City of Weirton
Are you able to be found in an emergency?
During an emergency, every second is crucial when emergency personnel are trying to locate an individual in need of help. Incorrect or missing house numbers greatly decrease the response time of emergency personnel. Proper house numbering adds valuable seconds by allowing emergency personnel to locate your home quicker. If you cannot be located, you cannot be helped.
Take a moment and look at the outside of your home. When looking at your home, consider the following:
- Are there numbers on the house indicating your address?
- If so, are the numbers visible and readable?
- Would someone be able to locate your home at night?
- Could emergency personnel locate you and your family in an emergency?
If your answer to any of the questions is “no”, then it is time you take action on properly addressing your home. City of Weirton Police and Fire Departments have encountered numerous homes within the city where there are incorrect or missing house numbers. Sadly, poor house numbering is an issue that plagues many cities and counties. But is something we should be reviewing regularly to ensure our loved ones could be found in time of a crisis.
City of Weirton Code of Ordinances § 912.03 Structure and Location Numbering and Display states the following for residential and apartments:
Residential Structure Identification
- The numbers shall be in Arabic numerals at least four inches in height.
- Should be of a durable, reflective material, and clearly visible from the public right-of-way.
- Residence entrances greater than 50 feet from the public right-of-way or not clearly visible from the public right-of-way, a number shall be placed at the end of a driveway, or property entrance.
- Address numbers are to be contrasting color to the background on which they are mounted.
Apartments and Similar Structures Identification
- Address number assigned to a single building shall be displayed on each assigned structure and shall be six inches in height.
- Numbers and/or letters for individual apartments or units within these complexes must be displayed on, above, or to the side of the main doorway of each apartment or unit and shall be four inches in height.
More information to consider when ensuring your home is properly numbered:
- The numbers should be visible from all directions.
- Ensure there is nothing obstructing the number’s visibility such as trees, bushes or other debris.
- When reflective material is not available, having the numbers well-lit is beneficial.
- Mark your mailbox with numbers in addition to your home. Mailboxes are not always placed in a place emergency personnel can see quickly so do not use your mailbox as the only identifier for your home.
For more information on the City Ordinances relating to premise identification, please visit the City of Weirton at www.cityofweirton.com. When researching our Code of Ordinances, reference City of Weirton Code of Ordinances § 912.03 Structure and Location Numbering and Display, and for our Code Enforcement review section [F] 304.3 Premise identification of the 2015 International Code Council standards, which our Code Enforcement follows.
