Who issues addresses in Livingston County?

Livingston County GIS (517.548.3230) issues addresses for the following entities: Cohoctah Township, Conway Township, Deerfield Township, Genoa Township, Green Oak Township, Handy Township, Hartland Township, Iosco Township, Marion Township, Oceola Township, Putnam Township, Tyrone Township,  Unadilla Township (DTE customers only), Village of Fowlerville, Village of Pinckney

Hamburg Township (810.231.1000), Howell Township (517.546.2817), Howell City (517.546.3861), Brighton Township (810.229-0562) & Brighton City (810.227.9005) issue their own addresses.

 Unadilla Township issues addresses for Unadilla Township residents who have Consumers Power.  Call the township at 734.498.2502 to request an address.  To find out which company supplies your power, please call Consumers Energy at 517.788.2557.     

·How much does it cost to get an address?                     

o      Livingston County GIS charges a $20.00 fee per new address requested. 

o      Townships/Cities that issue their own addresses have their own fees.  Please check with them for their current charge. 

o     Re-issuance of addresses due to a change in site plan of a development is subject to a charge of $10.00 for each change.

I am a resident building a new home.  What information do I need to get an address?

Copies of the following must be submitted to Livingston County GIS when applying for a new address:

o      Application Form   

o      Proof of Ownership.  Acceptable documentation is:

§      Warranty, Quit Claim Deed, or Executors Deed that shows the owners name and contains a full legal description of the property.

§      Land Contract or Memorandum of Land Contract that shows the owners name and contains a full legal description of the property.

§      Current tax bill that shows the owners name and contains a full legal description of the property.

o     Survey of the property showing the location of the building being addressed, the driveway, and existing surrounding addresses.  A sketch of the site plan is allowed when a survey does not exist.

o      Driveway Permit or Waiver Letter from the Livingston County Road Commission. 

o     Closest existing addresses.  We require the posted addresses to both sides of the property to be addressed and across the street.  Please indicate the approximate distance each address is  from your driveway.  This information is vital to the issuance of your address as we do not do a drive by of each property and there may be addresses in use that we are unaware of.

o      $20.00 fee for each address requested  (Cash or Check accepted)

I am a developer constructing a new condominium or subdivision.  What information is needed to get an address?

Copies of he following must be submitted to Livingston County GIS when applying for new addresses for a subdivision/condominium, manufactured home community or other development.

o      Application Form   

o     Final Site Plan of the development showing:

§      Lot, Unit or Site Numbers

§      Meters that require addresses clearing marked

§      Approved street names and suffixes

§      For multiple unit condominiums and strip malls, the location of each entry and door with reference to which unit it services  

o      Letter of Approval for all street names from the Livingston County Road Commission

o      Parent Parcel ID Numbers for all property included in the development.  

o      Legal Description for the entire development.

o      $20.00 fee for each lot/unit and meter requiring an address

I need to add a meter to my home or commercial development.  Consumers Energy/DTE told me that the new meter must have an address.  What do I need in order to get a meter address?

The energy companies require meters to be addressed for their billing procedures. These addresses are for the meter only and are not an official property address and are not to be used for mailing address purposes.  Copies of the following information are required:

o     Application Form   

o      Proof of Ownership.  Acceptable documentation is:

§      A Warranty, Quit Claim Deed, or Executors Deed that shows the owners name and contains a full legal description of the property.

§      A Land Contract or Memorandum of Land Contract that shows the owners name and contains a full legal description of the property.

§      A current tax bill that shows the owners name and contains a full legal description of the property.

o     Closest Existing Addresses

            §      Surrounding property addresses, including any buildings or existing meters on the   

                  property

o     Survey of the property (A sketch of the site plan is allowed when a survey does not exist)

§      Location of the meter requiring an address.

§      Measurements meter is from property lines.

o       $20.00 fee for each meter address requested.  (Cash or Check accepted)

I need additional meters within an existing subdivision/condominium.  What do I need to obtain these addresses?

o      Application Form  

o      Site Plan of the development with location of meters clearly marked. 

o      $20.00 fee for each meter address requested.  (Cash or Check accepted)

I’m in a hurry and cannot apply for permits until I have an address.  The documentation on the application is unavailable to me.  Can the address request be processed without submitting this information?

No.  The information required on the application is critical to the addressing procedure.  Once ALL the information is submitted an individual address can be issued within 2 days unless there are extenuating circumstances.   Addresses for a complete development should allow at least 7 days.

Back to top

How is an address assigned?

Addresses are calculated using a county addressing grid and allowing a formula of 1 address per 5.5 feet.  After the address is calculated, adjustments are made to make the new number fit within the sequence of addresses assigned over the years.

Why do I need to use the address that is assigned by the county?

The address issued by GIS is calculated address using a mathematical formula.  After the address number is determined, the address is reported to 911 Emergency Services, the US Postal Service, other government agencies including the permitting departments, and utility companies. The address is recorded in the county database as the official property address.  Using an address that is different than the one assigned could result in delayed emergency service response & mail delivery and difficulty applying for permits & setting up residential service with the utility companies.

Why is my address number so important?

o        Your address is the primary way emergency responders locate you

o        When you call 911, the 911-dispatcher reports your address number to fire, law enforcement, EMS, and other first responders to assist you.

o        During a health emergency, there may be situations where you cannot speak to describe your location. Your phone number and address displays automatically for the 911-dispatcher to notify first responders.

o        Utility service providers (gas, electric, phone, cable, water) use your address to know where service outages are located and therefore dispatch utility crews to restore service as quickly as possible.

o        Everyday services like the US Mail carrier and other delivery services know to deliver items/goods at your location rather than your neighbor’s.

I am converting my single family residence to a multi family residence.  Can I create my own address numbers for these additional apartments or add an A or B to the end of my current address?

NO!  All addresses must be applied for through the office that has jurisdiction over you area.  This assures that established procedures are followed to determine the correct number and in reporting that number to E911, the US Postal Service delivery system, the township offices, utility companies, etc.

If the address is not created and recorded through this office, a duplicate address could be issued.  Also, anyone inquiring on a self-assigned address will be told that the address is not an official number and does not exist in our database.

Additionally, the US Postal Service does not accommodate addresses that reflect a fraction or an alpha numeric letter at the end of an address.  This is true of most other systems also.

Back to top

I received my address years ago and now the county is trying to change my house number.  Why do I need to change my address?

Since the inception of the Enhanced 911 system, addresses that are out of sequence, range or parity are more easily identified.  When the emergency responders report these to our office we make every attempt to make corrections to the address.  By correcting erroneous addresses, we can assure residents that emergency assistance will arrive in a timely manner should an emergency situation arise.  Additionally, changing an address may also make it easier for delivery companies to find your residence.

If my address or a neighbor's address is out of sequence/parity how do I get it corrected?

If you are aware of an address that is out of sequence or on the wrong side of the road (a parity problem) you can report that address to the Livingston County GIS Addressing Unit by calling 517-548-3230 or sending an email to GISDEPT@co.livingston.mi.us.  The address will be reviewed and changes made as needed.

Consumers Energy refuses to change the address shown on my bill.  Who should I contact to make sure Consumers Energy changes my address?

You should call the 800 number listed on your bill to make any address corrections.  If this is a correction made by our office, we send the utility companies a copy of the change form. However, they will not make the change until the resident calls to request the change.  If Consumers Energy does not have a record of the address change, they may request that you send/fax them a copy of the change form we provided you.  Changes may take 2-3 months from the time you notify Consumers Energy until they process the information to show on their bills.  If a problem still exists after that period, please call the GIS Addressing Unit and we will work with Consumers Energy to resolve the problem.

Back to top

Who maintains road signs?

Public road signs are maintained by the Livingston County Road Commission.

Private road signs are maintained by the residents whom are serviced by the road or as provided for by the developer when a subdivision/condominium is recorded

What is the official name of my street?

Within a subdivision the official name of the street is the name as allowed by the Livingston County Road Commission and recorded on the Subdivision Plat in the Livingston County Register of Deeds Office.  A street within a subdivision can only be changed through a resolution of the township board.  The resolution must then be recorded in the Livingston County Register of Deeds Office and a copy sent to the State of Michigan Subdivision Control Division.

Within a condominium the official name of the street is the name as allowed by the Livingston County Road Commission and recorded in the Master Deed in the Livingston County Register of Deeds Office.  A street within a condominium can only be changed by recording an amendment to the Master Deed.

Public and Private Street Names not located within a subdivision or condominium are under the jurisdiction of the Livingston County Road Commission and the official name is recorded with the Road Commission.  Any changes to these streets must follow the procedures as established by the Livingston County Road Commission.

Who maintains the list of road names in Livingston County?

The official list of road names is maintained by the Livingston County Road Commission.

Why are duplicate road names not allowed in Livingston County?

Duplicate road names are extremely confusing for Emergency 911 responders and could delay emergency assistance.  Therefore, as of April 2002, the Livingston County Board of Commissioners passed the Livingston County Street Naming and Addressing Policy which prohibits the use of duplicate road names.

My mail recently started showing a different road name than in the past.  Who should I contact to correct this information?

Our first advice is to contact your Post Office and have them check their records.  The Postal Service maintains a master address database that is periodically purchased by businesses for direct mailing purposes and is also utilized by the Secretary of State.  If an error exists in the master address database, it will filter down into other databases.  After the street name is corrected it may take up to 6 months before the correct street name begins showing on all your mail.  If the post office cannot correct the problem please call the GIS Addressing Unit and we will work with the post office to resolve the problem.

Back to top

What are reflective 911 signs?

The green reflective signs seen throughout the rural areas of the county that display the address house number are called reflective 911 signs.  These signs are extremely helpful to emergency personnel when responding to an emergency situation where every second counts.

Why should residents post their address numbers at the beginning of their driveway?

o        Emergency responders can only help you when they find your location.

o        Posting your address number provides easy identification of your location for responders who are not always exactly familiar with your area.

o        Every second counts during an emergency and posting your address number allows emergency responders to save critical time especially in reaching rural parts of Livingston County.

o        Homes are often hidden from view at the beginning of the driveway, only posting numbers on your home does not help responders recognize where you live since they must first turn down your driveway to find your home.

o        Livingston County’s resident population continues to increase rapidly and an increasing population means responders are required to find new subdivisions and home sites every day – this new home site may by yours!

How do I properly post my address number? (Six Steps)

If you live in Livingston County’s townships, your address number should be placed on a sign containing:

1.       Reflective, white numbers being 3-inches in height

2.       Letters displayed on a green background

3.       A sign posted at least 5 feet high above the grade of the roadway

4.       The sign may be mounted to a post OR a mailbox

5.       The sign must be plainly visible from the either direction of approach to your driveway

6.       The sign must be adjacent to the driveway it services

Where can I purchase a reflective 911 sign?

Many fire departments within the county offer the reflective green 911 signs for a nominal fee because they realize tremendous value each sign provides for the residents.  Currently signs are available from these fire departments: 

Additionally, the materials to make a green reflective sign can also be purchased at a local hardware store if you prefer to make your own or you can order them from a sign company.

What is the proper method of posting the reflective sign?     

Signs can be mounted on a pole or mailbox.  Preferably the sign should be mounted with the bottom of the sign at a height about 5 feet.  This height allows the sign to be reflected by oncoming traffic headlights and prevents it from being damaged by snow plows or covered by overgrown weeds.

o       The top of the sign must be five feet above the grade of the road

o        The numbers on the sign must be at least 3-inches in height.

o        The numbers must be white  and reflective

o        The sign background must be green

o        The mailbox is adjacent to the drive it services

o        The assigned address number is placed on both sides of the post

o        The top of the sign above the mailbox must be five feet above the grade of the road

o        The numbers on the sign must be at least 3-inches in height.

o        The numbers must be white and reflective

o        The sign background must be green

o        The mailbox is adjacent to the drive it services

How does 911 find me?

The address of each resident with a traditional land line phone who calls 9-1-1 will automatically display on a map, which allows the dispatcher to quickly determine which emergency personnel to send to the location.  People who call 911 with a cell phone are located using two different solutions.  Residents using Voice Over Internet Protocol phones can be difficult to locate because their home address does not automatically display in the Computer Aided Dispatch system.  Click the images below to view the full sized poster in PDF format that explains the land line and cellular methods of locating people who call 911.  

Back to top

Online Address Lookups

Two popular address search websites are Mapquest and Google Maps.  On these websites, you can search for an address and its approximate location is placed on a map.  Driving directions from one location to another can also be obtained from these websites.  The data that powers these websites comes from a third party vendor (usually Navteq or TeleAtlas) and is updated according to meet their standards and timeline.  Livingston County GIS does not know when or how often their data is updated. 

If you cannot find an address in Mapquest, please submit a map or driving directions problem using their feedback form: http://help.mapquest.com/jive/mqfeedback.jspa

Although Google does not provide a feedback form, the Google Help Pages provide the following information regarding inaccurate address lookups:

Google Earth can search by city and country for the entire world; however, our street-level address search, driving directions, business listings, and some layers such as hotels are currently limited to Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, the UK, and the United States. Google Earth offers map data for many other countries. For a complete list, please see http://maps.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=16634   We're aware that some addresses are not roof-top accurate. This is the result of how addresses are matched up to an exact position on the earth. We rely on a technique called "address interpolation," which is a fancy way of saying that we take our best guess. More specifically, we take the total number of addresses in a given block and assume an even distribution of the addresses along that block. For example, if there are ten addresses for the 800 block of Main Street, we assume that the fifth address is located at the halfway point.   Ideally, we'd use a database that could precisely match addresses to their rooftops, but unfortunately, such a database doesn't exist. We hope to have a system in place in the near future that will allow users to correct their location search results.   As a workaround, you might try entering the nearest intersection of roads into Google Earth's "street address" field along with your city/state/zip code. For example, you could enter "Laurel Street and San Carlos Avenue." Once Google Earth returns results, you might be able to visually identify the address in question. (Text Courtesy: http://earth.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=20789&ctx=sibling)