House Numbers

Firefighters, emergency vehicles, and personnel may need to find your home quickly should an emergency occur. It is difficult for emergency vehicles to find homes and businesses whose address numbers are not properly posted.

Why You Need House Numbers
Fire Emergencies
  • House fires/smoke
  • Workplace fires
  • Apartment/high-rise fires
  • Chimney fires
  • Brush fires
  • Arson
Accident Emergencies
  • Vehicle Accidents
  • Drowning
  • Industrial Accidents
Medical Emergencies
  • Heart attacks and stroke
  • Seizures
  • Childbirth
  • Choking/poisoning
  • Electrocution
Hazardous Emergencies
  • Power line dangers
  • Gas leaks
  • Natural disasters
  • Power outages
  • Haz-mat incident
Residences & Apartments
Post house numbers:
  • Directly on your house, apartment, or garage
  • By the street or on a post or sign made of fire resistant material
  • On the mailbox or curb
  • Anywhere they can be easily seen from the road
  • That they are easy to read, not cursive style
  • They are at least 4 inches high
  • Keep your house numbers clearly visible throughout the year
  • If your home or business is set back from the street or road, post your address numbers at the entrance of your driveway
  • In situations where more than one home is accessed off a single driveway, all addresses should be posted on each appropriate intersection along the driveway
  • Be sure your numbers can be seen at night
Can We Find You in an Emergency?
Clearly posted house numbers can save precious time should an emergency occur. Response time is crucial; seconds lost can mean the difference between life and death.

Things You Can Do
  • Purchase and install house numbers for your home from hardware stores or fire department programs which sell signs for a fee
  • Encourage your friends, family and neighbors to post their house numbers, too
  • Have a family home fire escape plan and practice often
  • Have a working smoke detector on every level of your home, especially by the bedrooms
  • Report all fires, immediately! U.S. fire departments respond to over 2,000,000 fires each year
  • Contact your local fire department for additional information for help in protecting your home