Codes and Regulations

  1. Address Posting
  2. Smoke Alarms 
  3. Knox Box Information
  4. Open Burning 
  5. Fire Hydrants
  6. Signage
  7. Vacant Buildings

Can Emergency Personnel Find You in Your Time of Emergency?

Valuable time may be lost trying to locate your home or business. For your safety, a Premise Identification Ordinance was created so emergency responders can locate your property in the event of a fire, medical, or other emergency.

What are the Requirements for Posting My Address?

  1. Persons having ownership or custody of buildings are responsible for posting and maintaining address numbers in accordance with the Fire Prevention Code.
  2. The design, style, and shape of address numbers must render them easily readable from the street, day or night. The numbers must contrast with the background and be separate from the mailbox.
  3. Where conditions (shadows, overgrown vegetation, building location, etc) adversely affect the legibility of numbers, larger numbers may be required.
  4. In some circumstances, addresses may be required to be posted adjacent to driveways, alleys, walkways, or other access ways.
  5. Addresses must be temporarily posted for a structure under construction, as soon as work commences on the property. The numbers shall be permanently posted in accordance with the Fire Prevention Code prior to the final building inspection.
  6. Address numbers shall be Arabic numerals or alphabet letter. Numbers shall not be spelled out.
  7. Addresses shall be posted within 3 feet of the main entrance. If the structure is more than 75 feet from the street or not visible from the street, then remote address signs shall be posted within 10 feet of the street and within 5 feet of either side of the driveway to the building, structure, or property and must be visible from either direction of travel along the main roadway. Remote address signs shall be at least 6-inches wide and 18-inches long, with 3-inch high reflective numbers.
  8. Where more than 2 structures are addressed on a road or driveway, each driveway shall be posted (with a directional arrow, if needed) with its own address number.
  9. Any 1 or 2-family dwelling that displays numbers designating the address prior to February 1, 2005 that are at least 3-inches high, shall comply with the size requirement of the Fire Prevention Code as long as they remain in place.
  10. Where a structure / dwelling unit shares a common entry or driveway, numbers must designate the addresses in sequence.
  11. Monumental signage - Non-residential properties shall have the address or address range incorporated into any new or modified monumental property signage. The numbers shall be no less than 6-inches high and visible from either direction of travel.
  12. The street name may be incorporated into the signage to further aid in premise identification.
  13. Street signs - When a sign is replaced or a new sign installed, the owner, property manager or Home Owners Association (HOA) must cause the hundred block of the address to be displayed on each sign erected / maintained.
  14. Green reflective mailbox signs - These may be purchased online at www.interstate911.com (800-344-0528) or they may be purchased from the following fire companies:
    • Brunswick Ambulance Company - 301-834-8102
    • Carroll Manor Volunteer Fire Company - 301-874-5111
    • Emmitsburg Ambulance Company - 301-447-6626
    • Lewistown Volunteer Fire Company - 301-898-9988
    • Libertytown Volunteer Fire Company - 301-898-9193
    • Middletown Volunteer Fire Company - 301-371-6907
    • Rocky Ridge Volunteer Fire Company - 301-271-2666
    • Woodsboro Volunteer Fire Company - 301-898-5100

What Size Do the Address Numbers and Letters Need to Be?

Residential / CommercialNumbers & Letters Size
One and two-family dwellings
  • 4-inches high (front of structure in accordance with above)
Multifamily residential structures
  • 6-inches high on the front of the structure
  • 2-1/2 inches high for the individual unit numbers - must be displayed on, above, or beside the unit doorway
Commercial / industrial properties
  • 8-inches high on the front of the structure
  • 6-inches high on rear access doors
  • 2-1/2 inches high on all interior tenant spaces such as malls, office buildings, etc.

What Happens if I Do Not Comply With the Ordinance?

Failure to comply with the Premise Identification Ordinance is considered a civil fire code infraction and is punishable by a $25 fine. A fine may be imposed upon any person responsible for a civil fire code infraction for each violation. Each day such violation is permitted to exist shall be considered a separate infraction.

Questions about address posting? Please contact the office of the Fire Marshal at 301-600-1479.