Message from the Chief – House Number Visibility

The Fire Chief would like to remind everyone, that when seconds count, locating your house quickly is important.  It’s a scary thought that in an emergency, if the Responders cannot find you, vital time is lost.  Emergency Services do struggle with finding numbers from a street view and it is highly difficult to see at night.

Please, HELP us by making sure your House Number is Visible from the street.

Some common questions and suggestions regarding House Numbers:

  • Q: What is the best size for house numbers?  A: The number should be at least four inches tall if displayed on a house or sign.
  • Q: What colors are best? The color of the numbers should be in sharp contrast to their background.   White on Black or Black on White is an ideal combination of colors when displaying the number on the house, mailbox, or post.  Brass or bronze numbers should be avoided – they don’t offer optimum visibility at night.
  • Q: Where should you put your house numbers? A:  The house number should be visible from the road or street in front of the The house number sign should be placed on the side of the house that faces the road. If the house is too far from the road, the house number should be displayed on the mailbox.

Basic Guidelines:  A house number should be visible from whatever thoroughfare is used to approach your home.  If your home is not visible from the street due to distance or vegetation, the house number should be mounted near the street on a post or fence.

Watch this short 3-minute YouTube video created by the Briarcliff Manor Rotary for more information.