AUGUSTA COUNTY DISPLAY OF BUILDING ADDRESS ORDINANCE

VERONA, VA SEPTEMBER 17, 2007:

What is the current law regarding display of building address numbers?
The Augusta County Code states, “it shall be the duty of the owners and occupants of all addressable buildings in Augusta County to display address numbers in a manner that is easily readable from the public or private street.”

Secondary address numbers
If you own a multi-family dwelling or a commercial building containing more than one business, a special section of the Code applies. This section states that “each dwelling in a multi-family residential addressable structure and each business or other entity in a commercial, industrial and institutional building containing more than one business or other entity shall be addressed using secondary unit numbers, regardless of interior and exterior access points.”

Why do I need a visible address number for my building?
The purpose of the County Code is to provide for a uniform countywide system of addressing property. Proper addressing of residential, commercial, and industrial property and the posting of building numbers is necessary for the effectiveness of the County's enhanced 911 system. The E911 system provides a mechanism for a timely response for fire and rescue units and law enforcement agencies. In addition, the address system provides an efficient system for delivering of mail by the Postal Service and provides needed assistance to County businesses and the public in locating addresses throughout the county.

How do I comply with County Code?
Every commercial, industrial, institutional and single-family residential property shall have one primary address per addressable structure. These numbers can be obtained several ways. You may contact the Deerfield Volunteer Fire Department at (540) 939-4521, the Swoope Volunteer Fire Department at (540) 886-5011 or the Mt. Solon Volunteer Fire Departments at (540) 350-2911 to have a building number made. You may visit your local hardware store, purchase the numbers, and place them yourself, provided the address is affixed to the addressable building at the front entrance or other entrance, and clearly visible from the public right-of-way, such as your mailbox. For more information on how to display your building number properly, contact the Community Development Department or visit the Augusta County website at www.co.augusta.va.us. At the County homepage, select “Departments”, then select “County Attorney”, then select “Augusta County Code” and then click on “Chapter 11 – Health and Safety” to find “Display of Building Numbers.”

Enforcement
According to County Code, “No person, firm or corporation shall be found in violation of any provision of this article unless such person, firm or corporation has first received written notice of violation from the Community Development Department and after thirty days from the receipt of said notice remains in violation.”