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Addressing

Every second counts! In an emergency, a visible address sign saves time & lives.

Rural areas and island communities often lack visible house number signage at driveway entrances leading to delay and confusion for emergency first responders when every second counts.

Help emergency responders locate your property by having your civic address clearly visible on your home or at the end of your driveway.

A civic address is a unique identifier for individual developed properties and is the primary identification for residences. An undeveloped lot is not typically addressed until development is underway.  Your civic address is the primary physical feature used by emergency responders when locating the source of an emergency call. Displaying clear, visible signage at the start of a driveway or at each residence is essential to ensuring timely response of emergency personnel.

The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) is the issuing authority for civic addressing and works with the North Island 9-1-1 Corporation to establish accurate and sequential house numbering.

The SRD civic addressing information is shared with a large list of third parties including emergency agencies (RCMP, BC Ambulance, local firehalls and 9-1-1- dispatch) and others (BC Assessment, Land Titles Authority, Canada Post, BC Hydro, etc.).

Tips on Proper Addressing

There are 7 guidelines for making your address sign visible:

  1. Ensure address numbers are, at minimum, 4 inches tall and 0.5 inches wide. Larger = Legible = Better.
  2. Use contrasting colors so that the numbers stand out from the background
  3. Use reflective material or lighting so numbers are visible at night.
  4. Ensure the address sign is visible from both travel directions.
  5. Attach signs to a post or tree within 3 metres of the road (not to street or highway signs).
  6. Make sure the sign is high enough for drivers to see (higher than snowbanks, brush or other obstructions).
  7. On corner lots, post the sign on the road to which your address is assigned (not on the other road, even if you have access from that road).

SHARE YOUR ADDRESS SIGN – CONTEST

Congratulations to the Winners of the SRD Addressing Campaign! A big thank you to everyone who participated and helped highlight how essential clear and accurate addressing is for our region.

SRD held a fun contest during the summer of 2024, inviting residents to show off their new address signs! To enter, participants simply had to install an address sign, snap a photo of it, and submit it along with their name and mailing address for a chance to win a surprise gift delivered to their doorstep. Five lucky winners were selected randomly, each receiving a surprise prize, valued at $50, delivered to their door.

Remember: prizes can only be delivered if your civic address is clearly visible! Proper address signage helps ensure timely deliveries.

Q&A

What is a civic address?

A civic address is a unique identifier for occupied dwellings as assigned by a local authority to ensure consistency and sequencing of numbers based on existing addressing grids. A civic address consists of a number, sometimes with a unit number, and the street name used as the primary access to the dwelling.

How can I confirm my civic address?

Only your official civic address should be displayed. Before installing new signage, residents are encouraged to confirm their address. You can do this in two ways:

  • Regional resident (NOT in City of CR): Go HERE >
    • Use search (top, left) > select address from drop-down > type in address > select record > confirm location.
  • City of CR resident: Go HERE >
    • I Want To… > Search by Address
  • Not working? Email SRD’s geographic information systems (GIS) staff at gis@srd.ca and provide them with the address number you use and ask them to confirm if it is a civic address. If you are able to provide a PID or tax folio number, this would be helpful.

In some cases, it may be found that a property does not yet have a civic address. In these cases, SRD’s GIS staff will provide information on how the property owner can apply for and receive a new civic address. There are no direct costs for addressing requests.

How are civic addresses assigned?

When a building permit is applied for through the Strathcona Regional District or property development begins, the GIS department assigns a civic address to enable new power connections and to ensure emergency agencies can find the property. The GIS department uses an existing regional addressing grid to ensure addressing is assigned in convention with best practices like even/odd numbers on opposing street sides and increasing/decreasing numbers sequentially. Address data is shared from the local authority to emergency agencies (RCMP, BC Ambulance, 911, firehalls) and necessary third parties (BC Assessment, Land Titles, Canada Post, BC Hydro, etc.)

ADDRESS GRIDS

CONTACT

Questions? We’re here to help. Please contact SRD’s GIS Department at 250-830-6721  |   gis@srd.ca