How to Get an Address for a New House

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Building a new house is exciting, but the details involved can become overwhelming. Start checking items off your list early in the building process so there's no stress when the house is finally complete. It sometimes takes several weeks for the city or county to process your address request. Most utility companies need a valid address assigned to your home before they can come out and run lines or turn on your utilities, so start at the beginning of your building project to avoid building delays.

Step 1

Contact your local government to determine which department handles new house addresses. It could be the building and zoning department, the geographic information systems department, or, such as in Washington, D.C., the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs. If your new house is inside city limits, the city likely provides your street address. Outside city limits, it's likely the county's job to give you your new address.

Step 2

Ask how far along construction on your house must be before you can apply for a new address. It often takes two to four weeks to establish an address because most local governments perform a site visit to measure before assigning a street number. Some municipalities need a graded lot with a clearly marked driveway to provide an address, while others want at least the framing of the home complete. Others prefer you apply at the same time as you building permit application, before construction begins.

Step 3

Visit the correct department's website or office to find the new address application form and list of necessary attachments. Each local government has different attachment requirements, so review the list carefully.

Step 4

Complete the application and make copies of the requested documentation, which often include a lot number, site plan, floor plan, a map of the immediate area that shows nearby cross streets and a document describing the current state of the building. Submit the application and attachments to the correct department, along with any applicable fees.

Step 5

Wait for notification from your local government regarding your new address. Typically, it will mail formal notification to your current contact address, not the new address.