NH Division of Emergency Services & Communications To Begin Mapping City Addresses on Oct 17

The Portsmouth Police Department announces that the Division of Emergency Services and Communications (DESC) will begin mapping the City of Portsmouth on Tuesday, October 17, 2023.  The purpose is to confirm addresses for the Emergency 911 response system. The crew will carry name badges and drive a white vehicle with an amber light bar. The car doors will be clearly marked with a Department of Safety – Emergency Services seal on the door.  Please make sure you have a clearly posted address number for all residential and commercial buildings. The City ordinance requires that address numbers (including unit designation for all multi-unit structures) must be:

• Visible from the road

• A minimum of (3) inches high for residential structures.

• A minimum of (4) inches high for businesses.

• Placed on, or beside the front door of the building.

• In a contrasting color to the color of the building or front door.

• Placed on a post, fence or tree at the driveway entrance if the house is not visible from the road and placed a minimum of three (3) feet above the road grade and not obstructed by tall grass, snow or any other obstructions.

• Placed in reflective or contrasting material on BOTH sides of rural style mailboxes so they can easily be seen by a fire truck or ambulance approaching from either direction.

• Placed outside the building even if you receive mail at a post office box so you can be easily located by emergency vehicles.