Show your numbers

“The problem is that there’s been no consistency in the look of the civic numbers or where they’re posted,” says the Municipality of Digby’s chief administrative officer Linda Fraser.

That’s about to change.

The municipality has passed a bylaw that requires rural property owners to have two-sided signs bearing white numbers on a reflective blue background. Signs are to be 10 centimetres (four inches) in height.

The bylaw also defines the position of the sign, to make it easier for emergency vehicle operators to spot it.

The civic number sign must be posted near the roadside, on the same side of the road as the use for which the civic number was assigned.

The sign must be 2.4 metres (7.9 feet) to 3.0 metres (9.8 feet) from the closest edge of the road.

There are also height restrictions: the signs should be at least 1.2 metres (3.93 feet) and no more than 1.8 metres (5.9 feet) above the ground.

Firefighter Adrien LeBlanc is one of many happy to see the new regulations.

“It can be really hard to see the civic number when it’s posted on a building instead of at the road,” he said.

The only situation where it will still be permissible to have the number on a building rather than at roadside is if the building is within six metres (19.7 feet) of the roadside. In this case, the number must be clearly visible from both directions.

The new bylaw takes effect May 1, but Fraser said property owners have a year to comply with the new regulations. She hopes they will make the change sooner rather than later.

“It’s really all about safety and well-being,” she notes.

Digby fire department is selling two-sided signs for $18.24 tax included.