More than 2,600 address changes made within the Dalton city limits as part of the Whitfield County Address Relocation Project will go into effect on November 15th. If you’ve received notification that your address is being changed, it’s important to change the numbers on your building and mailboxes immediately to help emergency personnel to find your location quickly in the event of an emergency.
In accordance with the City of Dalton Address Ordinance (Sec 98) and Section 505.1 of the International Fire Code, new addresses must be displayed on your mailbox and your structure using reflective lettering at least 4 inches in height. If your structure is more than 50 feet off of the roadway, or it is not visible from the roadway, a sign must be put near the roadway near the entrance to your property with your address information. This sign must be at least 18 inches in height and use letters and numbers no less than 4 inches in height. Make sure that the numbers and letters on your structure are easily visible from the roadway, even in the dark, because that’s how they’ll need to be viewed by police, fire, or EMS in the event of an emergency. It is recommended that your house numbers should be visible from at least 150 feet, and they should not be obscured by plants or other blockages. They should be in contrasting color to the color scheme of the building. Remember, seconds count, and having your address displayed improperly could cause delays in emergency response.
In addition, in the event of an emergency, if you are calling 911 and have had your address changed, it’s important to make sure the 911 operator knows that you’ve had an address change and provide the operator with your new address. Be prepared to provide your old address if asked.
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