Addressing standards and guidelines

Addressing conventions promote national consistency. For example, in most situations addresses on the left side of the road are ordered by using odd numbers beginning with ‘1’ at the start of the road. Addresses on the right side use even numbers starting with ‘2’. Rural numbering is based on the distance down the road. However, addresses should follow a scheme to ensure that properties can be readily and unambiguously identified and located.

The Addressing Standard

The Standard (AS/NZS 4819:2011) is made for use by territorial authorities and can be bought from Standards New Zealand. It covers:

• assigning addresses
• naming roads
• recording and mapping information
• signage.

The Standard is to keep addresses as simple as possible so that they can be easily understood by members of the public who are trying to find a property.

The current Standard replaced a 2003 Standard. We were involved in creating it as part of a working group for the Intergovernmental Committee on Surveying and Mapping (ICSM).

Buy the Standard for rural and Urban Addressing (AS/NZS 4819:2011)

In-fill Addressing guidelines

In line with good regulatory stewardship and practice, the Office of the Surveyor-General has drafted guidelines to provide guidance to Territorial Authorities on allocating addresses for in-fill developments.

Guideline for addressing in retirement villages

This guideline has been created to provide guidance to Territorial Authorities and retirement village developers on assigning addresses in retirement villages.