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911 Addressing Project
Beginning April 1, 2018, new directional addressing was assigned to properties on Key Peninsula, Fox Island, and Anderson Island. As the new addresses are assigned, we are working to ensure a smooth transition for you. Please know that the United States Postal Service will continue to deliver your mail at your old address for at least one year.If you have any questions or concerns, please call (253) 798-8575 or email pcpalsaddressing@co.pierce.wa.us.
Pierce County is changing addresses in your area to meet the needs of an update to the 911 system. As part of this update, directionals on all addresses on Key Peninsula, Fox Island, and Anderson Island are being changed. For about 375 out of almost 17,000 affected properties, more significant changes are needed to ensure first responders can find the property in the event of an emergency.
Map of Affected Areas
All properties on Key Peninsula, Fox Island and Anderson Island will have the directional in their address changed. Directional changes will affect about 17,000 properties. This will change the directionals KPN, KPS, FI, and AI in the following ways:
- KPN becomes NW
- KPS becomes SW
- FI is eliminated
- AI is eliminated
About 375 of these properties will also have their street name and/or house number changed. These properties have been identified because house numbers are out of sequence, on the wrong side of the road, or they are not addressed off of the correct road. These problems make it more difficult for emergency responders to find the right location.
How Does this Affect You?
For all addresses on Key Peninsula, Anderson Island, and Fox Island, your directional will change. For about 375 properties, a new address may be necessary to make sure emergency services can find your property.
If you have questions or concerns about the address that has been assigned to you, please contact us at (253) 798-8575 or pcpalsaddressing@co.pierce.wa.us.
When will these changes happen?
This change will go into effect April 1, 2018. Property owners will receive a mailing with their new address in March 2018. Below is a timeline of the address change process.
Why are the Changes Necessary?
Pierce County is updating addressing to come into compliance with Next Generation 911. Next Generation 911 will update the existing 911 infrastructure from a phone system that only accepts calls to an Internet-based system that will allow voice calls, photos, video, and text messages.
The current 911 system was created in the 1970s and is not compatible with today's technology. Consistent standards for addressing need to be implemented across the state and nation to allow 911 systems to be upgraded. The recommended address standard is the USPS standard, which requires directionals to be points on a compass (i.e. N, NW, NE, S, SW, SE, etc.). The directionals used on Key Peninsula (KPN and KPS), Fox Island (FI), and Anderson Island (AI), do not meet these standards.
Benefits of a new 911 system:
- Increases safety for first responders and residents.
- Helps 9-1-1 responders identify the exact location of an incident more efficiently.
- Protects people reporting emergency situations by offering a way to report an emergency while staying silent.
- Protects first responders by giving them more information about active emergency scenes through texts, videos, and photos.
- Prevents call center outages by dispatching messages to more call centers.
Contact Us:
- For questions about your address change, fill out our request form, call (253) 798-8575, or email pcpalsaddressing@co.pierce.wa.us
- To request a presentation at your community meeting, contact Tiffany O'Dell at (253) 798-6859 or tiffany.odell@co.pierce.wa.us