House-number rule will be enforced Dec. 1
By Melanie Davis
melanie@highcountrymedia.net

Time is running out for Watauga County homeowners to comply with the county’s house-number ordinance.

The ordinance was passed in 1992, with residents receiving notification in 1995. However, compliance has been sparse. A new notification was sent with tax bills this past September. A 90-day grace period has been allowed for homeowners to post the house numbers clearly.

The ordinance states numbers should be at least 3.5 inches tall, reflective and clearly visible within three feet of the home’s front door. If a residence is more than 100 feet from the road, numbers must be posted at the door and the roadway.

The purpose of the ordinance is to assist rescue, fire and police personnel in locating a residence during times of emergency. The lack of visible numbers can cost life-saving minutes when emergency workers are trying to locate a home.

“I would again strongly encourage residents, for their own safety, and that of their family, take the time to properly place house numbers on their homes and business; as an aid to emergency services well before a situation arises and where minutes count, and well before it is too late; where someone is not helped in a timely manner simply because they did not properly place house numbers where emergency personnel can see them,” Sheriff Len Hagaman said.

The Watauga County Planning and Inspections Office has provided the numbers free of charge to assist compliance. The numbers are still available at the planning and inspections office on the second floor of the courthouse annex, all fire departments in the county and at the office of Mountain Times Publications.

Failure to comply is a misdemeanor charge and can result in a $50 fine per day. Enforcement by the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office will begin on Dec. 1, the end of the 90-day grace period.

“The $50 fine would purchase some top-of-the-line house numbers, understanding, however, that they are free for the asking, but I will also judge that the enforcement action will be more of a reactive measure versus proactive. That is to say, that if an officer, or other entity, fire, planning and inspections, rescue squad, or other law enforcement, sees a violation of not properly displaying the numbers that the potential for a citation at that time will be far greater,” Hagaman said.

Any resident unsure of their street address, or for more information on house number regulation, can call Elaine Griffith of the planning and inspections office at (828) 265-8043, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.