Rural Addressing

These instructions are a guide for ordering and installing a new or replacement rural address in Dunn County.  For questions call the Land Information Office at 715-231-6545 or send an email message to gis@co.dunn.wi.us.  We are located in the Dunn County Government Center, 3001 US Highway 12 East, Suite 201,  Menomonie, WI 54751.


Address signs are a flag-style rural address sign, so that they are visible from either direction of traffic, increasing visibility of the address from the roadway and better supporting emergency responders. The Land Information Office offers optional installation service for an additional fee. 

Obtaining an Address for New Construction

All new businesses, residential construction, or structures containing living quarters must obtain an address either by completing the Dunn County Rural Address Application using the online form (see "Address Application" button) or by downloading and returning the "New Rural Address Application" fillable form to the Land Information Office along with the $75 fee as either cash or check payable to Dunn County.

 

Obtaining a Replacement Address Sign

Should an address sign need to be replaced, a new sign can be ordered by either completing the Dunn County Rural Address Application online form (see "Address Application" button) or by downloading and returning the "Replacement Address Sign Application" fillable form to the Land Information Office along with the $30 fee as either cash or check payable to Dunn County.


Please Notice
Additional permitting may be required if the new address is accessing a Dunn County Highway, State Trunk Highway, or Town Road.

 

What to Expect

The application will be reviewed by Land Information staff and, upon verification of payment, a rural address number will be assigned. Dunn County Staff will submit the sign order to our vendor and a new sign will be built. The applicant will be notified when the sign is available to be picked up, and will be supplied with the sign, a 6 ½ foot angle iron post and the mounting hardware needed to install the sign. It is the responsibility of the applicant or his/her agent to properly install the sign. 

 

Rural Addressing Processes: 

    1. Property owner acquiries roadway driveway permit from the appropriate roadway authority.
    2. Property owner or authorized agent obtains application form from the Dunn County website, or from the Land Information Office.
    3. Completed application is returned to the Land Information Office along with the $75.00 payment for new addresses or $30.00 payment for replacements.
    4. Property owner or authorized agent describes or marks the new driveway/address location.
    5. The rural address number is assigned by the Land Information Office. The property owner/ agent is notified.
    6. A sign will be ordered with assigned rural  address on it.
    7. Property owner/agent will be notified to pick up sign and post. Note: If you opted to have the sign installed, you will be notified that the sign is in an that the sign will soon be installed.
    8. Property owner/agent installs the sign per County provided specifications. Note: If you opted to have the sign installed, a County employee will install the sign to the provided specifications. 

 

Placing your E911 Rural Address Sign: 

Proper placement of your rural address sign is important in so many ways. See Importance of Placement to understand why. 

    • Place your post and sign near the end of the driveway (access), easily visible by emergency personnel
    • Place your sign perpendicular to the road, so it can be seen by vehicles traveling in either direction.
    • Suggested height is 4 ½ feet, so the sign will not be covered by snow. Keep the post out of the legal road right of way (usually 33 feet from the center of the road).
    • Maintain the visibility of the sign. Prune obstructive tree limbs, bushes and trim weeds that my obscure the fire number.
    • If you need assistance placing your sign, call the Dunn County IT/GIS Division, 715 231 6545, for help.
    • If you have concerns about utility lines near the location of your sign, please contact the Diggers Hotline to locate them.
       

Understanding the Dunn County Addressing System

 Street Addresses (“Streets” run predominately north and south)

  • Number will start with an “N”
  • Farther north – larger number
  • Farther south – smaller number
  • East side – even number
  • West side – odd number
      

 Avenue Addresses (“Avenues” run predominately east and west)

  • Number will start with an “E”
  • Farther east – larger number
  • Farther west – smaller number
  • North side – odd number
  • South side – even number 
     

County Wide Grid:

  • System originates in the Southwest corner of the County and extends out toward the Northeast corner of the County.
  • 400 house numbers in every mile (ex: N7400 to N7800 = 1 mile)
  • 40 road numbers in every mile (ex: 740th St to 780th St = 1 mile)
  • Removing the last number of the house number is equal to the road equivalent (ex: E7400 = 740th St; N2150 = 215th Av)
  • Adding a zero to the road number is equal to the house number equivalent    
    (ex: 740th Av = N7400 as a house number; 215th St = E2150 as a house number