Street naming and numbering

Street naming & numbering is a statutory function of Local Authorities under the powers of various Acts including Sections 17 and 18 of the Public Health Act 1925.

Chichester District Council is responsible for the allocation of postal addresses for the majority of the Chichester district. This is for all commercial and residential developments and includes house and building name changes.

The council liaises with the Royal Mail and, once agreed and confirmed the council will inform the Emergency Services and all Chichester District Council services. It may take at least six months, for name changes and new addresses to appear databases of other companies and organisations over which we have no control.

Changing, adding or removing a property name

If your property has a name and not a number and you wish to change the name, you have to obtain approval from the council. The reason for this is to make sure that the name isn't already being used by anyone else in the area which could cause problems for the Emergency Services and Royal Mail in locating the property. You should note that the change of your property name will not be automatic, but will depend on whether there is already a property with a similar name in the area. For this reason you are asked to supply a choice of three names.

If your property has a number and you wish to add a name, this number cannot be taken away from the address. You may also request to remove a name if you already have a number as well.

To request any these changes then please complete the 'Changing, adding or removing a property name form'. You can complete this either online:

Street naming and numbering - application for changing an address form

We do state 30 days to complete the process, however as long as there are no complications this can be quicker.

Please also note there is a fee of £40.00 to add, remove or change the name of your property.

Registering a new dwelling or development

Single dwelling

An application should be made as soon as work begins on site with a block plan (preferably an electronic version) showing the location and access point to the property. A number will then be allocated to the property by the Street Naming & Numbering Officer and application will be sent to the Royal Mail to register the new address.

Once confirmation of the address has been received from the Royal Mail, the Council will inform the Emergency Services and all District Council services. A formal letter together with a plan and numbering schedule will be sent to the applicant.

Development of 2 or more properties

All new developments need to be given an official address. The process for registering a new development is as follows:

An application should be made as soon as work begins on site, with a site plan (preferably an electronic version) showing road layouts plot numbers and access points to the properties. Where flats are being registered, floor layouts must be provided showing access to each flat.
It is a statutory requirement that the relevant Parish Council be consulted and agree to the name before it is allocated and this process takes 28 days.
Information is then sent to the Royal Mail and the postcode is allocated although the addresses are only reserved by the Royal Mail and will not be registered until physical completion of the properties and this is the responsibility of the developer.
Once the address and postcode have been received from the Royal Mail, the Council will inform the Emergency Services and all Chichester District Council services. A formal letter together with a plan and numbering schedule will be sent to the Developer.

Guidelines for developers

Numbering of properties will be used at all times to enable easy identification of the property. Only in very exceptional cases will house names be considered. Where a new property is built in an already numbered street, the new property will also be given a number. If a large number of houses or flats are being registered or further information is required, please contact us. To request any these changes then please complete the 'Changing an Address form'. You can complete this either online or by downloading the form and returning it to us completed.

Street naming and numbering - application for a new single dwelling or new development

Please Note: Chichester City Council is responsible for all Street Naming and Numbering queries (including street nameplates) for the Chichester Parish Area. Please contact them directly if your query falls within this area.