Article II. House Numbers

Section 24-33. Establishment of numbering system.

A numbering system for all houses, storerooms and other buildings on the streets, avenues, lanes and public ways of the Town of Easton, such numbering system to apply generally to the front or main entrance of the premises numbered. (Ordinance 384 aka E-6 effective 2/18/1936)

Section 24-34. Method of numbering.

(a) On the streets, avenues and public ways which run in a general "east and west" direction, the numbers assigned to buildings on the southerly sides of such streets, avenues and public ways shall be "even" numbers and the numbers assigned to buildings on the northerly side of such streets, avenues, and public ways which run in a general "north" and "south" direction, the numbers assigned to buildings on the easterly side thereof shall be "even" numbers and the numbers assigned to buildings on the westerly side of such streets, avenues, and public ways shall be "uneven" numbers.

(b) Building numbers shall be divided into four series, to wit: north, south, east and west. The division line between the north series and the south series of numbers shall extend continuously along Court Street, Dover Street and Dover Road, from the westerly to the easterly boundaries of the town. The division line between the east series and the west series of numbers shall be continuously along Washington Street from the southerly to the northerly boundaries of the town.

(c) The buildings in each block or interval between main cross-streets, north and south, east and west, shall be numbered centesimally, starting with number one and proceeding in each direction from the above stated division streets, and beginning each such successive block with the next higher hundred than the last. In establishing such block numbers, due regard shall be given "dead-end" streets so as to develop the most orderly numbering of all buildings along each particular street, avenue or public way.

(Ordinance 384 aka E-6 effective 2/18/1936)

Section 24-35. Adoption of house numbering system atlas.

The numbers of all buildings and properties within the corporate limits of the town are hereby declared to be as shown on an atlas entitled "House Numbering System Atlas," which is filed in the office of the town clerk as No. "D-35" of the Town Plans and Maps, and which atlas is hereby made a part of this section, and such atlas and all notations, references and other data shown thereon is by this reference made a part hereof to the same extent as if the information set forth on such atlas were fully described and incorporated herein. (Ordinance 384 aka E-6 effective 2/18/1936)

Section 24-36. Official identification of buildings after July 1, 1936.

On and after the first day of July, 1936, no number on any building in the town shall be recognized as official, except those assigned under the provisions of this article. (Ordinance 384 aka E-6 effective 2/18/1936)

Section 24-37. Duties of town officials in regard to house numbering system.

(a) The town engineer shall, from time to time, revise, correct and keep the house numbering system atlas up to date and he shall also assign numbers to new buildings at the time building permits are applied for, such house number shall be indicated on each building permit by the town clerk prior to issuance of such permit.

(b) The mayor, with the advice and assistance of the town engineer, shall be, and is, hereby authorized to make such revisions in the herein established numbering system, as may become necessary or advisable on account of the opening of new streets or other future developments of the town; provided, however, that such revisions or changes shall not be inconsistent with the general system herein established and described.

(Ordinance 384 aka E-6 effective 2/18/1936.)

Section 24-38. Posting numbers.

Numerals indicating the official numbers of each house and building shall be posted in such a manner as to be visible from the street on which the property is located. (1967 Code by Ordinance 519 aka E-34 effective 5/7/1967)

Section 24-39. Purpose.

The purpose of Sections 24-39 through 24-46 is to establish a system for the assignment of certain street names and the numbering of certain properties located in the Town of Easton. (Ordinance 178 effective 6/10/1990)

Section 24-40. Application and territorial limits.

Sections 24-39 through 24-46 shall apply to the following lands, properties, buildings and other structures located within the territorial limits of the Town of Easton:

(1) All lands, properties, buildings and other structures abutting the westerly boundary of the right-of-way of U.S. Route 50;

(2) All lands, properties, buildings and other structures situate and lying on the easterly side of U.S. Route 50; and

(3) All lands, properties, buildings and other structures situate and lying on the westerly side of Maryland Route 322, excepting therefrom , however, all those properties, buildings, and other structures bounded on the north, south and west by the North and South Branches of the Tred Avon River, and bounded on the east by Maryland Route 322, and commonly known as "Easton Point".

(Ordinance 178 effective 6/10/1990)

Section 24-41. Definitions.

As used in Sections 24-39 through 24-46, the following terms have the meanings indicated:

(1) STREET - A public or private way which provides a means of access to abutting property. The term shall include road, street, avenue, drive, circle, highway, or similar term.

(2) TAX ASSESSMENT MAPS - Maps prepared by the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation which show properties and streets in the Town of Easton.

(Ordinance 178 effective 6/10/1990)

Section 24-42. Street naming and addressing manual and maps.

(a) The Town Engineer shall prepare and maintain a Street Naming and Addressing Manual which describes in detail the criteria, procedures and methods used to name streets and to assign address numbers to properties in the Town subject to the provisions of Sections 24-39 through 24-46 of the Code. This manual shall include the development of a grid system from which the address numbers will be derived.

(b) The Town Engineer shall keep and maintain a set of maps of the Town of Easton which display the address grid system and the names of streets.

(Ordinance 178 effective 6/10/1990)

Section 24-43. Official street name list.

(a) The Town Engineer shall maintain an official Street Name List of the Town of Easton.

(b) Any new street opened, platted, or created shall be incorporated into the Official Street Name List by the Town Engineer if the street meets the criteria contained in the Street Naming and Addressing Manual. The Town Engineer and the Planning and Zoning Commission shall have the authority to approve the name of any new street. (Ordinance 178 effective 6/10/1990)

Section 24-44. Address numbers.

(a) All property subject to the provisions of Sections 24-39 through 24-46 containing a home, business to other primary use or structure shall have an address number assigned in accordance with the criteria and procedures specified in the Street Naming and Addressing Manual.

(b) The Town Engineer shall assign an address number to a property subject to the provisions of Sections 24-39 through 24-46 prior to the issuance of a building permit.

(Ordinance 178 effective 6/10/1990)

Section 24-45. Notification, use, and display of address number.

(a) Following the initial assignment of addresses, the Town Engineer shall mail a notification of the new address to the owner of the property by U.S. mail, first class postage prepaid. The name and address of the property owner shall be as obtained from the records of the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation.

(b) The owner of any property who receives notification of a new address number shall be responsible for informing all tenants or occupants of the new address.

(c) The owner or occupant shall have a period of one (1) year from the date the notification is mailed to make all address changes or adjustments. Thereafter, the address number assigned under this Chapter shall be the only street address used by the owner or occupant of the property.

(d) Within one (1) year from the date the notification of the new address is mailed, the owner shall have placed on the property, in a location visible from the street upon which the address number is assigned, figures at least (3) inches high showing the number of the house or building. Numbers placed on mailboxes or signs shall satisfy this requirement only if the home or building is clearly identifiable in relation to the mailbox or sign.

(Ordinance 178 effective 6/10/1990)

Section 24-46. Enforcement and penalties.

(a) A violation of any provision of Sections 24-39 through 24-46 or failure to comply with any requirement thereof, shall constitute a civil infraction. Each day on which a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense. Any person found by a court of competent jurisdiction to have violated any provision of Sections 24-39 through 24-46 shall pay a fine of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) for the first violation. The fine for each subsequent violation shall be One Hundred Dollars ($100.00).

(b) Once a person charged with a violation has received the infraction citation for the first violation, it shall not be necessary to deliver an infraction citation for any subsequent violation of the same provision or section of this Chapter. A subsequent violation shall mean a violation of the same section or provision of this Chapter, upon the same parcel or piece of real property which has occurred not more than 30 days, but not less than 24 hours after the first violation.

(c) The Town of Easton may enforce this Chapter by civil action for declaratory judgment and/or injunction, in addition to, or instead of citing the violator for a civil infraction. In the case of a civil action for declaratory judgment and/or injunction, the Town may recover its legal fees and costs from the violator.

(d) The owner and/or tenant of any building, structure, premise, or part thereof, and any architect, builder, contractor, agent, or any other person who causes, commits, participates in, assists in, or maintains a violation of this Chapter shall be guilty of a separate offense, and subject to all the penalties set forth herein.

(Ordinance 178 effective 6/10/1990)