Frequently Asked Questions:
Addressing & Road Names
How can I find out my correct physical address,
or get a new one assigned?
The County GIS Department has developed a mapped
database of all roads and addresses in Yellowstone County. You
can contact the Address Coordinator to verify your physical address
or to get a new address assigned for areas outside Laurel and
Billings city limits. (Addresses in Billings and Laurel are assigned
by the respective Fire Departments.)
If you have the legal description of your property,
an address can often be assigned over the phone. In rural areas,
the address is derived from the location where the driveway intersects
with the main road. County addressing / road naming guidelines
recommend that a road be named (even if it is a private access
road) if it provides exclusive access to three or more dwellings
or is ¼ mile or longer in length. The GIS Department also
facilitates road naming, whether that be by publishing the name
on a recorded plat or by petitioning the Board of County Commissioners
to pass a resolution recognizing a new road name. There is no
charge for the petition process and the Address Coordinator will
provide the necessary forms and assistance.
What if my address is "bad," how can
it be changed?
Sometimes residents desire to have their address
changed because they have encountered problems with being located
due to an incorrect address. The Address Coordinator will assist
in such circumstances by determining the correct address, then
sending notification to Post Offices, the Elections Department,
Department of Revenue, utility companies, permitting agencies,
and public safety responders. This leaves the residents to notify
their bank, their insurance company, update personal correspondence
and their drivers license. The Driver's License Bureau will place
a sticker on the back of your driver's license with your new address
(free), or you may purchase a new laminated driver's license with
the new address for a reduced cost.