September 11, 2003

MECKLENBURG COUNTY TO BEGIN ENFORCING NEW ADDRESS NUMBER RULES

Charlotte, NC - When you call 911, you expect a police officer or firefighter to respond to your house as quickly as possible. But if he or she can't see your house number, emergency response can be slowed, possibly putting lives at risk.

On October 1, 2003, Mecklenburg County Land Use & Environmental Services Agency will begin enforcing changes to the City of Charlotte code that mandate larger address numbers on residential and commercial properties inside the City limits.

Single-family residential: The rules change the required size of residential address numbers from 3 inches to 4 inches. The new rules match the North Carolina international fire code requirement.

Multi-family, commercial and institutional: These properties must show an address with numbers at least 4 inches high, or one 1-inch in height for every 10 feet of distance between the displayed number and the centerline of the road. The number would not exceed 30 inches high.

Existing addresses will not be affected by these changes unless the fire marshal determines that they aren't adequately legible from the road. These changes will not only improve emergency response but will also improve navigation of all vehicles trying to find a specific address.

Citizens with questions about the new rules regarding address number height can call Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement's Residential Technical Answer Center at 704-432-RTAC (7822).