In Nova Scotia, your house number is officially called your civic number — it is the number assigned to your property under the province's civic addressing system so that 911 dispatchers, fire, police and paramedics can find you. This guide explains what the rules require, which sign styles work best in our climate, and how to order a civic number sign made right here in Nova Scotia.
What Is a Civic Number?
Your civic number is assigned by your municipality as part of Nova Scotia's civic addressing program. It appears on your property tax records and in the provincial 911 database. When someone calls 911 from your property, responders navigate by that number — which is why every municipality requires it to be displayed and visible from the road.
Many homeowners search for "house number signs" or "address plaques," but in official Nova Scotia language — bylaws, fire services, municipal notices — the term is civic number. They are the same thing.
Are Civic Number Signs Required in Nova Scotia?
Yes. Requirements vary slightly by municipality, but the core rule is consistent across the province: your civic number must be displayed so it is clearly visible from the street or road, and kept unobstructed.
- In Halifax Regional Municipality, Administrative Order AO-50 covers residential civic addressing, and the National Fire Code of Canada requires visible address identification.
- In rural municipalities, civic addressing rules typically require the number at the driveway entrance where the home is not visible from the road.
- Numbers hidden by snow, shrubs, or faded paint can result in property standards orders — and, far more importantly, slow down emergency response.
For the full legal breakdown, see our Nova Scotia house number law guide.
Choosing the Right Civic Number Sign for Nova Scotia Conditions
Illuminated (Backlit LED) Civic Numbers
The most visible option, day and night, from any angle. LED backlit numbers stay readable through fog, rain and dark winter evenings — the conditions that hide ordinary numbers across the province. Best for homes set back from the road or on streets with weak lighting. Design an illuminated civic number sign.
Non-Illuminated Metal Civic Numbers
Powder-coated aluminum numbers with strong contrast are the low-maintenance choice. No wiring, no upkeep, built to survive salt air, freeze-thaw cycles and plow spray. Design a metal civic number plaque.
Civic Number With Street Name
On rural roads and in newer subdivisions, a combined house number and street name sign removes all doubt for drivers and delivery services.
Rural & Driveway-Post Civic Numbers
If your home sits back from the road, mount the civic number on a post at the driveway entrance, visible from both directions of travel. Reflective or illuminated numbers are strongly recommended for highway-speed roads.
What Size Should Your Civic Number Be?
The farther your sign is from the road, the larger the digits need to be. As a rule of thumb: 3–4 inch numbers for homes close to the street, 6 inches or larger for setbacks over 15 metres. Our house number size guide includes a full distance chart.
How Much Do Civic Number Signs Cost?
Our non-illuminated metal civic numbers start around $20 per digit, and illuminated LED civic numbers start around $65 per digit, with free shipping across Canada. See real pricing examples in our cost guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a civic number the same as a house number?
Yes. "Civic number" is the official term used in Nova Scotia bylaws and the 911 system; "house number" and "address number" mean the same thing.
Who assigns my civic number?
Your municipality assigns it under the provincial civic addressing program. You cannot choose or change it yourself — but you are responsible for displaying it.
Where should I mount my civic number sign?
Where it is clearly visible from the road: on the house facing the street if the house is close, or on a post at the driveway entrance if it is not. Keep it clear of snow and plants year-round.
Can I order a civic number sign by phone?
Yes. Call us at +1 (833) 860-9292 and we will design it with you — size, colour, font, lit or unlit — and ship it free. Many of our customers across Nova Scotia prefer ordering this way.
Order a Civic Number Sign Made in Nova Scotia
We build every sign here in Nova Scotia for Nova Scotia weather. Design your illuminated or metal civic number sign online in minutes, or call +1 (833) 860-9292 and we will take care of the design for you.
