Title
Ordinance Supplementing the Pittsburgh Code, Title Four, Public Places and Property, Article I, Public Rights-of-Way, by adding Chapter 414, Street Naming, to develop a uniform street naming and street numbering system throughout the City to enable persons to locate addresses effectively and in a timely manner for purposes of providing emergency services and deliveries.
Body
Be it resolved that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The Pittsburgh Code, Title Four, Public Places and Property, Article I, Public Rights-of-Way, is hereby supplemented by adding Chapter 414, Street Naming, as follows:
CHAPTER 414: STREET NAMING
414.01: LEGISLATIVE INTENT
Duplication and non-conformity of street names and street numbers is a serious threat to the public safety of the residents of the City. It is the intent of this Ordinance to establish requirements to prevent duplication and confusion of street naming and numbering that may jeopardize emergency response times. This Ordinance is not intended and shall not be interpreted to be a hindrance to any new development within the City; this Ordinance is only intended to prevent further confusion of street names and address numbers within the City.
414.02: STREET NAMES
Restrictions
(a) In no case shall the names of proposed streets duplicate existing names. The name must be separate and distinct from any previously assigned street name in the City of Pittsburgh. This includes, but is not limited to: similar spelling of street names; similar sounding street names;
(b) No street shall have more than one name.
(c) Use of a different prefix (E,W,N,S, old, new, etc.) or suffix (St, Rd, Ct, extension, etc) shall not qualify the street as having a different street name.
(d) If a "paper street" that has a given name becomes a dedicated right of way, that shall not be reason to keep the paper street name if a new street has come into existence with the same or similar name.
(e) Changing the sequence or type of house numbers shall not constitute a reason for naming a new street with a same or similar name as an existing street.
(f) This statute applies throughout the entire City of Pittsburgh. A new street in a different zip code, neighborhood, or council district shall not constitute a reason for having a new street with a same or similar name as an existing street.
(g) This section shall also apply to the naming of private streets and ways.
Implementation and Responsibilities
(a) Before any street or private road is named, approval shall be obtained from the Director of the Department of Public Works, or the directors designee.
(b) The Department of Public Works shall maintain an Official Street and Road name list.
(c) The Department of Public Works shall be the designated enforcement department of the city.
414.03: CONTINUATION OR EXPANSION OF A STREET
When a proposed street is in alignment with an existing street, and the proposed street is or planned to be a continuation of the existing street, the existing name, designation, and numbering should be maintained.
414.04: RENAMING STREETS
(a) No existing street shall be renamed with the same or similar name as an existing street. The same restrictions as 414.01 shall apply to this section.
(b) A nomination for the renaming of a street can come at the request of the Mayor, the Director of the Department of Public Works, a member of City Council, from a property owner on that street, or from any citizen legally residing on that street.
(c) Any renaming of a city street must be approved by City Council.
(d) All changes shall be made in such a manner as to create the least possible inconvenience to residents and property owners in the area.
(1) No change shall become effective until (90) days after official approval by City Council.
(2) All residents and affected property owners shall be mailed notification of the final decision.
(e) No street shall have more than one name. Any renaming of a street must rename the entire street.
414.05: HONORARY OR TEMPORARY STREET NAMES
(a) The honorary, temporary, holiday or otherwise unofficial name of the street shall not replace the existing name. The permanent name of the street shall continue to be displayed.
(b) The honorary, temporary, holiday or otherwise unofficial street name shall be displayed below the official street name in a different color from the original street name so that it is clear which is the honorary name and which is the actual street name.
(c) A nomination for the Honorary naming of a street can come at the request of the Mayor, a member of City Council, from a property owner on that street, or from any citizen legally residing on that street.
(d) Honorary naming of streets shall be approved by City Council.
414.06: ASSIGNMENT OF STREET NUMBERS
(a) House numbers on a street shall be uniform in nature. This includes, but is not limited too: odd and even numbers, number of digits, sequential numbers, whole numbers, etc.
(b) Odd numbers shall be on one side of the street, even numbers on the opposite side.
(c) If the property lots are of such a size as to allow them to be split into separate lots in the future, house numbers shall be assigned in such a fashion as to allow for future additional houses on said lot. House numbers with a fraction or letter suffix shall be kept to a minimum.
(d) Apartment houses shall be given one street number and each individual apartment shall be given a number. Combined commercial and apartment complexes should be give one street number and each individual apartment or commercial unit shall be give a number.
414.07: POSTING OF DESIGNATED STREET ADDRESSES
(a) The owner of a property to which a number has been assigned will affix the number to the structure or on the property in such a way that it is visible from the street. All non-valid street numbers should be removed from all houses and buildings.
(b) Numerals indicating the official numbers from each principal building or each front entrance to such building (or if not visible from the road on a sign or post at driveway entrance) should be posted in a manner as to be legible and distinguishable from the street on which the property is located, with letters painted or applied, of a contrasting color to the background, or no less than four (4) inches in height, preferably extruted aluminum with reflective sheeting or flat aluminum blades with reflective sheeting.
414.08: ENFORCEMENT
(a) Violations: It shall be unlawful for any person or entity to:
(1) Erect or install a street name sign not in accordance with this City Ordinance.
(2) Remove, alter, change, or deface a street name sign or address identification erected or installed as provided herein.
(3) Place or post addresses not approved by this Ordinance.
(4) Fail to place an address visible from the road.
(b) Penalties: Any person or entity who violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of this Ordinance shall be guilty of a summary offense punishable by a fine as established by the rules of the Pennsylvania Code.