AN ORDINANCE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT
of a
STREET NAMING & NUMBERING SYSTEM
for the
TOWN OF BRISTOL, NEW HAMPSHIRE
Section I. PURPOSE
A. To establish the locations and names of all streets and roads.
B. To establish a uniform method of numbering primary buildings on streets and roads.
C. To promote efficiency in locating primary buildings.
D. To provide more expedient emergency response.
E. To provide a consistent system for mailing addresses.
Section II. PARTIES AFFECTED
All primary buildings, streets, and roads within the boundaries of the Town of Bristol shall hereafter be identified according to the uniform street naming and numbering system as herein contained as adopted or amended by the Board of Selectmen pursuant to their authority as outlined in RSA 231:133 and 231:133-a.
Section III. DEFINITIONS
For the purpose of this ordinance the following definitions will apply:
Street: A state highway, town road, avenue, lane and/or any other way whether public or
private used or in existence for vehicular travel exclusive of a driveway which serves not more than two adjacent lots or sites. The word street shall include the entire right-of-way.
Primary Building: Any residential dwelling temporary or permanent, used seasonally or
throughout the year, or any building which represents or is used for the central purpose of the lot.
Section IV. NAMING SYSTEM
A uniform street naming system has been developed for all streets based upon the following process:
A. There shall be no duplication of street names within the Town.
B. Street names shall not sound alike (e.g. Beach and Peach, Lynwood and Linwood).
C. The use of directional words such as north, south, east, and west shall be discouraged.
D. Street names shall not be differentiated solely by their suffix (e.g. Pine Place, Pine Lane, and Pine Avenue). Suffixes allowed include “Street”, “Road” or “Lane”.
E. Each street shall have only one name along its entire length.
F. Naming of driveways with the use of street signs (or signs that appear to be street signs) shall be prohibited.
G. The Board of Selectmen shall establish names for all streets and shall maintain an
Up dated and accurate master list of all street names to be known as the Master Street
Name List.
Section V. NUMBERING SYSTEM
A uniform street numbering system has been developed for all primary buildings based upon the following process:
A. The starting point for each street is generally determined by its relationship to U.S. Route 104 (a.k.a. Summer Street, Pleasant Street) and U.S. Route 3A (a.k.a Lake Street) or its logical direction given existing usage as indicated on the Master Street List.
B. All primary buildings on the left side of a street beginning at its starting point will have odd numbers.
C. All primary buildings on the right side of a street beginning at its starting point will have even numbers.
D. One odd and one even number will be assigned to each fifty (10) foot interval of frontage on the street as measured from the starting point of each street.
E. Numbers will be assigned by determining the point at which the main vehicular access
(or main pedestrian access if no vehicular access is provided) to the primary building
coincides with a fifty foot interval on the street as outlined. [ex: If the driveway serving a single family house is on the left side of a road and is in the tenth 50 foot segment, then the street number would be #19.]
F. Unused numbers will be held for future use to ensure against the need for renumbering.
G. Condominium complexes, shopping centers, malls, and properties with multiple primary buildings shall be assigned one street number corresponding to the primary entrance location. Pre-existing developments and units shall be internally numbered according to a logical pattern and manner as approved by the Land Use Officer.
H. Street numbers shall be assigned by the Land Use Officer but shall be the ultimate responsibility of the Fire Chief who is also the emergency management director for the Town of Bristol.
Section VI. PROCEDURES
A. All property owners within the boundaries of the Town of Bristol shall affix, or cause to have affixed, the assigned street number(s) in accordance with this section.
1. For all primary buildings the street number shall be conspicuously displayed on
that side of the building which faces the main vehicle access.
2. For primary buildings not readily visible from the street, the assigned street
number(s) shall also be conspicuously displayed at the main vehicular (or
pedestrian if no vehicular access exists) access to the property, so as to be visible
on a year-round basis. The preferred method of display at the main vehicular or
pedestrian access shall be on both sides of a mailbox. The front may be used
when applicable.
B. All displayed street numbers shall be of a contrasting color to the means of support such as the primary building, mailbox, post, etc.
C. All displayed street numbers shall be at least three and one-half (3-1/2) inches in height and two and one-half (2-1/2) inches in width and affixed in a permanent manner.
D. All displayed street numbers shall be in Arabic form (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9).
Section VII. NEW BUILDINGS AND SUBDIVISIONS
A. Whenever a primary building is erected, located, or expanded in the Town of Bristol, the assigned street number shall be affixed in the appropriate locations a provided by this
ordinance. Owners of new or expanded primary buildings shall procure their number
assignment from the Land Use Officer. Number assignment is required prior to the issuance of a building permit and shall be displayed during construction.
B. Every subdivision or site plan submitted to the Planning Board for approval shall show
an assigned street number for each primary building as applicable.
C. Every subdivision or site plan submitted to the Planning Board for approval shall show
the approved street name for all existing streets and a name approved by the Land Use Officer in consultation with the Master Street Name List for all proposed new streets.
D. Street signs for private roads must comply with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for streets and highways (MUTCD) section 2D.38 entitled Street Name Sign. Questions regarding compliance with MUCTD should be directed to the Highway Manager.
E. In all cases, the Land Use Officer shall notify the Selectmen's (assessing) office, Police and Fire Departments, FAST Squad, and Dispatch Center as appropriate, of
new assigned street numbers and names.
Section VIII. PENALTY
A. Any property owner who fails to comply with any relevant provision of this ordinance
within 30 days of the mailing date of the Notification of Street Naming and Numbering
Assignment shall be guilty of a violation with a penalty of not more than $25.00 for each
day of non-compliance.
B. Any property owner who shall affix to or display upon a structure any number other than that assigned to it pursuant to this ordinance shall be guilty of a violation with a penalty of not more than $25.00 for each day of non-compliance.
C. Property owners in non-compliance shall be notified by certified mail and given 30 days from the post date to comply with the ordinance before penalty is enforced and begins to accrue. The penalty will continue to accrue until the violation ceases.
D. This section shall not apply to the display of "date of origin" numbers for historic
buildings provided that they are displayed so as to not be confused with the display of the
assigned street numbers.
Section IX. ADMINISTRATION
A. This ordinance shall be administered by the Land Use Officer.
Section X. APPEALS
A. Any property owner aggrieved by the implementation or administration of the provisions of this ordinance by the Land Use Officer may appeal in writing to the Highway Safety Committee.
B. The decision of the Highway Safety Committee may be appealed to the Board of Selectmen who shall have the final administrative authority over the implementation of the provisions of this ordinance.
C. All appeals shall be in written form to the Board of Selectmen, setting forth the basis for the appeal.
Section XI. SEVERABILITY CLAUSE
A. If any part of this ordinance is found to be invalid, it shall have no effect on the balance of this ordinance.
Section XII. EFFECTIVE DATE
The above described ordinance shall take effect immediately upon adoption by the Board of Selectmen.
Adopted: May 25th, 2007
By: Bristol Board Of Selectmen