The Fire Safe Ordinance requires that all roads which provide primary access to more than two properties must be named. Lanes or roads with no name are difficult to find and are easily overlooked during an emergency response. Responders are not always familiar with your area.

Yes. Please contact us for the proper petition forms. A majority of the property owners who use the road for their primary access or have property bordering the road, must sign the petition form agreeing to the road naming and the stated choices for the name.

Your new address will make it easier for fire, emergency medical services, and law enforcement personnel to find your home quickly. Additionally, delivery and service providers will be able to find your address. Your old address was either out of sequence, or on a road which did not have a name.

The mail boxes will stay where they are now. Mail delivery routes and the location of mail boxes are determined by the US Postal Service. If you want to change the location of your mailbox, you must contact your local Postmaster.

We will notify your local post office of your new address. The postal delivery system will cross reference your old address to your new address. For best service, either complete a Change of Address Packet available by calling 1-800-ASK-USPS or use the USPS web site to submit change of address online.

When do I begin using my new address?

You may begin using your new address as soon as you receive the official notification letter from PRMD. It may be a few months before businesses and government agencies get their records updated. If anyone questions your new address, you may provide them with a copy of the official notification letter.

Yes. The new address numbers must be posted where your driveway meets the road and must be visible from both directions of travel on that road. You must also put your address numbers on your house in a place where they will be visible from the road or from your primary driveway. The numbers must be reflective, must contrast with their background, and they must be at least four inches tall. Don't forget to change the numbers on your mailbox. Call PRMD to obtain a complete listing of County specifications.

If the owners and users of the road petitioned the County for an official road name, then they are collectively responsible for purchasing, installing, and maintaining an approved road name sign. Call PRMD to obtain County road sign specifications.

If one property owner was required to submit a Road Name Application, that owner has the primary responsibility for the initial installation of the sign. All owners and users of the road share responsibility for its maintenance. Call PRMD to obtain County road sign specifications.

For private roads, all the property owners along the road are collectively responsible for maintaining, or replacing, the sign, just as they are responsible for roadbed maintenance. Together, you must replace the sign.

For County maintained roads, call Sonoma County Transportation and Public Works Department at (707) 565-2231.

No. An address is not part of the legal description of your property. The legal description is contained in the deed and in the Preliminary Title Report you obtained prior to purchase.

Yes. You should notify your mortgage holder, property insurer, other creditors, issuers of other types of insurance (life, health, personal property, etc), in addition to service providers and any others with whom you do business.

Attached to the letter that informed me of my new address was a "Change of Mailing Address" for the County Property Tax Assessor. Why do I have to fill out a form if you've already notified the Assessor of my address change like it said in the letter?

We will notify the Assessor that the street address of your property has changed. Only you, or your authorized agent, are authorized to notify the Assessor of a mailing address change. This is to ensure that your property tax bill is mailed to the correct address. Your mailing address may be different than the property address if you own more than one property or use a post office box. Remember, you are responsible for paying your taxes by the due date even if you do not receive a bill.

Draw a sketch of your property showing all the boundary lines and the way you get on to it. Draw and label the nearest named road and all other roads between that named road and your property access. Find your Assessor's Parcel Number (listed as Fee Parcel Number) on your most recent tax bill. Bring that number and the sketch to PRMD and ask to see a Permit Specialist. Alternately, you may call and ask to speak with a Permit Specialist and then fax the sketch to the fax number you will be given.