Emergency crews urge you to have clearly marked house numbers

In an emergency, Cheyenne Fire Rescue, the Cheyenne Police Department, and American Medical Response depend on your house numbers to find you as quickly as possible. Finding your home, especially at night, can be challenging if address numbers are unreadable, hidden, unlighted or have missing numbers.

“By not having readable numbers, this could delay first responders in getting to you quickly,” said Greg Hoggatt, Cheyenne Fire Rescue Chief. “If you can’t see your house numbers from the street, neither can first responders.”

Ask yourself this:

• Are your house numbers visible from the street?

• Are they set on a background of contrasting colors?

• If your house is hidden from the street, are your numbers attached to a visible fence, mailbox, or gate?

• Is your mobile home identified with your house number?

• If you live on a corner, does your house number face the street named in your address?

If you said no to any of these questions, you need to make your house numbers easier to read. City of Cheyenne code reads:

• The street address shall be legible and placed in a position that is visible from the street or road that is in front of the property. Address numbers shall be block numbers and not spelled out.

• Numbers shall not be less than four inches high with a minimum width of one-half inch.

• House numbers should be placed on contrasting background.

Here are additional recommendations to make sure your house address can be easily seen:

• Repair or replace aging address numbers placards, especially on mailboxes that are a distance from the front of the residence.

• Prune any bushes, tree limbs or other growth that has covered your house number.

• Numbers should be placed beside the front door. If your door is not easily seen from the street put the numbers on a post, a fence, or other sign or means so your address can be clearly seen from the street.

“It’s important to keep your address well lit. If your outside light is next to the door, but your address is over the garage, install a second light,” said Brian Kozak, Chief of Police. “Try to keep your address numbers a contrasting color from the background. A brown painted number against a brown wall is tough for first responders to see.”

If you have questions about address visibility concerns, call Cheyenne Fire Rescue at 307-637-6311.