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Street Names


Changes


Process Description:
This is a process by which names of existing city streets are changed at the request of citizens. This process requires the review and approval of both the City of Raleigh Planning Commission and the Raleigh City Council.  The City Council makes the final decision to approve street name changes.

Why should a street name be changed?

  • Street name duplications may be carryovers from historical street names or may be due to new road construction, or to realignment, connection of roads that were previously separate, or disconnection of existing roads that previously formed one continuous route
  • There may be cases where a street name is desired by adjoining property owners.  Unless there is a public purpose to be served, requesting a name change is not encouraged, for it required considerable cost to the residents and to service providers such as the City and private utility companies


Are there any prerequisites to this process?
Street names must be approved before a change can be made.  A New Street Name  application (.doc) or (.pdf ) must be submitted for approval.  The new street name must be unique on a Wake County wide basis and can not duplicate another street name or approximate the phonetic pronunciation of that name within Wake County. Emergency service response (i.e. law enforcement, fire services, EMS, etc.) and mail delivery can be affected by duplicate names in different locations.

How do I start the process?

  • A citizen/client may submit a completed submittal package to the City of Raleigh Department of City Planning  located at One Exchange Plaza Suite 304, Raleigh NC
  • If the reason for a street name change is to eliminate or reduce problems associated with a street address or to facilitate emergency service delivery, then the City will initiate and process the street name petition

    What do I need to submit to the City?

Standard Submittal Package

 

Where do I submit my application?
Office:               City of Raleigh
Department:    City Planning
Location:          Front Desk
Address:          One Exchange Plaza Suite 304, Raleigh, NC 27601
Adjacent to:     219 Fayetteville Street
Phone #:          (919) 516-2626
Hours:              8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

What are the keys to success?

  • Provide a complete submittal package
  • Work to include the majority of property owners impacted by the street name change to agree to the specified name change by signing the petition


What is the process?

If the City is initiating the process and has not received a petition from one or more of the adjoining owners, the Planning staff will notify all affected property owners and tenants to solicit suggestions for a unique county-wide street name.  Upon receipt of the responses, the Planning staff will review them for duplications, and resurvey the affected property owners and tenants to determine the most acceptable names from among the non-duplicate suggestions.

Once an acceptable name is determined, Planning staff will draft a recommendation to be forwaded to the Raleigh Planning Commission for review and consideration.  If one or more property owners have submitted a petition, it will accompnay the recommendation.

The Planning Commission will forward this recommendation to the Raleigh City Council for consideration.  The City Council has two options at this point.  If the staff survey or the petition submitted by a property owner reflects 100% property owner agreement with the proposed street name, then the City Council can adopt a resolution changing the name of the street to the proposed name without a public hearing.

Otherwise, Council may adopt a resolution authorizing a public hearing.  A notice will be sent to all affected property owners and tenants, and the hearing will be advertised in the legal section of the newspaper.  At the public hearing, City Council will either adopt a resolution changing the name and set an effective date, deny the request, or send it to a City Council committee for futher discussion.

Once the City Council changes a street name, when does it become effective and who does the City notify?

In most cases the effective date will be either the July 1 or January 2 following Council action.  In many instances, after communication with residents and property owners, an effective date agreeable to all parties can be reached.

The City will notify the local utility companies, all City of Raleigh Departments, Wake County Government, North Carolina Department of Transportation -Division of Highways, local utility companies, U.S. Postal Service, residents and property owners when an effective date agreeable to all parties can be reached.  The individual property owners must notify all other parties.  (Note: The U.S. Postal Service provides a change of address kit upon request.)  Parties to notify may include the Department of Motor Vehicles, Social Security Administration, banks and credit card companies, as well as others whom may regularly send mail to the previous address.

What fees are involved and when do I pay them?

  • $257 filing fee is due at the beginning of the process as part of the Standard Submittal Package (see above)
  • Payment types accepted are cash, MasterCard, Visa or check made payable to: City of Raleigh
  • Fee payments are delivered to the Department of City Planning located at One Exchange Plaza Suite 304, Raleigh NC as part of the Submittal Package (see above)


How long will this process take?
This process takes approximately six (6) to eight (8) weeks.

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For More Information Contact:
Mike McDow
Planning Technician
Planning Department
One Exchange Plaza
Raleigh, NC 27601
919-516-2643