NEWS...
New Municipality Bylaw Strengthens Requirements for All Property Owners
Feb. 25, 2011
At its meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 24, Mississauga City Council enacted the Municipal Address Bylaw to add new measures requiring property owners to ensure addresses are clearly identified for emergency services. Council also approved amendments to the "Assignment of Municipal Addresses" corporate policy to align it with the new Municipal Addresses Bylaw.
"It is imperative the public and staff have a clear, concise and understandable bylaw and operational policy," said Martin Powell, commissioner of Transportation and Works. "Our City's growth and intensification has increased demand for new and reassigned municipal address numbers. Even more important is the need to have street addresses clearly displayed at all times to make sure that no one is at risk when emergency services are called to these addresses."
Powell explained that the new Municipal Address Bylaw replaces the former Building Numbering Bylaw 265-91. Under the new bylaw, property owners must affix and maintain municipal street numbers that are:
• at least six inches high (commercial, industrial, institutional and apartment buildings)
• at least four inches high (residential buildings, not including apartments)
• made of durable material and contrast with the background on which they are mounted
• clearly visible from the nearest municipal roadway
In addition, under the new bylaw, the City may affix or repair the number and recover the expense by adding the cost to the property tax bill where a property owner fails to do so.
Powell added: "Police, ambulance and fire crews are trained to find addresses as quickly as possible. However, they can lose precious time getting to the scene if addresses aren't clearly marked. For everyone's safety, we ask residents and business owners to check that street numbers are easily visible and unobstructed at the front entrance of the building, day and night."