US$40 fine for not displaying house number

Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter

THE Hwange Local Board (HLB) has made it mandatory for homeowners to display their property numbers outside their premises saying failure to comply will attract a fine of up to US$40 or equivalent.

The local board said the move is for purposes of easy identificatioin by any member of the serive in an emergency.

“We would like to advise residents that in-line with Hwange Local Board by-laws and the Urban Councils Act, Council has made it mandatory for homeowners to display their property number outside, be it anywhere visible on the front of their premise or by the gate.

“For purposes of easy identification by any member of the service in an emergency, every owner or occupier of premises must ensure that the correct street number of the premises is displayed clearly on the street boundary of the premises in numbers at least 75 millimetres high; is visible from the street and is maintained in a legible condition at all times,” said HLB in a notice.

The HLB said failure to comply with the amended by-law by 29 November 2024 will be considered as Level 2 offence and it will attract a fine of up to USD 40 or equivalent at the prevailing inter-market exchange rate, which will be included on property owners’ December 2024 bill.

“A fine of USD 10 (high density), USD 15 (medium density), USD 20 (low density), USD 25 (commercial) and USD 40 (industrial light or heavy) or equivalent at the prevailing inter-market exchange rate will be charged to property owners for failure to display property numbers on premises,” reads the notice.

Meanwhile, the HLB has said it is aware that various buildings (residential and non-residential) have been completed and occupied without the owners obtaining Certificates of Occupation from the Housing and Community Services Department in violation of Council’s Building By-Laws.

The board said owners of such buildings are advised to visit the Housing and Community Services Office at Empumalanga for payment and processing of outstanding certificates, failure of which penalty charges will be levied on the owner’s rates account with effect from 01 November 2024.

@nyeve14