Road Naming & Addressing Ordinance Information

General Information

On December 13th, 2011, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners adopted the Road Naming and Addressing Ordinance (PDF) in an effort to expedite the delivery of emergency services. In order to establish County-wide compliance, the Tax Office will work to resolve addressing issues and it will notify property owners of needed corrective action. Property owners should take action, if applicable, only after contacted with correct information directly from the Tax Office.

Primary Compliance Items

The address assigned by Orange County must be properly displayed on the structure. This means that the numbers should be at least three inches tall, placed on a contrasting background, and visible to both directions of travel.

Addresses must be in sequence in relation to other addresses on the same street and must match the ranges of addresses available for that street. Orange County will contact each owner with corrective action needed if the addresses are out of range or sequence.

If a private drive is shared by three or more habitable structures that are more than 75 feet from the main road, the private drive must be named and signs with the name must be placed on the private drive to identify it. In addition, the addresses for the habitable structures must be properly displayed and visible on the newly named private drive. Orange County will contact each owner with corrective action needed if a private drive must be named.

Assistance or Questions

Tax Office staff is available to answer any questions regarding the ordinance (PDF) and staff will be actively working with residents to assist with compliance. The Tax Office plans to communicate with every owner affected by the ordinance, even those where no issues are noted. Staff believes this approach will help relieve stress from the situation. In addition, it is expected that compliance with the ordinance will ensure that emergency services will be provided in a faster and more efficient manner. No fines will levied until after our staff has made every effort to assist you. 

Fire Departments That Sell Reflective Address Signs

• Caldwell
  7020 Guess Road
  Rougemont, NC 27572
  Phone: 919-732-8445
• Cedar Grove
  720 Hawkins Road
  Cedar Grove, NC 27231
  Phone: 919-732-9585
• Eno
  5019 U.S. 70 E
  Durham, NC 27705
  Phone: 919-383-5967
• New Hope
  4012 Whitfield Road
  Chapel Hill, NC 27514
  Phone:  919-493-1001
• Orange Grove
  6800 Orange Grove Road
  Hillsborough, NC 27278
  Phone: 919-967-5858
• Orange Rural (Hillsborough)
  206 S Churton Street
  Hillsborough, NC 27278
  Phone: 919-732-7911
• White Cross
  5722 Old Greensboro Road
  Chapel Hill, NC 27516
  Phone: 919-942-1194