2023 District of Columbia Code › Title 9 - Transportation Systems › Chapter 2 - Street and Alley Closing and Acquisition Procedures › Subchapter IV - Public Space Names and Commemorative Works › Part C - Streets, alleys, and other public spaces › § 9–204.21. Designation of official names of streets and alleys

§ 9–204.21. Designation of official names of streets and alleys.
(a) Any designation of an alley or street, or portion thereof, with an official name shall meet the requirements of §§ 9-204.02 and 9-204.03, as well as the requirements of this section.
(b) At least 15 days[] before the date of a Council hearing to consider legislation to designate the official name of an alley or street, or portion thereof, the initiator of the proposal to designate the official name of an alley or street, or portion thereof, shall:
(1) Give written notice of the date, time, and location of the Council hearing to each owner of property and household occupying property that abuts the alley or street, or portion thereof, proposed to be designated with an official name; and
(2) Post signs that indicate the date, time, and location of the Council hearing at each intersection with any other alley or street of the portion of the alley or street proposed to be designated.
(c) The Mayor shall make available the signs to be posted pursuant to subsection (b)(2) of this section.
(d) At least 30 days before the date of a Council hearing to consider legislation to designate the official name of an alley or street, or portion thereof, the initiator of the proposal to designate the official name of an alley or street, or portion thereof, shall submit a copy of the proposed legislation for review and comment to each Advisory Neighborhood Commission in which the portion of the alley or street to be designated is located.
(e) The initiator of a proposal to designate the official name of an alley or street, or portion thereof, shall certify to the Council that the notice required by subsection (b) of this section has been given. A post-office receipt of proof of mailing of the notice to each resident's or property owner's last known address and a photograph of each posted sign shall be sufficient proof that the required notice was given.
(f)(1) At least 5 days before the date of a Council hearing to consider legislation to designate an official name for an alley or street, or portion thereof, the initiator of the proposal to designate the official name of an alley or street, or portion thereof, shall submit to the Council letters or a petition in support of the proposal that have been signed by a majority of the households occupying property that abuts the portion of the alley or street proposed to be designated with an official name.
(2) Such petition shall include a list of each postal address on the alley or street, or portion thereof, to be designated with an official name, and the postal address of each household in support of the proposal (signed by a representative of the household).
(g) Before consideration by the Council, including a vote by a committee of the Council, of a bill to designate an official name for an alley or street, or portion thereof, the Mayor shall provide the Council with a surveyor's plat showing:
(1) The alley or street, or portion thereof, to be designated;
(2) The square or squares in which the portion of the alley or street to be designated is located and any adjacent squares; and
(3) The recorded lots in the square or squares depicted.
(h) The Mayor may establish, by rulemaking, fees to be paid by the initiator of a proposal to designate an official name of an alley or street, or portion thereof, to recoup costs associated with satisfying the requirements of this section, including obtaining consideration of the proposal by the Council and implementation of the proposal by the Mayor; provided, that fees shall not be assessed pursuant to this subsection on an initiator that is a governmental entity, including an Advisory Neighborhood Commission.
(i) If there is no initiator within the meaning of § 9-201.01(4A), the Mayor shall discharge the responsibilities of the initiator set forth in this section; provided, that the requirements of subsection (f) of this section shall not apply and no fee shall be assessed pursuant to subsection (h) of this section.
(j) The requirements of subsections (b) through (e) of this section shall be waived if a resolution in support of the proposed designation is adopted by each Advisory Neighborhood Commission in which the street, alley, or portion thereof, is located.
(Mar. 10, 1983, D.C. Law 4-201, § 421; as added Oct. 8, 2016, D.C. Law 21-161, § 2(h), 63 DCR 10912; Dec. 13, 2017, D.C. Law 22-33, § 1142(b), 64 DCR 7652; Dec. 21, 2022, D.C. Law 24-205, § 3(a), 69 DCR 13938.)
Emergency Legislation
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 1142(b) of Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2017 (D.C. Act 22-167, Oct. 24, 2017, 64 DCR 10802).
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 1142(b) of Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2017 (D.C. Act 22-104, July 20, 2017, 64 DCR 7032).