Authorize Advertisement of a Public Hearing for Amendments and Additions to County Code Section 19B-23 through Section 19B-29, Article II – Posting Dwelling and Building Address Numbers

Approval to advertise a public hearing to take place June 15, 2017, for consideration of amendments to Spotsylvania County Code Section 19B-23 through Section 19B-29, Article II – Posting Dwelling and Building Address Numbers.

The proposed amendments will revise language pertaining to enforcement to comply with legal requirements, as well as correct grammatical errors as written and adopted in 2014.

  Lewis Watts, Building Official

Troy Tignor, Zoning Administrator  

Jay Cullinan, Fire Chief

Roger L. Harris, Sheriff

The current ordinance contains language in Section 19B-29 for a civil penalty of $100.00 which was put in place in 2014.  Further legal review of this requirement ascertained such civil penalty is unenforceable under current Virginia law due to the fact the legislature has not given the County the ability to impose civil penalties for such offenses.  If the Board wishes street and addressing requirements to remain in the County Code, Section 19B-29 must be revised to a misdemeanor offense in accordance with Virginia Code §15.2-1429.  Also, Sections 19B-23 through 28 need revisions due to typographical errors. 

Public safety concerns may not be as well addressed in the County Code.  Further, there are interpretation and application implications due to the errors in language contained in the current ordinance.