City: Address Paint NOT Required on Curb

05/23/2012 | Dave Nash, Public Affairs Coordinator

A Valid City Business License, However, Is

Having received calls from residents concerned following contact with individuals who are painting residential street address numbers on City curbs, the City of Yuma and the Yuma Police Department would like to relay the following information.

• Curbs are property of the City, not the homeowner.
• The City does not require home addresses to be painted on curbs in front of their homes.
• Those performing this work must have a valid City of Yuma business license, even if they are asking solely for "donations."
• Those doing the work must first obtain the permission of the homeowner before they paint to avoid any issues.
• Flyers left on doors notifying home dwellers of impending work should include information identifying themselves, such as a person's name and phone number.

The City began tracking this situation upon learning of recent work being performed inside city limits despite no new City of Yuma business licenses being issued in the last several weeks for on-curb address painting.

Residents who have been contacted by groups operating in this manner do not need to call police; however, they may do so if they feel their experience warrants it. Yuma Police may be reached by calling the non-emergency dispatch number, 783-4421.

Curbs are part of the roadway and storm sewer infrastructure and are City property. However, noted YPD Lt. Steve Suho, "there is some benefit to having the house numbers on the curbs for emergency services response."

Police will check for business licenses if called to respond to locations where this activity is taking place. Workers are required to have the license, or a copy, on hand and must present it when asked to.

The City business license is one mechanism to insure that all merchants are abiding by the same set of rules.