is authorized to assign secondary addresses as the code official deems appropriate subject to the provisions of Section 118.5 and this Section 118.6.
118.7 Street Number Display. Each premises to which a street number has been assigned shall have the number displayed in conformance with the requirements provided in this Section 118.7.
118.7.1 Main Entrance Location.
118.7.1.1 The assigned street number shall be located directly over or near the main entrance in a position easily observed and readable from the opposite side of a public thoroughfare.
118.7.1.2 Multi-tenant buildings having separate exterior entrances with separate street numbers shall post the assigned street numbers near each entrance in accordance with this section.
118.7.1.3 In addition to posting the street number of the building or other structure in a position easily observed and readable from the opposite side of the public thoroughfare serving that entrance, the owner of a building or other structure located on a lot where the main entrance is not located at and fronting on a public thoroughfare, shall post the street number directly above or near the main entrance.
118.7.2 Rear Entrance Location. If the rear of a premises, to which a street number has been assigned, faces a public thoroughfare, the owner shall also place the street number of the main entrance in a position easily observed and readable from the public thoroughfare serving the rear of that premises.
118.7.3 Construction Sites Location. Street numbers shall be posted at construction sites in a position easily observed and readable from any public thoroughfare serving the construction site.
118.7.4 Size of Numbers. The minimum size of a street number shall be 3 inches (76 mm) high and one-half inch (13 mm) wide and shall be in Arabic figures on a contrasting background.
118.7.5 Private Thoroughfares. The street number of a premises located on a private thoroughfare need not be readable from a public thoroughfare if, under the circumstances, this requirement would be impracticable and the approved street numbers are placed in a position to be plainly legible and visible from the private thoroughfare fronting the premises.
118.8 Street Number Suffixes
118.8.1 New street number suffixes shall not be assigned.
118.8.2 Street number suffixes assigned and used prior to December 26, 2008, shall be phased out by the code official where possible, substituting a standard format street number with or without a unit number.
118.8.3 Where an existing street number suffix cannot be changed, it shall be placed in the STREET NUMBER SUFFIX field.
118.9 Street Names General
118.9.1 No street shall be given a name that duplicates or nearly duplicates the name of a then-existing or previously existing street within the same quadrant of the District of Columbia.
118.9.2 No street shall be given a name that, when spoken, sounds like the name of a then existing or previously existing street within the jurisdiction of the District of Columbia.
118.9.3 Street naming should follow the guidelines of the District of Columbia Addressing Standards.
118.9.4 Street names may be changed according to the separate procedures for public and private street naming. Historical and commonly used names for streets shall be maintained where possible, and linked to newer names where necessary.
118.10 Street Names of Public Thoroughfares. The code official shall forward a recommendation on the names of public thoroughfares to the Council of the District of Columbia for its action. Public thoroughfares shall be assigned names by the Council of the District of Columbia pursuant to Section 401 of the Street and Alley Closing and Acquisition Procedures Act of 1982, effective March 10, 1983 (D.C. Law 4-201; D.C. Official Code § 9-204.01 (2012 Repl.)).
118.11 Street Names of Private Thoroughfares
118.11.1 A property owner, developer, surveyor, or plat proprietor shall make application to the code official for approval of a proposed street name of a new private thoroughfare.
118.11.2 Upon receipt of the street name application, the code official shall review the proposed name with the addressing staff of the other agencies with street jurisdiction, and any other appropriate governmental agency.
118.11.3 The code official is authorized to recommend to the applicant a list of the existing approved street names within the District of Columbia for the convenience of the applicant.
118.11.4 The code official shall approve the naming of newly established private thoroughfares within the District of Columbia, including private thoroughfares in proposed plats of condominium developments.
118.11.5 The code official shall notify the applicant within 30 days of the acceptance or rejection of the proposed street name along with the reasons for the decision, if applicable.
118.11.6 The code official shall be the final arbiter of the street name for private thoroughfares.
118.11.7 Unnamed private thoroughfares shall be named when two or more addresses exist or are established on such thoroughfares. If the existing addresses are numbered off of the adjoining public thoroughfare, they shall be changed to appropriate addresses using the street name of the private thoroughfare.
118.11.8 The owners shall be consulted before a name for the private thoroughfare is selected and approved. The selection of a name for a private thoroughfare shall be coordinated with the District of Columbia Office of Planning, DDOT and any other appropriate governmental agency.
118.12 Administration of Assigned Addresses
118.12.1 The code official shall maintain a master file of assigned addresses and maintain a master address mapping database.
118.12.2 The code official shall be responsible for determining whether an address is required for any premises or other condition.
118.12.3 The code official is authorized to grant a waiver of the provisions of Section 118, based upon the evidence presented, if the code official finds that the waiver:
1. Benefits the public health, safety and welfare;
2. Does not create conflicts or duplicate addresses; and
3. Is in the best interest of the District of Columbia.
118.12.4 The code official shall be responsible for assigning a new address under the following conditions:
1. A new record lot is created through the subdivision process of the Subdivision Regulations of the District of Columbia, or a tax lot is created through the process of the Office of Tax and Revenue, and in either case the lot is vacant;
2. A new building or other structure is constructed on a vacant lot;
3. The owner of a building or other structure with multiple entrances to the exterior submits an application that meets the requirements for secondary addresses.
4. A new building or other structure is constructed on a lot already containing one or more buildings or other structures that have addresses;
5. A new structure is constructed on a lot, street or other parcel within the District of Columbia; or
6. An existing building or other structure is renovated to relocate the main entrance to a different street frontage.
118.12.5 The code official, the District Department of Transportation and the E-911 Coordinator shall confer on recommended street names for all streets to ensure that no duplication occurs and that no streets with names that sound alike, or could create confusion for the delivery of emergency and non-emergency services, are created.
118.12.6 The code official shall recommend changes in street names where, in the code official’s opinion, a valid reason exists for the change of street name. Such reasons include, but are not limited to:
1. Duplicate street names;
2. Confusion of street names that sound alike;
3. Street names that are extremely difficult to spell or pronounce;
4. Streets that have more than one commonly used name; and
5. Street names shall not be changed to reflect changes in property ownership or for personal reasons of the adjoining owners.
118.12.7 When a street name change or designation is proposed, the code official shall provide notice to the property owners abutting the street segment(s) to be named or changed. If the change is designed to remedy existing duplicate names or confusing names, the property owners may be consulted on suggested names for the street.
118.12.8 Before changing a street name, the code official shall consider the official street name as recorded on plats and deeds of adjacent property, and the most accurate historical name of the street in question.
118.12.9 The existing legal documents shall be of primary consideration in determining the single street name when two or more names are commonly used. Streets or alleys shall be changed or named pursuant to D.C. Official Code § 9-204.01.
118.13 Final Inspection. Before approval of a final inspection pursuant to Section 109.3.14 for a building or other structure, all addressing requirements, including the installation of street numbers, shall be satisfied in accordance with the requirements of Section 118.
118.14 Street Sign Specifications
118.14.1 All street signs shall meet the requirements of Section 118.7.4 above and the requirements of the District Department of Transportation.
118.14.2 DDOT shall provide standard street signs showing the name of the street, the street type and street quadrant and the starting number for the address range(s) associated with the thoroughfare segment for each public thoroughfare at each intersection.
118.14.3 The owner of a private thoroughfare shall provide standard street signs showing the name of the street, the street type, and street quadrant and the starting number for the range(s) associated with the street segment for each private thoroughfare, based on the approved street name issued by the code official.
118.14.4 Street name signs designating private thoroughfares shall include the word “Private” or “PVT” on them to distinguish them from public thoroughfares.
118.15 Compliance and Enforcement. The provisions of Section 118 shall be enforced by the code official, pursuant to the enforcement mechanisms set forth in Section 113.