A great house number sign mounted in the wrong place is still invisible. This guide covers where to put your sign, how high to mount it, wall versus post mounting, and what is involved in wiring an illuminated civic number — written for homeowners in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, where snowbanks and dark winters change the usual advice.

Step 1 — Decide Where the Sign Goes

The rule is simple: the sign goes where it can be read from the road, not where it looks nicest on the house.

House close to the street: mount on the house, facing the road, near the main entrance or garage — whichever a driver sees first.
House set back or hidden by trees: mount on a post at the driveway entrance. This is the standard for rural properties, and what 911 crews expect. Our rural civic addressing guide covers this in detail.
Corner lots: face the sign toward the street named in your address.
Shared lanes: all civic numbers at the road entrance, repeated where the lane splits.

Do the headlight test after installing: drive past at normal speed in the dark, both directions. Three seconds to read it, or move it.

Step 2 — Mount at the Right Height

Wall-mounted: roughly eye level from the street — typically 1.5 to 1.8 metres above grade works well, adjusted so porch roofs and railings never shadow it.
Post-mounted: keep the bottom of the sign at least 1.2 metres above ground so plowed snowbanks never bury it. In heavy-snow areas of NS and NB, higher is safer.
Keep a clear sightline: trim shrubs seasonally, and never plant in front of the sign — the visibility rules in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick require the number to stay unobstructed, not just installed.

Step 3 — Pick the Right Digit Size Before You Drill

Size is determined by viewing distance, not taste: about 4-inch digits for homes near the street, 6 inches or larger for setbacks beyond 15 metres. The full distance chart is in our house number size guide. It is much easier to size correctly now than to reorder later.

Step 4 — Mounting

Wall mounting (siding, brick, concrete): our signs ship with stainless steel hardware. Use the supplied template, drill pilot holes (masonry bit and plugs for brick/concrete), and keep the sign level — a slightly crooked sign is the first thing every visitor notices. On vinyl siding, drive fasteners into the sheathing or studs behind, not the vinyl alone.

Post mounting: a 4x4 treated wood or metal post set 90–120 cm into the ground (below frost line where possible) handles Maritime wind. Face the sign perpendicular to the road, or use a double-sided setup so both directions of travel can read it.

Step 5 — Wiring an Illuminated Sign

Our illuminated civic numbers run on low-voltage LED — the same class of wiring as landscape lighting. Many homeowners connect them to an existing exterior circuit or transformer themselves; if you are not comfortable, any electrician will handle it quickly. There is no meaningful running cost — a few dollars a year at most. Pair it with a dusk-to-dawn photocell so the number is lit every night automatically.

No power available at the location? Choose a high-contrast metal non-illuminated sign instead — in our climate it is more dependable than solar units, as we explain in our backlit vs LED vs solar comparison.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I install the sign myself?

Yes — most customers do. Wall mounting takes under an hour with a drill; post mounting adds digging the post hole.

Do you offer installation in Nova Scotia?

We can help arrange installation for customers in our service area — call +1 (833) 860-9292 to ask about your location.

How high should a post-mounted civic number be?

Bottom of the sign at least 1.2 metres above ground — above snowbank height for your area.

What if I rent — who installs the civic number?

Displaying the civic number is the property owner's responsibility; talk to your landlord. Many order our signs precisely because tenants raised the issue.

Ready to Put Your Number Where People Can See It?

Design an illuminated or metal civic number sign online — every sign ships free with mounting hardware and instructions. Or call +1 (833) 860-9292 and we will pick the right size, style and placement with you.