FIRE & RESCUE
Address Signs & Access Guidelines
Can emergency responders find your address?
Help emergency responders find your home quickly and easily.
In an emergency, every second counts. Port Ludlow Fire & Rescue urges citizens to post their addresses clearly. Please consider the viewpoint of the driver of an emergency vehicle such as a fire engine or police vehicle. Would the driver be able to read your home address numbers - perhaps in the dark, in the wintertime - all while approaching quickly?
What Jefferson County requires—
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All emergency identification signs shall be uniform: red with white reflective digits and/or letters.
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The signs shall be double-faced, showing the number on two sides.
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The sign shall be displayed where the property's or structure's access intersects with the road.
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The sign shall be posted three feet above the roadway and positioned so the numbers can be seen from both directions.
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It may be necessary on long driveways containing multiple intersections to place additional identification signs to better facilitate an emergency response. In this event the public works department will work with the fire district to determine the number of signs required and their posting locations.
In all cases, buildings shall have approved address numbers, building numbers or approved building identification placed in a position that is plainly legible and visible from the street or road fronting the property. You can purchase signs through:
Jefferson County Department of Community Development
621 Sheridan St.
Port Townsend, WA 98368
(360) 379-4450
What you can do—
You can help emergency responders locate your house by following these simple steps:
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Large Numbers
Post your numbers so they can be seen easily from the road.
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Near the Road
If the building is not clearly visible from the road, post numbers closer to the road near the driveway entrance.
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Visible from all Directions
Post your numbers as many times as necessary so your address is visible from all directions traffic may approach.
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On Shared Driveways
If the driveway serves more than one address number, post all numbers at the driveway entrance, and also post the appropriate number at each driveway fork and on the specific building to which it is assigned.
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Clear Vegetation
Trim bushes and trees to keep numbers visible.
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Clear Visual Obstructions
Be sure to move hanging flower baskets, wood piles, tarps, flags, wind socks, parked vehicles, etc., out from in front of your numbers.
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During Construction
If you remove your numbers due to construction or painting of your building, temporarily post your numbers elsewhere, making sure they're still visible from the road.