Address Ordinance
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Town of Cumberland
Addressing Ordinance
101. Purpose
The purpose of this ordinance is to enhance the easy and rapid location of properties by public safety and emergency medical services personnel and postal delivery in the Town of Cumberland.
102. Authority
This ordinance is adopted pursuant to and consistent with the Municipal Home Rule Powers as provided for in Article VIII, Part 2, Section 1 of the Constitution of the State of Maine and Title 30-A M.R.S.A. Section 3001.
103. Administration
This ordinance shall be adopted by the Town Council and administered by the Assessor. The Assessor is authorized to assign street names and numbers to all properties, both on existing and proposed streets, in accordance with the criteria in Sections 4 and 5. The Assessor shall also be responsible for maintaining the following official records of this ordinance:
103.1 A Cumberland map for official use showing street names and numbers.
103.2 An alphabetical list of all property owners as identified by current assessment records, by last name, showing the assigned numbers.
103.3 An alphabetical list of all streets with property owners listed in order of their assigned numbers.
104. Naming System
All new and existing streets that serve two or more properties shall be named regardless of whether the ownership is public or private. All private streets that serve one or two properties shall be named upon request of a street owner and approval of the Assessor. A “street refers to any highway, road, street, avenue, lane, private way, or similar paved, gravel or dirt thoroughfare. “Property” refers to any property on which a more or less permanent structure has been erected or could be placed. All proposed names for streets shall be reviewed by the planning department and police chief prior to approval. A street name assigned by the Town of Cumberland shall not constitute or imply acceptance of the street as a public way.
The following criteria shall govern the naming system of new streets:
104.1 No two streets shall be given the same name (e.g., no Pine Road and Pine Lane).
104.2 No two streets should have similar-sounding names (e.g., Beech Street and Peach Street).
104.3 Each street shall have the same name throughout its entire length.
105. Numbering System
Numbers shall be assigned every 50 (fifty) feet along both sides of the street, with even numbers appearing on the left side of the street and odd numbers appearing on the right side of the street, determined by the number origin.
The following criteria shall govern the numbering system:
105.1 Number origins shall begin from the east and continue west and from the south and continue north. For dead end streets, numbering shall originate at the intersection of the adjacent street and terminate at the dead end.
105.2 The number assigned to each structure shall be that of the numbered interval falling closest to the front door. If the front door cannot be seen from the main street, the number shall be that of the interval falling closest to the driveway of said structure.
105.3 Every structure with more than one principle use or occupancy shall have a separate number for each use or occupancy. Duplexes will have two separate numbers. Apartments will have one street number with an apartment number, such as 235 Maple Street, Apt. 2.
105.4 At major intersections, the numbering system shall be interrupted so that the first address after the intersection starts with the number rounded to the next highest hundredth. For example, if the last number before the intersection is 82, the first number after the intersection would be 100.
105.5 Corner lots should be assigned a number according to where the front door faces the street. There may be instances, however, when a corner lot might be numbered based on its driveway, if it makes sense from an emergency responder perspective.
106. Compliance
All owners of structures shall, by the date stipulated in Section 8, display and maintain in a conspicuous place on said structure, the assigned numbers in the following manner:
106.1 Number on the Structure or Residence. Where the residence or structure is within 50 (fifty) feet of the edge of the street, the assigned number shall be displayed on the front of the residence or structure near the front door or entry.
106.2 Number at the Street Line. Where the residence or structure is over 50 (fifty) feet from the edge of the street, the assigned number shall be displayed on a post, fence, wall, the mail box, or on some structure at the property line next to the walk or access drive to the residence or structure as approved by the Code Enforcement Officer with consultation of the Public Safety Departments.
106.3 Characteristics of Number. The size of the numbers shall be no less than 4-inches in height and shall be located to be visible from the street. They shall be of a contrasting color to any background.
106.4 Every person whose duty is to display the assigned number shall remove any different number that might be mistaken for, or confused with, the number assigned in conformance with this ordinance.
106.5 It shall be the responsibility of the apartment owner to number and display the individual apartment numbers on apartment buildings.
107. New Construction and Subdivisions
All new construction and subdivisions shall be named and numbered in accordance with the provisions of this ordinance and as follows:
107.1 New Construction. Whenever any residence or other structure is constructed or developed, it shall be the duty of the new owner to obtain an assigned number from the Assessor. This shall be done at the time of the issuance of the building permit.
107.2 New Subdivisions. Any prospective subdivider shall show a proposed street name and lot numbering system in the pre-application submission to the Planning Board. Approval by the Planning Board, after consultation with the Assessor, shall constitute the assignment of street names and numbers to the lots in the subdivision.
108. Effective Date
This ordinance shall become effective immediately. The provisions of this ordinance shall be enforced by the Code Enforcement Officer. Appeals of decisions by the Assessor and/or Code Enforcement Officer shall be made to the Board of Adjustment and Appeals as permitted in the Cumberland Zoning Ordinance. It shall be the duty of the Town Council or their designee to notify by mail each property owner and the Post Office of a new address at least 30 (thirty) days before the effective date of its use. It shall be the duty of each property owner to comply with this ordinance, including the posting of new property numbers, within 30 (thirty) days following notification. On new structures, numbering will be installed before final inspection or issuance of certificate of occupancy, whichever comes first.
Adopted: November 9, 1998
Amended: December 22, 2003