Cedar Rapids releases house number recommendations

CEDAR RAPIDS - City officials are reminding residents about home address requirements in response to a recent scam.

Public safety spokesman Greg Buelow said the police and fire departments have received complaints from numerous citizens about individuals approaching them and offering to paint their house number on the curb in front of their residence. The individuals are incorrectly claiming the curbside addressing is required by the city, Buelow said.

Buelow said the city recommends homeowners have address numbers on their house that are at least four inches in height and in a color that contrasts the background color. Numerical numbers - as opposed to numbers spelled out - are preferred, Buelow said.

Citizens may elect to have numbers painted on their curb, but it is not a city requirement. Buelow said the numbers could be blocked by a parked vehicle or snow, which could inhibit an emergency response.