To get an address for a new property, apply to your local city or county addressing authority with proof of ownership, your parcel number, and a site plan showing where the building and driveway will sit. Simple residential assignments usually come back in a few business days to two weeks; more complex requests, like properties on unnamed roads or new subdivisions, can take four to six weeks or longer.
Which Office to Contact
Address assignment is a local government function. If your property sits inside city limits, the city handles it. If you’re in an unincorporated area, the county does. The specific department varies. Some jurisdictions route addressing through Planning and Zoning, others through Public Works, and some have a standalone addressing office. In rural counties, the 911 coordinator or GIS department often runs the show, because accurate addresses exist primarily to get emergency responders to the right place.
The fastest way to find the right office is to search your city or county name plus “address assignment,” or call the general government line and ask. Don’t assume the building department handles it just because you’re also pulling construction permits. Addressing and permitting are usually separate processes run by separate offices, and many jurisdictions require an assigned address before they’ll issue a building permit at all.
Documents You’ll Need
Gather these before you start the application:
- Proof of ownership: a recorded deed, land contract, or purchase agreement showing you own or are acquiring the property.
- Parcel identification: the Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) and legal description from your deed or tax records.
- Site plan: a drawing showing property boundaries, the proposed building location, driveways, and the primary entrance relative to the street. Some jurisdictions accept a hand-drawn plan; others want something prepared by a surveyor or engineer. The addressing office can tell you which level of detail they require.
- Subdivision plat, if applicable: the recorded plat map showing how the land was divided and any new streets.
- Proposed use: whether the property will be residential, commercial, or mixed-use affects how addresses and unit numbers are assigned.
A professional land survey is not always required for a simple address assignment, but if your property lacks clear boundary markers or you’re subdividing land, you’ll likely need one.
How to Apply and What It Costs
Most addressing offices offer a one- or two-page application form on the city or county website or at the office in person. Fill it out with your parcel number, property location, proposed use, and contact information, then attach your supporting documents. Submission options vary and commonly include online portals, email, mail, and walk-in drop-off.
Fees for a straightforward single-address assignment are modest in most places, often under $50. Costs climb when street naming is involved or when the request covers a multi-lot subdivision. Some jurisdictions charge no fee at all for a simple residential address. Fees are typically non-refundable regardless of the outcome, so make sure your documents are complete before you submit.
How Long It Takes
Simple residential address assignments in established neighborhoods with existing streets are often processed within a few business days to two weeks. More complex requests, such as properties on newly created streets or large subdivisions requiring multiple addresses, can take four to six weeks or longer. If the addressing office finds issues with your site plan or needs additional documentation, the clock resets when you resubmit.
You cannot request a specific number. The addressing authority assigns it based on a grid tied to a baseline, the location of your driveway on the road, and the numbers already in use around you. Odd numbers fall on one side of the street and even numbers on the other. Once your address is assigned, you’ll receive written confirmation by letter, email, or through an online portal. Hold onto that document. You’ll need it for building permits, utilities, and mail delivery.
When the Road Has No Official Name
If your property fronts a road that doesn’t already have an official name, you’ll need to go through a street-naming process before an address can be assigned. This comes up most often with new subdivisions, private roads serving multiple parcels, and long driveways that local codes treat as private roads once they serve more than a few homes.
Street naming typically requires a separate petition or application, and it’s more involved than a standard address request. Expect to submit a scaled site plan showing the road and all parcels it serves. Most jurisdictions review the proposed name against existing street names to prevent duplicates that could confuse emergency responders. Some require notarized consent from a supermajority of property owners who front the road. Fees for street-naming petitions run higher than basic address assignments.
After Your Address Is Assigned
With the assignment in hand, work through the practical steps that make the address functional.
Utilities. Contact electricity, water, gas, and internet providers to set up service. Some utilities require the official address assignment letter before they’ll open an account.
Building permits. If you haven’t already, submit your address to the building department. Many jurisdictions won’t issue construction permits without an assigned address on file.
Mail delivery. You don’t need to register the address with USPS yourself. Local governments report newly assigned addresses to the Postal Service for inclusion in delivery routes.1USPS. How to Report New Construction and Street Address Information to USPS There can be a lag between local assignment and USPS activating delivery, particularly for new construction in areas without established routes. If mail isn’t arriving after a few weeks, call your local post office and confirm the address has been added. The carrier may need to verify that a mailbox is installed and accessible before delivery starts. A change-of-address form only redirects mail from a previous address; it does not activate delivery to a new property.2United States Postal Service. United States Postal Service – Standard Forward Mail and Change of Address
911 database. The addressing authority typically updates the 911 database as part of the assignment, but gaps between addressing offices and GIS data systems are a known problem and addresses sometimes fail to make it into dispatch systems promptly.3National 911 Program. Current Status of 911 Geographic Information Systems Technologies Call your local non-emergency number and ask them to confirm your address appears in the dispatch system.
Insurance and property records. Update your homeowner’s insurance policy, property tax records, and any existing permits to reflect the new address.
Posted numbers on the property. Virtually every jurisdiction requires you to display your address number so it’s visible from the street. The International Building Code, adopted in some form by most U.S. jurisdictions, sets a baseline: numbers at least four inches tall with a half-inch stroke width, on a contrasting background, plainly visible from the road. Many local fire departments require larger numbers, and if your structure sits far from the road or is hidden by landscaping, you may need to post the address on a sign at the end of the driveway. Check your local fire code for the exact requirements. A missing or unreadable number can result in a code violation and delay emergency response.
If you later discover the assigned address contains an error or creates confusion with a neighboring property, contact the addressing authority to request a correction. Changes after the initial assignment are possible but involve more paperwork, and you’ll need to notify every service provider and government office again once the correction goes through.