Street naming and numbering

We are responsible for the registration of property addresses and the naming of streets within the Dover district. Royal Mail is responsible for the allocation of postcodes.

On this page you can:

• register a new address and/or street
• change an existing address
• rename a street

Address numbers or names must be clearly displayed in a prominent position so they can be read from the road. This is a legal requirement.

New addresses and/or street names

It is essential we are informed of any new builds so we can allocate addresses and register them at an early stage. This helps reduce delays when obtaining utility connections and possible problems for new owners/tenants in registering for online services and receiving deliveries. Importantly, it also ensures emergency services can find the address.

All new properties will be allocated a number. The only exception is where an existing street has no numbering scheme, in which case a property name may be used.

For infill developments with no available numbers, we will use numbers with letter suffixes (for example, 10A).

Developers must propose names for any new streets. Names should reflect local history or the area and must not duplicate existing names within the same parish or postal area.

Developers are also responsible for supplying and installing street nameplates for new streets and sometimes adjoining ones.

We notify Royal Mail, Ordnance Survey, emergency services and council departments of all address changes, and we update the national address record. Land Registry is also notified, but property owners must contact them directly to update titles.

Change of address

You must be the owner of the property to change its address.

Numbered properties can also have a name, but you must still include and display the number on your property. Royal Mail will record the name as an alias and may not share it with other organisations that use its address database.

Any proposed name will be checked for suitability/duplication before being accepted. Royal Mail, Ordnance Survey, the emergency services and council services will be informed of any change to an address, and the national address record will be updated.

Renaming a street

Requests to rename and/or renumber whole streets will only be considered in very exceptional circumstances, such as when there are potential problems for the emergency services in identifying and locating an address, or there is substantial evidence that the current name is no longer deemed suitable.

Where a request to rename a street is received from residents on that street, the proposed change should have the full backing of every resident affected and a signed letter from each must be provided to support this. The responsibility for this lies with the party or parties requesting the change.

Any enquiry to change a street name should, in the first instance, be made in writing, giving the reasons for the renaming, and sent to addressmanagement@dover.gov.uk (opens in new tab)

Contact us

• Email: addressmanagement@dover.gov.uk (opens in new tab)
• Phone: 01304 872011

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