By: Mike Keyport, Emergency Management Director

The Cook County Office of Emergency Management manages the County-wide E-911 addressing system. The role of the Emergency 911 Addressing system is to provide the public with competent, timely and effective emergency and non-emergency public safety service. 911 is the telephone number that provides direct access to police, fire and medical assistance and initiates a coordinated response using this system. In other words, your E-911 address sign lets emergency responders know where to find you and your property. It is important that your E-911 physical address sign is clearly visible from both directions on your property.

How do I apply for an E-911 address for my property?

Visit https://permits.co.cook.mn.us/  to apply for a physical address sign. Cook County’s Office of Emergency Management, with assistance from the GIS Division, will assign your property an address in the database and produce your sign. This address will be used for your E-911 number and mail delivery if applicable.

When will I receive my address and sign?

Please allow up to three weeks for processing of your address application and E-911 sign production. Once your sign is ready, you will receive an email with your new address and your blue address sign will be available for pickup at the Cook County Courthouse 411 West 2nd Street, Grand Marais. The county will also provide notification of the new address to the post office.

Who is responsible for maintenance of my sign?

Cook County requests your assistance in making the E-911 system work effectively and efficiently.  You will receive installation instructions for the new sign and the system relies upon the property owner to maintain their signs. Always keep your sign visible and remove vegetation, debris, snow and other obstructions. If your sign is damaged or removed, please contact the Office of Emergency Management to help you in obtaining a new sign or go online to https://permits.co.cook.mn.us/ to apply for a replacement sign. The fee to replace an E-911 sign is $25.00.

What are the costs associated with obtaining my address?

The fee for a new address is $100.00 which includes your double-sided sign and signpost.

The fee for a replacement sign is $25.00 (just the blue sign).

The fee for a City of Grand Marais address is $25.00.

What else should I know?

Moving your driveway or changing the entrance point will likely require a new address assignment which would require a new fee and sign to be installed. Two homes or structures can use a private drive with a common address point along the connecting road or drive. When a third or additional homes are added to the private drive it would require naming the drive and changing all property addresses using this drive. This is vital to providing the best possible public safety services. Privately named roads are then added to the E-911 system and marked with a road intersection sign, which aids in emergency response.

Cook County also assigns E-911 physical addresses for the City of Grand Marais. The fee is $25.00, and you will not receive a blue sign or post. This application is under Land Services on the County website. The property owner will be responsible for displaying the assigned address per City of Grand Marais Address Ordinance.

County Connections is a column on timely topics and service information from your Cook County government. Cook County – Supporting Community Through Quality Public Service.