Can Emergency Responders Find Your Home? A small detail that can make a big difference.

When firefighters, police officers or EMTs are responding to an emergency, finding the correct house quickly is critical. Yet, house numbers can sometimes be surprisingly difficult to see from the street. Members of our Architectural Review Committee have noticed this during property visits. Numbers may be beautifully designed but too small, too similar in color to the background, hidden by landscaping, or located where they cannot easily be seen from the street. Fortunately, improving the visibility of your address is usually simple. Try the “driver’s-seat-test” The next time you approach your home, look at it from the street – as though you were an emergency responder arriving for the first time. Can you immediately see and read your house number? If you have to search for it, imagine how difficult it might be for someone unfamiliar with the neighborhood, particularly at night or in bad weather.

Emergency services commonly recommend:

• Large numbers: Four inches high is a commonly used minimum for residential addresses; larger numbers may be appropriate for homes set farther back from the street.

• Strong contrast: Numbers should stand out clearly from the surface behind them.

• Simple lettering: Bold, uncomplicated numerals are generally easier to recognize from a distance than highly decorative styles.

• Good nighttime visibility: Reflective or illuminated numbers can make a significant difference after dark.

• An unobstructed location: Keep numbers visible despite landscaping, parked vehicles and seasonal growth. For homes that are difficult to see from the street or have a long driveway, consider a second set of numbers near the driveway entrance, on a post, fence or other clearly visible location. Our local fire-code provisions also address address-number visibility, requiring numbers to be plainly legible and visible from the street and to contrast with their background. Take a moment to look at your home from the street today. If you can’t easily see your address, an emergency responder may have trouble finding you, too.

Five Things to Check

• Can I see my house number from the street?

• Are the numbers at least 4 inches high and easy to read?

• Does the number contrast strongly with its background?

• Can I see the number after dark?

• Are the numbers unobstructed by landscaping, vehicles or decorations?

A clearly visible house number is more than a decorative detail – it’s an important part of making your home easy to find when help is needed.

LPOA ARB-ARC Committee