Douglas County Addressing and Road Naming

Douglas County Code Ch. 12.04, Road Naming and Property Addressing

 In 2004, the Douglas County GIS Department was tasked with assigning addresses and road names in unincorporated Douglas County. The Douglas County Board of Commissioners approved Douglas County Code Chapter 12.04 for Road Naming and Property Addressing to facilitate this work. This chapter set forth the standards and processes by which Douglas County would assign new addresses and road names or change addresses and road names in conflict with the standards of Douglas County, the U.S. Post Office, and RiverCom.

On July 25, 2017, the Douglas County Board of Commissioners issued a written directive regarding the importance of complete permit submittals for development within Douglas County. Douglas County is committed to facilitating and maintaining a cooperative partnership with applicants and their design professionals for permit reviews to be completed in an efficient and timely manner.

The information on this page is not intended to replace selection of design professionals with specific knowledge related to the applicable area of design, nor is it intended to replace use of and reference to the full sections of Douglas County Code and adopted references as required to prepare complete and accurate application submittals.

Each city and town in Douglas County have their own processes and standards for assigning addresses and road names in their jurisdiction. Please contact the individual jurisdictions for information on their procedures.

Address Requests

Douglas County’s Address Request Application is used to request a new address or to change an existing non-standard address. A complete application has the Address Request Application, a site plan or site map, and the fee. Additional discretionary documents or applications may need to be submitted.

Address Request Application

A complete Address Request Application has: 

• the applicant’s and/or owner’s name,
• the applicant’s and/or owner’s contact information,
• the address request type specified (New Address or Address Change),
• the building type identified (Single Family Residence, Accessory Dwelling Unit, Multi-Family, Recreation, Commercial, Other),
• a tax parcel number,
• the name of the road that connects to the driveway,
• the closest road to the connecting road,
• is signed and dated.

Site Plan or Site Map

A site map or plan can be created from the County’s Interactive Web Map or a map created by a private professional such as a surveyor, designer, or GIS professional.

The site map needs to show:

• the complete tax parcel boundary,
• the driveway location from the connecting road to the new building,
• the current or proposed building location,
• a separate map showing a portion of the tax parcel with the driveway and building location may be included, if necessary.

Address Request Fee

There is a fee associated with the Address Request Application. The fee may be waived at the discretion of the GIS Division only for address changes in order to correct difficulties with an address. The amount of the Address Request Fee is updated every year at the new year.

Discretionary Documents or Applications

Recorded Legal Access Easement

A recorded easement document detailing legal access will need to be submitted if: 

• the driveway access travels over other people’s properties from a State highway, County road, or private road; or 
• the new address is on a private road.

Driveway Access Permit

A Driveway Access Permit Application from Douglas County’s Transportation Department’s Development Review Group may be needed. Please contact the Development Review Group at (509) 884-7173 for more information.

WSDOT Access Permit

An Access Permit from Washington State Department of Transportation will need to be submitted if the private access road connects to a State highway. Please contact the Wenatchee WSDOT office for more information.

Reflective Address Signs

Douglas County adopted the 2015 International Residential Code R319.1 on addressing sign requirements. A reflective address sign must be positioned clearly visible to emergency responders at the head of the driveway and / or on the front of the building after the address is assigned. Reflective address signs can be purchased for a small fee from the Wenatchee Valley Fire Department Volunteer Association using their Reflective Address Sign Order Form after the address is assigned.

New Road Name or Change Road Name Requests

Douglas County has an application for assigning new road names and changing road names, as necessary, for roads in unincorporated Douglas County. For more information on Road Naming Standards, refer to the Douglas County Code Chapter 12.04 for Road Naming and Property Addressing webpage. The following elements are necessary for a complete application to request a new road name:

Road Name Request Application

A complete Road Name Request Application has:

• the applicant’s name,
• the applicant’s contact information,
• the type of road (Public, Private, or Exempt Private),
• the road location (Townships, Ranges, Sections, and parcel number(s)),
• a reason for naming the new road,
• the current road name (if applicable),
• and proposed new road names, 
  1. supply 3 to 5 suggestions,
  2. suggestions cannot conflict with current road names in Douglas and Chelan or occasionally Grant Counties. We consult with RiverCom on all road name requests. We may consult with Grant County’s MACC, 911 Dispatch Center. 
• be signed and dated.

Site Plan or Site Map

A site map can be created from the County’s Interactive Web Map or a map created by a private professional such as a surveyor, designer, or GIS professional. 

The site plan or site map needs to show the road from beginning to end. 

Property Owners Letters

A majority of the property owners with properties that front or access the new road need to approve the suggestions for the new road name. This approval can be submitted as a single letter with all of the owner names & signatures or as multiple signed letters.

Recorded Legal Access Easement

A recorded easement document detailing legal access will need to be submitted if: 

• the driveway access travels over other people’s properties from a State highway, County road, or private road, or 
• the new road is a private road.

Douglas County Driveway Access Permit

A Driveway Access Permit Application from Douglas County’s Transportation Department’s Development Services may be needed. Please contact the Development Services at (509) 884-7173 for more information.

Washington State Department of Transportation Access Permit

An Access Permit from Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) may need to be submitted if the access road connects to a State highway. WSDOT is responsible for installing all relevant road name, warning, and regulatory signs in their road right-of-way. Please contact the Wenatchee WSDOT office for more information.

Douglas County Road Sign Request

Unless approved by the Douglas County Engineer, Douglas County shall install all necessary road name, warning, and regulatory signs in County road right-of-way. The Road Sign Request Form was created for the creation and installation of new road signs. The applicant is responsible for reimbursing Douglas County for all sign installations. A cost estimate will be provided to the applicant. All requests are subject to approval and modification by Douglas County’s Transportation Department. For more information on this request, please contact the Development Services at (509) 884-7173.

Additional information

New permits and payments will not be accepted after 4:00 PM daily. Address requests are generally issued within 7 to 10 working days, depending on workload. Requests for road names take longer depending on complexity of the project.

We will inform RiverCom/NG911, Wenatchee Valley Fire Department (formerly Douglas County Fire District #2), the U.S. Post Office, Douglas County Assessor’s Office, the Elections Department, and the Transportation and Land Services Department of all address and road name changes. While we contact these agencies, they may need additional information from the applicant. You are responsible for contacting all other public and private entities; this includes utilities, banking, and insurance institutions, as well as, the Washington State Department of Licensing if the new address is or will be your primary residence. 

If you have any questions, please contact either Amanda Taub or Todd Wilson at (509) 884-7173.