By Helena Forbes, Community Development Department Manager

Take a moment and step outside your residence. Is your address clearly visible and easy to read from the street? Is it obscured by bushes and/or branches overdue for trimming? Is t here a chance the address might be obscured by a parked vehicle?

Now, do the driving test at night and objectively observe. Is your address clearly visible and easy to read from the street? When it is dark could emergency rescue crews easily locate your house?

In either situation, if it took you some time to find your house number, you can be sure that in an emergency situation, police officers, firefighters and paramedics will also have trouble locating your residence.
Knowing how crucial emergency response time is, precious seconds lost while looking for hidden or hard-to-read address numbers could mean the difference between life and death.

For those whose residence is on the water, the same questions can be asked: Is your address clearly visible and easy to read from the water? Is it easy to read at night?

Because of the concern for the safety of you and your family, and to help you establish an address that is clearly visible from the street or waterway, the City has established the following rules:

The numbers in  your address should measure no less than four (4) but no more than ten (10) inches high
The numbers should be placed by the front door or house wall, mail box, on a dock, seawall, or a separate post adjacent to the waterway, and, for even better visibility, mounted over a contrasting color background,.
If possible, place your address near a light.

From a moving vehicle, numbers are easier to read than numbers that are spelled out, for example, 612 versus Six Hundred Twelve.

Always maintain your address signs and make sure you replace any fallen or missing digits. Ask your friends and neighbors if they find your address easy to read.

Keep in mind that if you called 911 because of an emergency (fire, medical, accident or hazardous situation) you would want the emergency rescue crew to be able to find your home as quickly as possible, by land or by water.
Although permits are not required for this type of sign, the City’s Community Development Department staff is available to assist you with this project during office hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sunny Isles Beach Government Center, Third Floor, 18070 Collins Avenue or by telephone at (305) 792-1705.
Remember the importance of posting an address that is easy to read.

We thank you for your cooperation on this matter and once again offer our assistance.