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Does the City Ever Change Street Names?
Yes! Sometimes the City of Raleigh will start the process to change a street name—especially if the current name causes confusion for emergency services or mail delivery.
Here’s how it works:
- If no one from the neighborhood has asked for the change, the City will first reach out to all affected property owners and tenants to gather name ideas for a new street name.
- After collecting suggestions, City staff will review the list to avoid duplicate names already used in Wake County.
- Then, they’ll ask residents again to vote on the best options from the updated list.
- Once a popular and unique name is chosen, the City will bring it to Raleigh City Council for review.
If Council agrees to move forward, they’ll schedule a public hearing where residents can share their thoughts. After the hearing, Council will either approve the new name and set a date for it to take effect—or decide not to move forward.
When Does a Street Name Change Take Effect?
After Raleigh City Council approves a street name change, the new name usually becomes official six months later. That gap gives everyone—residents, businesses, government offices, and map companies—time to update their records and systems.
Who Gets Notified?
The City will send the new name and effective date to:
- Local utility companies
- City of Raleigh departments
- Wake County Government
- North Carolina Department of Transportation
- U.S. Postal Service
- All affected property owners and residents
What Should Property Owners Do?
It’s up to individual property owners to update their personal information with:
- DMV (Driver’s License and vehicle registration)
- Social Security Administration
- Banks and credit card companies
- Anyone else who regularly sends mail to your address
Why Would a Street Name Be Changed?
🛣️ Duplicate Street Names
Sometimes two streets end up with the same or very similar names. This can happen because of old street layouts, new construction, or roads that were reconnected or split up. Duplicate names can cause confusion—especially for emergency responders, delivery drivers, and mapping systems.
🏡 Property Owner Requests
In some cases, neighbors may want a street name changed. While this is possible, it’s not encouraged unless there’s a clear public benefit. That’s because changing a name comes with costs—for residents, the City, and private companies like utility providers.