• What is the Civic Addressing Project?
• What is a civic address?
• What sort of information is collected?
• How is civic address information collected?
  How does a field team calculate the location of a building?
• Who will use this information?
• Is there a law that says I have to post my civic number?
• How do I find out -- or confirm -- what my civic number is?
• Where can I get a civic number sign? How much will it cost?
• How will I know the field teams when I see them?
• Will the field teams need to talk to me?
• Is this work part of the E911 recovery fee?
• How can I get more information?
• Tips about posting your civic address numbers

Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations is working with your municipality and other provincial government agencies – including the Emergency Measures Organization (EMO), Emergency Health Services (EHS), Elections Nova Scotia, the Department of Transportation and Public Works (TPW) and First Nations communities – on a province-wide initiative called the Civic Address Project.

Our objective is to collect accurate information that is used to map the location of roads, homes, businesses and other facilities across the province.

What is a civic address?

Your civic address is the number, street or road name, community and county assigned to residential, commercial, institutional and industrial buildings (e.g. 31 Main St., Stonehouse, Cumberland County).

What sort of information is collected?

Civic Address field technicians periodically validate geographic information. Essentially, they collect your posted address, reference coordinates and other data required to pinpoint your civic address. This information is used to plot addresses on computerized maps.

Communities keep the information up-to-date, adding new roads and buildings as need be.

How is civic address information collected?
How does a field team calculate the location of a building or road?

With newer buildings, the exact ground position needs to be determined. First, the field teams (technicians) determine the position of their vehicle, using global positioning system (GPS) technology. GPS interprets satellite signals to identify a location on the ground. Then a service technician points a rangefinder, similar to a radar gun, at the building to determine its distance from the vehicle. The technician can then calculate the building’s reference coordinates.

Although it usually takes just a few minutes to plot and record coordinates, field teams may be driving their vehicles slowly along sections of roads as they gather civic information.

Who will use this information?

The biggest beneficaries are citizens and communities across the province because emergency response services (police, fire, ambulance) have much more accurate computerized maps for the Emergency 911 system. Federal, provincial and municipal government agencies need accurate civic address information to plan and deliver services. Private companies use the information to schedule courier deliveries, trace parcels, locate service vehicles or school buses, and a variety of other needs.

Is there a law that says I have to post my civic number?

Some municipalities have civic addressing by-laws outlining the responsibilities of property owners. The Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) and some other municipalities are reviewing by-laws that could make posting your civic address mandatory. In the meantime, property owners are encouraged to voluntarily post a civic number sign.

How do I find out -- or confirm -- what my civic number is?

You should contact your local municipal office. You can also contact the Emergency Measures Organization, toll-free, at 1-800-388-3911.

Where can I get a civic number sign? How much will it cost?

Volunteer fire departments and other community groups throughout the province are promoting the use of a reflective blue sign with white numbers. This type of sign, however, is optional.

• You should contact these organizations in your area for information about availability and cost of civic number signs.
• Local hardware stores are another potential source of signs or numbers.
• If you run into problems or have any other questions, contact your municipal office.

How will I know the field teams when I see them?

Each vehicle has a Civic Address Project sign. Each field technician carries photo ID and Civic Address information brochures that describe the civic address initiative.

Will the field teams need to talk to me?

Probably not, but feel free to approach them if you have any questions about what they’re doing.

Yes. The Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) is a partner in this project and some of the Civic Addressing Project’s funding comes from this fee. For more information concerning this fee, call EMO toll free at 1-800-288-3911.

Contact your municipal office.

Here are some tips about posting your civic address numbers:

• Use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3…).
• Put your numbers at least 1.2 m (48 inches) from the ground, clearly visible from the roadway. If your building is far from the roadway, post your numbers on a sign within 5 m (15 feet) of the road.
• Use numbers that contrast with the background colour of your building or sign (white numbers on a black or blue background are easy to read).
• If your civic number sign (either on the building or on a post) is within 15 m (50 feet) of the roadway, the numbers should not be less than 65 mm (2˝ inches) tall.
• If your civic number sign (either on the building or on a post) is more than 15 m (50 feet) from the roadway, the numbers should not be less than 100 mm (4 inches) tall.
• If you're unsure about your civic number, contact your municipal office. Or call the Emergency Measures Organization, toll-free, at 1-800-388-3911.