Official-looking yellow fliers that announce curbs will be painted with reflective home address numbers are appearing on front doors throughout the metro area, but it’s not the government’s doing.
The fliers, headlined with “NOTICE,” solicit a contribution of up to $20 for the curb painting and promise satisfaction.
“It’s not something we solicit or offer,” Centennial Public Works director David Zelenok said. “The city doesn’t charge extra for its service.”
Painting house numbers on curbs is not illegal, officials in several cities said, nor is soliciting a homeowner to pay for it.
“It’s not expressly regulated and the city does not support or sponsor it,” Zelenok said.
The flier pitches the painting as helpful to emergency-service agencies, saying they “can reach your home with a minimum amount of delay.”
Firefighters say a number painted on a curb is minimally helpful, especially when not all homes have them.
“Any number of things could prevent us from seeing the numbers, such as a parked car or snow,” Denver Assistant Fire Chief Steve Garrod said. “It would be better to upkeep the numbers on your home itself.”
Denver officials warn that homeowners who pay for the curb painting aren’t absolved from city laws requiring that numbers be attached to the home itself.
Homeowners would do well to improve house numbering before having the curb painted, said Andy Lyon, spokesman for the Parker- South Metro Fire Rescue Authority.
“It doesn’t hurt to have the curb numbers, but it’s not what we would recommend,” he said.
Curb painting is a small business and an easy way to make a few dollars, said Gilbert Valles, an El Paso resident who’s done it for years and trains other startups.
“People are confused that it’s a scam,” Valles said. “That’s the criticism this service gets, but it’s no different than having your grass cut or your gutters cleaned.”
Fliers with official-looking verbiage are by design, Valles said.
“Advertising has to have a shock value or else it gets pitched into the trash,” he said.
“If you take the time to read it, you’ll see it’s a business, not the government.”
David Migoya: 303-954-1506 or dmigoya@denverpost.com
