12.3.2 Street Names

1. The provisions of this section shall apply to the initial naming and renaming pursuant to Sec. 3.25, Street Naming and Renaming.

2. Extensions of existing, named streets shall bear the existing street name.

3. Except for the naming or renaming of a street or right-of-way with a full or proper name, the Planning Director or designee, in consultation with the Durham Emergency Communications Center, shall be the approving authority for initial street names, or as provided by NCDOT procedures for right-of-way under NCDOT control.

a. Except for a full or proper name, the initial naming of a right-of-way or driveway, as allowed in this section, shall be reviewed for approval on a final plat.

b. Approval of a full or proper name street name shall require approval by the applicable governing body, and NCDOT if applicable.

c. Approval of a street renaming shall be pursuant to Sec. 3.25, Street Naming and Renaming.

A street name shall be established for a public street or a private street.

A street name can be established for a driveway allowed for access within a townhouse or detached rowhouse development under paragraph 12.2.2B.2.b, above, and for a pedestrian mall under paragraph 16.4.3C, Pedestrian Malls. Establishing a name shall not result in circumventing development requirements for private streets, sidewalks, street trees, or other items.

The following rules shall apply for approval of any new street name:

1. Names submitted for approval of a new development shall be limited to only the number of names needed for the development. No extra names shall be reserved for future applications.

2. Names shall only be used for the project for which they were approved and shall not be used for other locations or projects.

3. Approval of names includes the approval of the spelling. A variation from the approved spelling shall not be allowed.

4. Each street name shall consist of at least two parts: the primary name and the street suffix type. The approval of the street suffix is part of the street name approval. Street suffixes shall only be from the official USPS list.

5. A street suffix shall not be part of, or come before, a primary name.

Commentary: For example, “LEAFY DRIVE ROAD” would not be approved because “Drive” is a suffix used as a part of the primary name.

“AVENUE OF AMERICAS” places the suffix before the primary name, and is therefore not approvable.

6. Streets shall have unique names, including primary names and suffixes.

a. Names shall not duplicate, or approximate or vary, an existing name in spelling or pronunciation.

Commentary: For example, “MAIN STREET” is an existing name, therefore “MANE STREET,” “MAINE STREET,” and “MAIN DRIVE” would not be approved.

b. The prohibition on duplicate or approximate names shall apply to a component of a name.

Commentary: For example, “OAKS DRIVE,” “OAK RIDGE DRIVE,” and “OAK PLEASANT DRIVE” all contain “Oak” as the primary name or a component of the primary name.

c. Words or names which are difficult to pronounce, and words in which the pronunciation is different than spelling, and therefore may cause confusion for citizens, users, and service providers, shall not be used.

d. Full names or proper names shall only be approved by the applicable governing body.

7. Cardinal directions shall not be used in a manner that is inconsistent with the current addressing system, or in a manner that would cause confusion.

Commentary: For example, “EAST APPALACHIA DRIVE” would not be approved if there were no corresponding “WEST/NORTH/SOUTH APPALACHIA DRIVE.” Additionally, a directional name will not be approved as a standalone name in a location that is contrary to the directional portion of the name. For example, “NORTH COAST ROAD” would not be appropriate along the south shores of Jordan Lake.

a. Numbers, spelled out or symbolized, shall not be used in the street name.

b. Abbreviations or acronyms shall not be used in the street name.

c. Special characters such as hyphens, symbols, apostrophes or other punctuation, or signs shall not be used as characters in the street name.

d. Extensions or conjunctions shall not be used in the street name.

e. The maximum length for street names shall be 20 characters.