Standards for Addressing

Allegheny County recommends certain Standards when addressing. Here are some of the most important.

These do not imply that existing addresses or names should be corrected unless there are concerns or problems with that street or address at this time. These are proper standards that should be followed.

Street Names

Street names should not be duplicated in a municipality or zip code – not even by using a street extension. For example, if Main St exists, do not use Main St Ext or Main Rd or Main Ave. You can verify if a street name, or something close, is in your zip code by searching the USPS website. Enter the name or part of the name with the zip code and see if you get results.

People’s names or company names should not be used for street names.

There should be no abbreviations in street names (i.e. Sample Heights should be spelled out instead of Sample Hts). In the 911 database it will be spelled out regardless of what is on the street sign or in your official records.

Directional names should not be used (i.e. S Ave or S Park Dr or W Liberty Ave). If directional names are used, they will be spelled out in the database (i.e. South Avenue or South Park Drive or West Liberty Avenue). These are part of the street name, not the direction of the street.

Address Ranges

Addresses on a street should follow in a numeric order and only be odd or even on the same side of the street. For example 2, 4, 6, 8 on right side and 1, 3, 5, 7 on left side is the correct format.

Space should be left for open spaces when assigning new addresses in a plan and start from the beginning of the street, even if there are no houses there.

Street names with a direction prefix should not have the same range. For example, North Main Street and South Main Street should not have houses with the same number. (i.e. 100 North Main Street and 100 South Main Street).

Address Numbers

Addresses are assigned by building, not parcel. An assessment parcel can have more than one address.

Duplicated addresses – two houses/buildings on the same street with the same number should not exist.

Houses should be numbered on the street where the front of the house faces and has direct access.

On buildings with one door, such as a high rise apartment or office building, or even a two-unit house with one front door, only Ste or Apt should be used.

On buildings with more than one door (i.e. a strip mall, townhouse, duplex) each door should have its own address. Suite and apartment designations (Ste and Apt) are not recommended. However, Ste or Apt is favored over just adding a letter to the number, but it is best if they have a distinct number.

• The numbers should coincide with floor numbers on high rise apartment buildings or have sequential numbers (like house numbers) if used for strip malls, townhouses, duplexes.
• But if letters are used, 121 Apt A and 121 Apt B is preferred over 121A and 121B. The 'B' can be confused with the number '8' which could be read as '1218' on post office machines.

On properties with two houses where one faces the rear alley of the property, the rear-facing house should have the address on the alley.

Sites to Address

Not only houses or buildings need to be addressed. The following may also need to be addressed.

• Parks
• Utility buildings – Verizon, Duquesne Light, Equitable Gas substations
• Cell towers
• Retention ponds
• Gas wells
• Multiple buildings per parcel
  • Two different businesses in two buildings on one property
  • A private residence and a commercial business in another building on the same property
  • Garages that are used as residences
  • Commercial business parks and strip malls – every different building/business should have its own address or unit.

Contact

Questions? Please contact us with any questions by email.