Addressing

I need an address - what do I do?

It depends. If the property is in an incorporated municipality (Telluride, Mountain Village, Ophir, Norwood, Sawpit) you will contact that agency. If you live in unincorporated San Miguel County (including Placerville and Egnar), you will be assigned an address by the Addressing Official as part of a development review process. 

  • Addresses are generally assigned when a permit is requested and are not assigned to vacant land under most circumstances.
  • In the West End Zone District, if your access is from a county road, you will need a Driveway Access Permit from the Road & Bridge Department. This must be obtained before you can be assigned an address. You will also need an OWTS (septic) permit. To apply for any of these permits and an address, set up an account on our SmartGov Public Portal. (SmartGov FAQs)
  • In other zone districts, you will be required to obtain other permits first, such as development and driveway permits. Please contact the Planning Department for information on additional permits. If your access is from a county road, you will also need a Driveway Access Permit from the Road & Bridge Department. You will also need an OWTS (septic) permit. To apply for any of these permits, set up an account on our SmartGov Public Portal. (SmartGov FAQs)

Helpful Resources

Reasons for the Addressing System

In order to help someone in an emergency, it is vital that law enforcement or the ambulance can find them! Consistent, methodical and well-signed addresses are critical for swift response.

Contact Us

  1. Heather Widlund

    GIS Director
    Email Heather Widlund
    Phone: 970-369-5470

The county addressing system is based on mileage. If your address is 1205, your driveway is 1.205 miles from the nearest major intersection. Odd numbers must always be on the north and west sides of the street; even numbers on the south and east. Numbers should always be in sequence, and positioned logically related to surrounding addresses. All of these factors combine to make an address system that can be easily understood. This means that many addresses that don't fit in the system have been changed. While this is an inconvenience, it might save your life.

Equally important are address and street signs that are reflective and readable, even at night. During the initial re-addressing period, the county placed address number signs like the one in the picture at the ends of people's driveways so an ambulance can see which driveway to turn in to. The county requires property owners to purchase and install the signs and provides the sign ordering information when assigning or re-assigning an address.

A green and white sign with an address number on a post near a driveway.