How to write postal addresses in Canada

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Linguistic Recommendation

To standardize the way postal addresses are written in the federal public service, the Translation Bureau makes the following recommendation.

Postal Addresses in English

Addresses for mail delivery

In the case of addresses used for mail delivery on envelopes and parcels, the Translation Bureau recommends following the format specified by Canada Post in its Addressing Guidelines.

Other addresses

In all other cases (letterhead, signature blocks, business cards, signage, etc.), the Bureau recommends writing addresses in the standard way, according to the guidelines set out in The Canadian Style.

Background

In its Addressing Guidelines, Canada Post specifies how to write addresses to facilitate mechanized mail sorting. Mail addressed according to these guidelines is processed and delivered faster. Most large organizations and government departments in Canada already follow these guidelines in mailings to the Canadian public.

Follow Canada Post's Addressing Guidelines

Follow the guidelines set out in The Canadian Style
  • For the receiver's address on
    • an envelope
    • a parcel
    • a document mailed in a window envelope
  • For the sender's address (return address) on an envelope or parcel
  • For an address provided as a return address in the body of a text
  • For receivers' addresses recorded in a data source, to be used in generating form letters and envelopes or labels for mass mailing
  • For the receiver's address (inside address) in a letter or other document
  • For the sender's address in a letterhead
  • For an address
    • in a signature block
    • on a business card
    • on signage
    • etc.
  • For an address provided in the body of a text for information purposes

Details and examples – Canada Post

Details and examples – The Canadian Style

In all capitals; no commas, no periods in abbreviations (except in proper names); maximum of 40 characters per line

In title case; courtesy title abbreviated; periods after abbreviations, comma after municipality name; province or territory abbreviated or written in full

A. C. HUNTER PUBLIC LIBRARY
ARTS AND CULTURE CENTRE
125 ALLANDALE RD
ST. JOHN'S NL  A1B 3A3

INGRID BRUNDH
567 ST-JEAN ST APT 4
CASSELMAN ON  K0A 1M0

A. C. Hunter Public Library
Arts and Culture Centre
125 Allandale Road
St. John's, NL  A1B 3A3

Ms. Ingrid Brundh
567 St-Jean Street, Apt. 4
Casselman, Ontario  K0A 1M0

Street type (street, avenue, boulevard, road, drive, etc.) abbreviated or written in full

Street type (street, avenue, boulevard, road, drive, etc.) written in full, or abbreviated and followed by a period if space is limited

165 RICHMOND ST
2120 SUNNY MEADOW BLVD
1439 5TH AVENUE

See Street types

165 Richmond Street
2120 Sunny Meadow Blvd.
1439 5th Avenue

Compass point (North, South, East, West) abbreviated

Compass point (North, South, East, West) written in full

123 MAPLE RD W
12 MAIN ST S

See Street directions

123 Maple Road West
12 Main St. South

Unit type (apartment, suite, etc.) and number on the same line as the street address, or on the line above if space is limited. Do not use the # symbol or the abbreviation No.

Unit type (apartment, suite, etc.) and number on the same line as the street address, separated by a comma, or on the line above if space is limited. Do not use the # symbol or the abbreviation No.

70 CRÉMAZIE ST SUITE 800

APT 920
13 PRINCE OF WALES DR

See Unit designators

70 Crémazie Street, Suite 800

Apartment 920
13 Prince of Wales Drive

Names of municipalities abbreviated if necessary

Names of municipalities written in full

MNT-ARLING-HT

See Municipality Abbreviations

Mount Arlington Heights

Provinces and territories abbreviated (two-letter postal abbreviations recognized by Canada Post) or written in full

Provinces and territories abbreviated (two-letter postal abbreviations recognized by Canada Post) or written in full

PIERRE FERRON
5000 3RD AVE
DAWSON CITY YT  Y0B 1G0

JANE BENNETT
123 PINE RD W
SHEDIAC NEW BRUNSWICK  E4R 2B4

See Canadian provinces and territories

Mr. Pierre Ferron
5000 3rd Avenue
Dawson City, YT  Y0B 1G0

Ms. Jane Bennett
123 Pine Road W.
Shediac, New Brunswick  E4R 2B4

Particular cases

Translation

See Canada Post's Addressing Guidelines for bilingual addresses, international addresses or postal boxes.

You will find information on translating address elements in section 10.14 of The Canadian Style: Official languages in addresses.

References

Postal Addresses in French

Addresses for mail delivery

In the case of addresses used for mail delivery on envelopes and parcels, the Translation Bureau recommends following the format specified by Canada Post in its Directives d'adressage.

Other addresses

In all other cases (letterhead, signature blocks, business cards, signage, etc.), the Bureau recommends writing addresses in the standard way, according to the guidelines set out in Le guide du rédacteur.

Background

In its Directives d'adressage, Canada Post specifies how to write addresses to facilitate mechanized mail sorting. Mail addressed according to these guidelines is processed and delivered faster. Most large organizations and government departments in Canada already follow these guidelines in mailings to the Canadian public.

Follow Canada Post's Directives d'adressage

Follow the guidelines set out in Le guide du rédacteur
  • For the receiver's address on
    • an envelope
    • a parcel
    • a document mailed in a window envelope
  • For the sender's address (return address) on an envelope or parcel
  • For an address provided as a return address in the body of a text
  • For receivers' addresses recorded in a data source, to be used in generating form letters and envelopes or labels for mass mailing
  • For the receiver's address (inside address) in a letter or other document
  • For the sender's address in a letterhead
  • For an address
    • in a signature block
    • on a business card
    • on signage
    • etc.
  • For an address provided in the body of a text for information purposes

Details and examples – Canada Post

Details and examples – Le guide du rédacteur

In all capitals; no commas, no periods in abbreviations (except in proper names), no parentheses; maximum of 40 characters per line

In lower case, with initial capitals for proper names and words at the beginning of a line; courtesy title written in full; building number followed by a comma; province or territory in parentheses

JEAN-MARC CÔTÉ-LECLERC
27 BOUL ST-FRANÇOIS-XAVIER
L'ASSOMPTION QC  J5W 3L6

ÉCOLE SECONDAIRE P.-E. TRUDEAU
765 CH DE LA PETITE GASPÉSIE
HEARST ON  P0L 1N0

Monsieur Jean-Marc Côté-Leclerc
27, boulevard St-François-Xavier
L'Assomption (Québec)  J5W 3L6

École secondaire P.-E. Trudeau
765, chemin de la Petite Gaspésie
Hearst (Ontario)  P0L 1N0

Street type (rue, boulevard, chemin, route, etc.) abbreviated or written in full

Street type (rue, boulevard, chemin, route, etc.) written in full and in lower case

123 CH DU FLEUVE
4567 RTE 132
8910 AVENUE CALIXA-LAVALLÉE

See Types de rue

123, chemin du Fleuve
4567, route 132
8910, avenue Calixa-Lavallée

Compass point (nord, sud, est, ouest) abbreviated

Compass point (nord, sud, est, ouest) with initial capital letter, or corresponding abbreviation if space is limited

123 CH DES BOULEAUX O
45 RUE MAIN S
67 PROM SAMUEL-DE-CHAMPLAIN N

See Points cardinaux

123, chemin des Bouleaux Ouest
45, rue Main Sud
67, promenade Samuel-de-Champlain N.

Unit type (appartement, bureau, etc.) and number on the same line as the street address, or on the line above if space is limited. Do not use the # symbol or the abbreviation no.

Unit type (appartement, bureau, etc.) and number on the same line as the street address, or on the line above if space is limited. Do not use the # symbol or the abbreviation no.

1234 BOUL CRÉMAZIE APP 500

BUREAU 800
67 PROM SAMUEL-DE-CHAMPLAIN

See Types d'unités

1234, boulevard Crémazie, app. 500

Bureau 800
67, promenade Samuel-de-Champlain

Names of municipalities abbreviated if necessary

Names of municipalities written in full

STE-CATH-D-L-J-CAR
or
STE-CAT-J-CAR

See Abréviations des municipalités

Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier

Provinces and territories abbreviated (two-letter postal abbreviations recognized by Canada Post) or written in full

Provinces and territories written in full, in parentheses; or abbreviated (two-letter postal abbreviations recognized by Canada Post) if space is limited

PIERRE FERRON
89 10E RUE
CAMPBELLTON NB  E3N 3G1

Monsieur Pierre Ferron
89, 10e Rue
Campbellton (Nouveau-Brunswick)  E3N 3G1
or
Campbellton NB  E3N 3G1

JEANNINE LABONTÉ
567 RUE ST-JEAN APP 8
CASSELMAN ONTARIO  K0A 1M0

See Provinces et territoires canadiens

Madame Jeannine Labonté
567, rue St-Jean, app. 8
Casselman (Ontario)  K0A 1M0

Particular cases

Translation

See Canada Post's Directives d'adressage for bilingual addresses (adresses bilingues), international addresses (adresses internationales) or postal boxes (cases postales).

You will find information on translating address elements in section 8.1.4. i) of Le guide du rédacteur.

References

Linguistic Recommendation reference number

REC-16/2014-10

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