Mailbox Regulations – Regulations You Shouldn’t Ignore

The USPS (United States Postal Service) has mailbox regulations regarding residential mailboxes and mail delivery.  Mailbox requirements are designed to standardize the mail receptacle, mail delivery and pickup.

Post Mount and Curb Side Mailboxes

There are regulations regarding curbside mailboxes.  A curbside mailbox can be one of three size for residential mail:-

• Small T1 (C1)size is approximately 5 inches wide by 6 inches tall and 18 ½ inches long.
• Medium T2 (C2) size is approximately 6 inches wide by 7 inches tall by 19 inches long.
• Large T3 (C3) size is approximately 8 inches wide by 11 ½ inches tall by 22 ½ inches long.

The “T” stands for Traditional and the “C” stands for Contemporary.  The dimensions reflect the minimum interior size.

The Importance of Mailbox Positioning

Curbside or Post Mount Mailboxes

The curbside mailbox post should be positioned 6-8 inches from the curb and approximately 42-46 inches high measured from the lawn to the top of the installed curbside mailbox, not the top of the post.  If the post has a vertical arm, the arm should not extend any closer than 6 inches from the curb.  When installing your new set, make sure your set complies with these regulations.

Be cautious when building your own mailbox and post. Approximately 100 motorists are killed yearly in collisions with curbside mailboxes.  Some posts are mounted in concrete or constructed of indestructible materials. In a collision, a motor vehicle can be severely damaged and its occupants injured or killed.

Placement of Wall Mount Mailboxes

The USPS does not have rules or regulations for wall mount mailboxes, however, you should notify your local mail carrier before installation to ensure proper placement of the mailbox and check for any local codes or regulations governing placement of the mailbox.  The mailbox should operate easily and nothing should obstruct the opening and closing of the lid.

If you live in a community governed by a home owners association then they will have their own rules or requirements which you need to comply with.

Law For Residential Mail Box – Residential Mailbox Regulations

Citizens are swindled out of millions of dollars every year by mail scams and mail theft.  The law for residential mail box thefts needs to be revamped.  Some residential mailbox laws are already in place but few people know about them.

Existing residential mailbox laws state that only authorized letter carriers may insert mail into a residential mailbox.  A penalty will be imposed for anyone who is not a letter carrier and is inserting mail in the residential mailbox.  It is a federal offense for tampering with the mail and a fine or possibly jail time can be the punishment for the offense.  Generally, resident mailboxes are for mail use only.

Mailbox Usage for Non-USPS Mail

However, newspapers and magazines which are sent on Sundays and national holidays can be placed in the residential mailbox if the homeowner removes them before the next mail delivery.

The USPS code states that private carriers may deliver newspapers and place them in the newspaper receptacle only.

The receptacle cannot touch the residential mailbox, cannot interfere with the delivery of the mail, does not extend beyond the front of the mailbox and does not display any advertising except for the name of the publication.

The USPS Domestic Mail Manual states that “no part of a mail receptacle may be used to deliver any matter not bearing postage, including items of matter placed upon, supported by, attached to, hung from, or inserted into a mail receptacle.”  In other words, the mailbox may not be used for anything other than for pieces of mail with postage attached.

The USPS Domestic Mail Manual goes on to states that it is a federal offense and there is a significant penalty for violating this law.

Who Owns your Mailbox?

Homeowners need to be aware that even though they purchased and maintain the residential mailbox, the mailbox belongs to and is controlled by the USPS (United States Postal Service).  That means that any tampering of the mailbox is a federal offense.