Chapter 24.75 Uniform Building Address System

(Amended by Ordinance No. 188995, effective July 6, 2018.)

A.  There is established a uniform system of numbering all buildings in separate ownership or occupancy in the City dividing the City into six addressing districts.  In establishing the system Williams Avenue, Naito Parkway, View Point Terrace and Tryon Creek State Natural Area and the centerline of the Willamette River southerly from Oregon Street and northerly from Clay Street, shall constitute the north and south base line from which the numbers on all buildings running easterly and westerly from said streets shall be extended each way, upon the basis of one number for each ten feet of property frontage, wherever possible, starting at the base line with the number 1 continuing with consecutive hundreds at each intersection, wherever possible.

B.  All even numbers shall be placed upon buildings on the southerly side of streets, avenues, alleys and highways, and all odd numbers shall be placed upon buildings on the northerly side of streets, avenues, alleys and highways.  Burnside Street shall constitute the east and west base line from which the numbers on all streets running north and south from said streets shall be extended each way, upon the basis of one number for each 10 feet of property frontage, wherever possible, starting at the base line with number 1 and continuing with consecutive hundreds at each intersection, wherever possible.  All even numbers shall be placed upon buildings on the easterly side of streets, avenues, alleys, and highways, and all odd numbers upon buildings on the westerly side of said streets, avenues, alleys, and highways.  Freestanding buildings on private streets which are separately owned or occupied shall be separately numbered so as to most closely conform to this system.  Each portion of a building which is separately owned or occupied and has a separate entrance from the outside shall have a separate number assigned to it.

C.  Suffixes to Building Numbers.  Where building address requirements exceed numbers available within the numbering system, the Director may use the suffix “A”, “B”, “C”, etc. as may be required to provide the numbering required by this Chapter.

All numbers placed in accordance with this Chapter shall be permanently affixed to a permanent structure and of sufficient size and so placed as to be distinctly legible from the public way providing primary access to the building. All numbers shall be posted as nearly as possible in a uniform place and positioned on the front of each building near the front entrance. Where outside illumination is provided, the numbers shall be placed so as to be illuminated by the outside light. In instances where building mounted numbers are not distinctly visible from a public way, a duplicate set of numbers shall be permanently affixed to a permanent structure at the primary entranceway to such property. If, in the judgment of the Director, the numbering, sequence, legibility, size or location does not meet the requirements as set forth above, the property owner or agent therefor shall be notified and within 30 days shall make such changes as required in the notification.

The Director shall assign address numbers, keep records of address assignments, and exercise such other powers as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this Chapter.

Whenever any new building is erected, modified, or occupied in a manner requiring an address assignment, the owner or owner’s agent shall procure the correct address number or numbers designated by the Director and pay required fees.

The owner or agent shall prior to occupancy or within 30 days of assignment, whichever occurs later, place the assigned address number(s) upon the building or in a manner and location as provided in this Chapter.

It is unlawful for any person to cause or knowingly permit a building number to be displayed which is different than that assigned pursuant to this Chapter. It is unlawful for any person to own or have possession of a building which does not display the number assigned pursuant to this Chapter in the manner provided by this Chapter.

As used in this Chapter, "building" is any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy.

The Director shall provide written notices to the owner of any building in violation of the provisions of this Title. The notice shall state the violations existing and specify the owner has 30 days to obtain compliance.

In the event the owner fails or neglects to comply with the violation notice in the prescribed time the Director may gain compliance by:

A. Instituting an action before the Code Enforcement Hearings Officer as provided in Title 22 of the City Code, or

B. Causing appropriate action to be instituted in a court of competent jurisdiction, or

C. Taking such other action as the Director deems appropriate.