The Los Angeles Fire Department offers this guideline to clarify the legal requirements to post and maintain proper address numbers for all building owners. Compliance with these requirements will ensure that emergency responders will be able to readily identify the location of an emergency.
General Requirements
- Persons having ownership or custody of buildings are responsible for posting address numbers.
- The design, style, and shape of address numbers must render them easily readable from the street. Numbers must contrast with background.
- In cases where conditions (shadows, overgrown vegetation, building location,etc.) adversely affect the legibility of numbers, the Department has the authority to prescribe larger numbers.
- Addresses may be required to be posted adjacent to driveways, alleys, walkways, or other access ways.
Specific Requirements
The height of any numeral or letter must be 2 inches taller than 1/10 of the setback distance measured in feet, expressed in inches.
Example
To determine height of numerals or letters:
Distance from structure to street: 30 feet
1/10 of 30 feet = 3 feet
Convert feet to inches = 3 inches
Add 2 inches = 5 inches tall.
To determine width of numerals or letters:
Divide height by 2 = 2-1/2 inches wide.
To determine the required width of any stroke:
Divide height by 10 = 1/2 Inch.
