05/30/2026
π Is Your House Number Clearly Visible from the Street?
Seconds Count in an Emergency
When firefighters, police officers, or paramedics are responding to your home, every second matters. Clear, visible house numbers help us find you fast β day or night.
Why It Matters
β’ Large, visible numbers help emergency responders locate your home quickly.
β’ A visitor, child, or injured person may not be able to give accurate directions.
β’ Mutualβaid responders from neighboring communities may be unfamiliar with your area.
β’ Proper numbering protects your family, your property, and your neighbors.
Make Your Address Easy to Find
β’ Use numbers at least 4 inches tall, facing the street.
β’ Place numbers under lighting and use a contrasting background for nighttime visibility.
β’ Always use your official Eβ911 address.
β’ Use numbers mounted on your residence in a location unobstructed by bushes or winter snowfall, and clearly facing the street.
β’ Long driveway? Post your number on both sides of a mailbox or sign at the road.
β’ Keep numbers clear by trimming bushes, branches, and overgrowth.
π Now That We Can Find Youβ¦ Can Emergency Vehicles Access Your Driveway?
Long driveways and private roads must be maintained so fire trucks, ambulances, and police vehicles can reach your home quickly and safely. Overgrown brush, lowβhanging limbs, rocks, and narrow passages can delay or even prevent our response.
To ensure emergency vehicles can access your driveway when needed:
β’ Maintain a clear path 14 feet wide and 12 feet high.
β’ Remove lowβhanging branches β they can damage ambulances and fire trucks.
β’ Clear brush, stumps, and rocks from the sides of the driveway.
β’ Keep the roadway wide enough for large vehicles to pass safely.
π A Quick Nighttime Test
Next time youβre driving through Essex at night, notice how easy it is to see reflective street numbers on mailboxes.
Now imagine youβve called 911 at night:
β’ Is your house number easy to see?
β’ Do you have numbers posted at the end of your driveway?
β’ Is your mailbox marked with reflective numbers?
β’ Is your driveway wide and clear enough for fire apparatus?
Help the Essex Fire and Police Departments find you quickly in an emergency.
Itβs the Law
Massachusetts General Law Chapter 148, Section 59 requires every building to have clearly visible address numbers posted.
Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us keep our community safe.