A bylaw requiring the display of a municipal address on residences, businesses and other properties in town was approved by council on Oct. 18.
Bylaw enforcement officer Cam Forbes explained the regulation was created at the request of emergency service providers to help enhance response times.
It requires each building to have a visible address and apartments within a building to be identified by a number or letter. The bylaw sets standards for the size of exterior and interior identifiers.
The bylaw requires that all properties within the Town of Minto that contain a residence, place of business, or permanent structure display an address.
Existing 911 signs on rural properties meet the standard and the bylaw will require maintenance by landowners, Forbes notes in a written report.
“It’s more for the urban centres. Because there’s nothing saying you have to put a number on your house. You don’t have to put a number on your business,” Forbes told council.
“Most often emergency responders find a property easily, but in some cases poor or inadequately addressed buildings can be missed,” the report points out.
“Standardized address numbers make sure first responders get to those in need as quickly as possible. Delays of a few minutes are to be avoided wherever possible.”
“It’s going to make our jobs a lot easier to respond to emergencies,” said Forbes, who is also a Minto volunteer firefighter.
Information on the standards will be posted on the municipal and fire department websites and Forbes said bylaw staff will work with landowners to ensure proper addresses are in place.
No fines planned
While the bylaw does not include provisions for levying fines, Forbes said if necessary the municipality could install the necessary signage and charge the landowner to recover associated costs.
“It’s just a matter of if I notice, or public works or somebody notices this building hasn’t been numbered, a letter goes out to the property owner. But given time if it doesn’t get done the town can go in and do it at [the owner’s] expense,” Forbes explained.
Mayor George Bridge joked that locals should “get a number before we come in and put a terrible looking one on it.”
Councillor Ron Faulkner suggested the town consider landowners be required to purchase standardized identifiers from the municipality.
But Forbes said regulations about size and type of numbers should alleviate any concerns about appearance.
