The purpose of the city of Artesia's housing address ordinance is to provide for the orderly assignment of street addresses to protect the safety of the general public by facilitating the location of individual dwellings and businesses for the delivery of public emergency services. The planning department of the city of Artesia (the "city") is designated as the department with the authority to assign, modify, or otherwise change any street address within the city limits. (Ord. 744, 2-13-2007)

All houses, buildings and places of business within the city shall be numbered in accordance with the provisions set forth in this chapter, and it is made the duty of each owner and/or person in possession of each house, building or place of business in the city to number or cause to be numbered any and all such houses, buildings, or places of business. Additionally, it is the duty of each owner and/or person in possession of all houses, buildings and places of business which may hereafter be constructed within the city to number or cause to be numbered such house or houses, building or buildings, or place or places of business within ten (10) days from and after the date of completion thereof. The houses, buildings and places of business above mentioned shall be construed to mean all houses, buildings and places of business, which face or at any time hereafter shall face on any street, alley, or other thoroughfare within the city. (Ord. 744, 2-13-2007)

The city limits shall, for the purpose of numbering the structures, be divided into four (4) quadrants. All building structures abutting on or adjoining the streets, avenues, drives, circles, courts, or roads running north and south and which lie north of Main Street shall be designated "# North (name of street)" or avenue, drive, circle, court, road; those lying south of Main Street shall be designated "# South (name of street)" or avenue, drive, circle, court, road; those building structures abutting on or adjoining the streets, avenues, drives, circles, courts, or roads running east and west, which lie west of First Street shall be designated "# West (name of street)" or avenue, drive, circle, court, road; and, those building structures abutting on or adjoining the streets, avenues, drives, circles, courts, or roads running east and west, which lie east of First Street shall be designated "# East (name of street)" or avenue, drive, circle, court, road. (Ord. 744, 2-13-2007)

   A.   Visibility: "Visibility" is defined as distinction from the background upon which the number is placed and which is clearly visible from the nearest portion of the street, alley, or other thoroughfare upon which such building fronts or faces.

   B.   Placement And Size: Said address number must be posted in a place where it is clearly visible from the nearest portion of the street, alley, or thoroughfare on which the building fronts or faces and must be posted in at least one of the following locations:

      1.   Address numbers shall be placed on or within three feet (3') of either side of the door facing the street, alley, or other thoroughfare of which the building fronts or faces. If such placement is not possible or visible due to the features of the structure, said address shall be posted in the nearest alternate location as is clearly visible from the nearest portion of the street, alley, or other thoroughfare.

      2.   Number size shall be no less than four inches (4") in height and shall be sufficiently legible on contrasting background, and in an arrangement, reflection, and spacing to afford clear visibility from the nearest portion of such street, alley, or other thoroughfare upon which such building fronts or faces.

      3.   Each building shall also display address numbers at the rear thereof in as close proximity to the alley as be possible in order that the address numbers shall be clearly visible at all times from the alley.

      4.   No number which may be in existence or which may be placed or affixed on any curb shall be in compliance with this chapter.

   C.   Townhouses: In addition to the number on the front of any townhouse building, each townhouse building shall also display identical numbers on the rear thereof in a prominent place in order that the numbers may be clearly visible from any sidewalk or thoroughfare, or from the nearest location of public access located at the rear of the property.

   D.   Mobile Home Parks: All mobile homes shall have space numbers clearly placed on both the front and rear of the mobile home. (Ord. 744, 2-13-2007)

   A.   It shall be the duty of each owner and/or person in possession to place or have placed the numbers on all houses, buildings and places of business located within the city, in the manner herein provided within one hundred eighty (180) days from the effective date hereof.

   B.   Upon the failure or other noncompliance with any section of this chapter, upon conviction, the offender shall be punished in the manner provided by title 1, chapter 4 of this code.

   C.   Each day of noncompliance with any provision of this chapter shall be treated for all purposes as a separate offense. (Ord. 744, 2-13-2007)