Civic Addressing

Why is civic addressing important to 911?

Civic addressing is important for ensuring a more efficient emergency service response by providing a unique way to quickly and easily identify the location of an emergency.

The 911 Division is collecting civic addressing data from Municipalities and Local Service Districts for the ongoing development and future use of the Next Generation 911 (NG911) system.

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Is there a timeline for communities to provide civic address data to the 911 Division?

There is no required timeline for the submission of this data to the 911 Division. However, communities will not be able to avail of the NG911 service unless civic address data is provided to the 911 Division. Basic 911 service will continue to be available in areas where the 911 Division has no civic addressing until such time that the civic address data is provided to the 911 Division and updated in the NG911 database.

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How does the 911 Division want the map to be completed by the community?

The 911 Division will need a civic number for each block identified on the provided map. This number should correspond with the civic number displayed on the building (or supposed to be displayed). Each block on the map represents a residence, business, or community building. All information also needs to be updated on the corresponding spreadsheet to match the map data.

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There are errors or missing information on the map that I received from the 911 Division. What do I do with these?

If you notice any errors on your map (e.g. one of the blocks is a shed or there is a newly built house missing), please make these corrections on the map; put an “x” through anything mistaken and draw in any missing data, houses, roads, etc. If there are any roads that are named incorrectly or are labeled as “unknown”, please include the correct name. Update the information on the corresponding spreadsheet.

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Is the municipal assessment roll adequate information for submission to the 911 Division?

If your municipal assessment roll includes all properties within your community and their civic address, then yes, it is an adequate source of information. However, the map portion of the submission is still required to be completed and sent back to the 911 Division for the development of the NG911 system to identify the location of each address.

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Will the 911 Division require the names of the residents/property owners?

No. The 911 Division does not require the name of any resident or property owner. However, home phone numbers, if available (landline only), would be of great benefit to support the 911 Division process for confirmation of data to meet standards required for NG911 eligibility.

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Is the submission of this information mandatory by a community?

No, it is not mandatory to submit your civic address information to the 911 Division. All Municipalities and Local Service Districts have authoritative rights to civic addressing data in their areas.

Civic addressing data is required for the operation of an NG911 service. Communities that do not submit civic addressing data will not be able to avail themselves of the benefits of an NG911 service and will remain on the Basic 911 service as it exists today.

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How long will it take after the civic addressing data submission is provided to the 911 Division for the data to be in the NG911 database and the NG911 service to be available?

The 911 Division has to follow a workflow and quality assurance process for adding community data to the NG911 database, which can take some time. Once communities have submitted their data, they will be added to our NG911 implementation project plan, and their data will be added to the NG911 database in order of receipt. This process can take years to complete, so it is recommended to get your data to the 911 Division as soon as possible.

The NG911 service implementation date for Newfoundland and Labrador will be determined by the CRTC when all requirements have been identified. The 911 Division is working to obtain as much civic addressing data as possible to ensure as many communities as possible can access the NG911 service once it is implemented.

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What if our community has not received the 911 Division package requesting civic addressing data?

The 911 Division has sent data request packages to all communities that have confirmed to the 911 Division that they have civic addressing in place in their community. If your community has not received the civic addressing data request package, please email 911info@gov.nl.ca to obtain details related.

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What if our community received a request package from the 911 Division, but we have a GIS file available to provide?

If your community has a GIS file available that includes civic addressing data, please email 911info@gov.nl.ca or call (709) 758-0051 to discuss.

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I don’t have a civic number assigned to my house. How can I get one?

If your community council has authority, civic addressing and the assignment of numbers and local road names are administered through your local policies and bylaws. Your council also provides notification of address assignments and any changes as a result of renaming or renumbering.

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How do I find out what my civic address is?

In Municipalities and Local Service Districts, the community council/committee has authority over the assignment of numbers and local road names through local policies and bylaws. Check with your community council/committee on the civic number assigned to your property.

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I live in an unincorporated area. How do I get a civic address?

The authority for civic addressing is with Municipalities and Local Service Districts under the Towns and Local Service Districts Act. Unincorporated areas do not fall under the Act regulations.

Some unincorporated areas use an existing committee (i.e. recreation committee or cabin owners association) to assign civic addressing for the purpose of emergency response. The 911 Division will accept this civic addressing data for the purpose of the ongoing development and future use of the NG911 system. If interested, please contact the 911 Division for more information on general civic addressing guidelines that can be used to implement addressing in these areas.

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My address is wrong in Google Maps. How can I correct it?

The 911 Division does not maintain the information within Google Maps. Corrections can be submitted directly to Google by providing product feedback within the Google Maps application. When using a desktop version of Google Maps, a “Send Product Feedback” link can be found in the lower right corner. On a mobile device, use the “Contribute” link in the Google Maps App.

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What is a civic address?

A civic address is a standardized, unique identifier assigned to a physical building or property, consisting of a civic number, street name, and community name. In areas that have civic addressing, civic numbers should be clearly visible from the road to ensure that fire, police, and ambulance services can quickly locate a residence and/or business in an emergency. In Newfoundland and Labrador, Municipalities and Local Service Districts are the authorities for assigning civic addresses.

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Are there other ways for a community to submit civic addressing data to the 911 Division besides filling out the maps?

Yes, the 911 Division has partnerships with third-party entities that may be able to assist. Please email 911info@gov.nl.ca or call (709) 758-0051 to discuss.

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