Adopt Ordinance #23-18, Amending Chapter 105, Buildings and Building Regulations, pertaining to Address Numbers

Staff have received inquiries from developers and builders regarding address signage requirements for the buildings and homes they were constructing.  Currently, nothing is present in City Code, except noted in Chapter 117 is the following language: "One address sign shall be required per main building in all districts."  The proposed ordinance takes the requirements for address numbers from the State Building Codes (see attached) and places them in Chapter 105 of City Code for easy reference and enforcement.  The Building Codes (both residential and commercial) are only enforceable at the time of construction or building alteration.  

At the December 12, 2023, City Council meeting, it was noted that number placement on decorative elements like boulders, fences, and pillars was seen as attractive.  The proposed Code amendment would not prevent any homeowner from doing this; they would just need to have an additional set of numbers on the home, unless the home is not visible from the street and placement on the decorative element is used to be visible from the street.  

Staff reviewed other communities' Codes, and it was discovered that nearly all neighboring cities have requirements for size, building materials, and placement of address numbers. Additionally, some cities have specific requirements for address signage on multi-tenant commercial and multifamily apartment buildings. Further requirements are set forth in some cities for construction sites to maintain address signage for the duration of construction.

The proposed ordinance, which is attached to this case, proposes the introduction of several of the aforementioned regulations, including the following:

• The ordinance will move the address signage regulations from Chapter 117 to Chapter 105, which handles buildings and building regulations.
• The definition of "address sign" will be refined to the following language: "Buildings shall have approved address numbers placed in a position to be plainly legible and visible from the street or road fronting the property. These address numbers shall be limited to identification numbers only, written in Arabic numerical form. Numbers shall not be spelled out."
• The ordinance introduces a new definition of "front of the building".
• The ordinance introduces specifications for residential, multifamily, and commercial structures. Additional specifications are introduced for buildings with multiple tenants or multiple entrances.
• For properties where the principal building is obscured from the view of the street, the new ordinance introduces regulations for posted address signs.
• Lastly, per the request of the Building Department, additional language is introduced for construction sites to maintain address signage at all times during construction.

At the Planning Commission public hearing on November 30, 2023, the Commission recommended approval of the ordinance, with a few requested modifications pertaining to the size and display of address numbers. Staff incorporated their requested modifications into the proposed  ordinance attached to this case.

A notice of the Planning Commission's Public Hearing, which was held on November 30, 2023, was published in the Anoka County UnionHerald, the City's official newspaper.

Alternatives to Consider:

1. Motion to adopt the ordinance.
2. Motion to adopt the ordinance with changes.
3. Motion to deny the ordinance.  

Preparation of this ordinance is done through staff's normal duties.

At the Planning Commission meeting on November 30, 2023, the Commission unanimously voted to recommend approval of the draft ordinance, with a few requested modifications that have been incorporated into the proposed ordinance.

Motion to waive the City Charter requirement to read the ordinance aloud and to adopt Ordinance #23-18, Amending Chapter 105, Buildings and Building Regulations, pertaining to Address Numbers.

Roll Call Vote: 
Councilmember Olson
Councilmember Woestehoff
Councilmember Specht
Councilmember Musgrove
Councilmember Howell
Councilmember Riley
Mayor Kuzma