Driveway & Road Access

When seconds count, your driveway matters. Fire apparatus need adequate width, clearance, and a solid surface to reach your home. Driveways that don't meet access requirements can delay emergency response or prevent fire trucks from reaching your property at all.

Why Access Matters

Our apparatus are large and heavy—our biggest weighs 53,000 pounds. A driveway that's too narrow, too steep, or blocked by vegetation can:

• Delay response while crews find alternate access
• Force firefighters to lay hundreds of feet of hose by hand
• Put both residents and firefighters at risk

Access Requirements

San Juan County adopts the International Fire Code, which sets standards for driveway width, vertical clearance, grade, turnarounds, surface strength, and gates. The County Fire Marshal enforces these requirements and can answer questions about your specific situation.

If you have a gate, consider a KnoxBox so crews can enter without delay. Electric gates should have a manual override or fail-open feature.

Address Visibility

Make sure your address is clearly visible from the road:

• Numbers at least 4 inches tall
• Contrasting colors (light on dark or dark on light)
• Reflective numbers help at night
• Placed at driveway entrance, not just on the house

Your address is assigned by San Juan County Public Works.