At the heart of an enhanced 9-1-1 system is the 9-1-1 address. Without a valid 9-1-1 assigned address, it would be impossible to locate you in the event you became incapacitated or if the connection were lost. Your 9-1-1 address tells us where you are calling from.  We will still ask you to verify your address if you place a 9-1-1 call even though it appears on our display.

In addition to getting emergency services to you in time of need, a valid address is necessary for many other agencies as well. The U.S. Postal service requires a valid address in order to deliver your mail and even though they do not issue your address, they have guidelines which we must follow such as maintaining sequential order and respecting primary and secondary unit locations.

Before connecting your phone service, the phone company requires that you have a valid 9-1-1 address. After all, they are responsible for routing a 9-1-1 call from your location to our facility.

Other agencies require a valid 9-1-1 address for their maintenance of records, this includes your utility provider, water department, State Health Department,  Revenue Commissioners office, not to mention delivery and shipping companies such as UPS, Fed Ex and others.

With the enhanced system we are proud to have in Colbert County, as soon as you dial the emergency number 9-1-1, and the call connects, we have your location information even if the connection is severed therefore it is imperative that your information be correct and initially assigned by us.

An address is needed for all inhabitable structures in Colbert County. This includes but is not limited to constructed homes or businesses, mobile homes, temporary shelters, portable buildings. We have assigned addresses to barns, radio and television transmitting towers and even billboards. If it requires telephone line connection, electrical power connection, or simply for insurance purposes we can provide a 9-1-1 address. Multiple structures, even on the same property require a unique individual address.

We do not provide 9-1-1 addressing for open land or property. This can be explained further by clicking here. There must be a specific structure of some type. We can however provide you with a general reference address but it will not be kept on file and if it were ever used for a valid structure, it is subject to being changed by our office.

To obtain a 9-1-1 address, contact our office, Monday through Friday and please have ready, the following information about your property:

• name of the person who this address will be assigned to, and your name if you are the agent for this party.

• phone number to contact you with any questions and to inform you of your address (we do not leave this information on or with answering machines or services)

• name of the road this address will be located on

• description of any structures already standing or nearby landmarks

• tax parcel number including lot number if applicable

• approximate distance to nearest neighboring structures

• directions and approximate distance to the property

• Most Importantly if this is for a new structure, and construction has yet begun, you are required to mark with a stake or other visible means, as close to the center of the structure as possible. This identifies to us where the address will be issued.

The time needed to process this information is usually only a few days, however, in some cases, the process may take up to a week. Please allow 3 to 7 days to be notified of your new address.

Once you have received your 9-1-1 address, please post it in a manner that it can be easily seen when approaching from either direction (on both sides of your mailbox or address marker).  You should also post your address on the structure. Numbers on your mailbox, marker and structure should be large enough to easily be seen from the road. If your structure is not visible from the road, you should post your address near your driveway.

You are not required nor encouraged to put your name on your mailbox or address marker.