The United States Postal Service (USPS) has some certain rules for residential mailboxes. Your mailbox should comply with several rules and regulations. Mailbox standardization helps ensure the security of mail carriers and their delivery items—specifications for locking, packing, or mounting mailboxes on the wall.
General Rules of USPS for Curbside Residential Mailboxes
- All mailboxes must meet the internal and external dimensions requirements of the USPS.
- Curbside mailboxes should be installed facing the road so that the postmen can deliver the mail sitting in their vehicle.
- The box or house number on the mailbox must be represented in at least 2.5 cm high. Numbers must be placed visibly on the front or side of the flag of the box.
- Mailboxes must be placed 15 to 20 cm from the side of the road; received mail slots or doors must be 104 to 114 cm from the floor.
- Post-mounted curbside mailbox post must be buried no more than 61 cm deep; posts made of wood should not be more than 10 cm high and 11 cm wide. Steel or aluminum pipes, 5 cm in diameter, is also acceptable.
- Newspaper sockets can be installed on the same post, but cannot be directly linked to the mailbox or compatible with it.
USPS Rules for Locking Residential Mailboxes
Lockable mailboxes (link on this site) effectively prevent theft or breach of mails. The USPS requires them to meet the same regulations as standard mailboxes. The regulations for locking mailboxes are as follows.
- Slots receiving messages must be at least 4.5 cm high x 25.5 cm wide.
- It should be easily accessible for the postman to put the mail in the locking mailbox.
- The mailbox slot should be large enough to accommodate the normal daily mail volume of the resident.
- Slots must also be large enough to accommodate the deployment of our priority envelope.
- Locks cannot be used in contemporary or traditional mailbox designs.
- USPS operators do not open mailbox locks and do not keep mailbox keys.
USPS Regulations for Parcel Mailboxes
Parcel mailboxes are sometimes called large rural mailboxes, package mailboxes, or T3 mailboxes. Regulations for parcel mailboxes are almost the same as the standard mailboxes. The advantage of parcel mailbox is it can receive large items.
- Approved parcel mailboxes are no more than 57 cm long, 21 cm wide and 30 cm high.
USPS Rules for Wall Mount Mailbox Installation
Wall-mounted mailboxes (link on this site) are useful in areas where postal carriers walk. They are also useful for residents with physical disabilities.
- USPS does not have specific size requirements for wall installation of mailboxes, but local rules may apply.
- Customers should consult local postal managers or mail carriers before installing a wall-mounted mailbox to ensure proper placement and uninterrupted mail delivery.
- The flap on the wall-mounted mailbox should work smoothly and reliably.
- Mail operators must have secure and unhindered access to mailboxes.
Is it legal to Cement a Mailbox?
Yeah, you can cement your mailbox. But if you want, you can put a small sign on the side explaining that it’s reinforced with cement. The waster won’t read it anyway, but at least it’ll be there.
Does my mailbox belong to the USPS?
Owners should be aware that even if they purchase and maintain a residential mailbox, the mailbox belongs to and is controlled by the USPS (United States Postal Service). This means that any manipulation of a mailbox is a federal offense.
Can I move my mailbox to the other side of my entrance?
No, you cannot just move your mailbox. You need to get permission from the USPS. Since you are in an installation path, I guess the box has always been where it is, and you can’t move it yourself.
Have you considered that your dumpster might block it, or that other cars might block it if it was near a neighbor’s entrance or the dustbin? USPS considers all these things, especially the safety of postmen. This also applies to walk routes where the box location cannot be moved without permission because it is in the travel path.
What if I don’t have a mailbox?
If you do not have a mailbox, you will not receive any mail from the USPS. Your address is likely to have been marked as “NMR” by the carrier, which means “No Mail Receptacle.” And the mail will be sent back to the sender.
However, UPS and FedEx do not use mailboxes to deliver your parcel if your place is mentioned on the packaging. If you don’t have any mailbox, you can receive your mails at the post office. When you order an item for delivery and receive mail at the post office, you must provide both addresses because the other carrier will not deliver it to the post office.
Do I need permission to move the mailbox?
Not really, but you have to comply with certain rules. Moving mailboxes is subject to two sets of rules: guidelines for the United States Postal Service and most local governments. Although there are differences between jurisdictions, there are common rules for moving mailboxes.
Postal Service Regulations
The postal service allows you to move mailboxes, but you must place them in a location that is easily accessible to the postman. For example, a road mailbox must be located in a location where the mail carrier can send mail from the delivery vehicle.
Non-Curbed Road
Typical local rules require the mailbox to compensate for the entire width of the off-road shoulder by adding a specific number of inches.
Curbed Road
On any street on one side of the road, the mailbox must be repositioned for a specified number of inches from the side of the road. Typical space is 10 inches or a little less.
Before relocating the mailbox, you must call USPS to get the applicable rules.
What color should the Mailbox Flag be?
There is no specific rule for a mailbox or flag color. Though the mailbox flag can be of any color, it is recommended not to use shades of green, brown, white, yellow, or blue. The preferred color of the flag is fluorescent orange. Besides, the color of the flag should show a clear contrast to the main color of the mailbox.
Should I put my name on my mailbox?
There is no rule for that. It’s your choice. Putting your name in your mailbox allows your operator to know who receives the mail at that address.
If you have the same postman delivering your mail every week, they will eventually know everyone’s name on your route. Still, each time they take a day off (regularly scheduled day off, illness or vacation), or if they move to another route, the person delivering your mail has no idea who it is.
Can a neighbor put a mailbox on my property?
Usually, if it is a curbside mailbox, it is not on your property at all. If it is in your house, then it is not near the line at all.
Assuming that the municipality has mailboxes on the street and that the operator does not store mail in boxes directly connected to the house, most of these boxes will be at the end of the entrance, almost always facing home on the left side. This means that failure is an unusual configuration in the construction of the house and the property line; the mailbox should not approach the neighbor’s property line.
Who should I contact if I want to move my mailbox?
You should contact your local post office first. The USPS does not regulate the relocation of residential mailboxes throughout the country. Instead, they allow the local post manager to decide what is best for their geographic location and mail service.
The USPS mailbox location rules are strict. If you take the time to call or visit the post office before moving your mailbox, it can save you a lot of headaches.
I am disabled and would like to build a mailbox that works for me and my carrier. My carrier says it must be approved by the station manager, but he refuses to call me. What can I do?
Hello Louise,
As far as I’m concerned, an exception can be made in your case. You can submit your plan and design of the mailbox to your local post office and get approval. Thanks for contacting us.
I live on a road where people drive extremely fast. My mailbox is across this road. I fear for my life every time I cross, and run so fast to get back. Sometimes I don’t even get my mail bc it is so dangerous. Will they give me permission to move it?
They might. Please contact them.
I’m a new resident but the house is a rental and has been here for a long time and the postal carrier says all new residents have to put up a curb line box, is this correct ? They maintain that the post master is trying to improve better and faster service for customers.
Hello Lainer,
Yes, you have to put up a new curb line box.
Really interesting post!
Three weeks ago in the middle of the night someone completely took out our community style mailbox station, that is used by the residents in my section of the neighborhood. After driving to the post office to pick up my mail I thought I would inquire about when the box would be replaced. The Clerk stated that our box was denied replacement. he stated that Houston Postal Inspector said that if we wanted the box replaced we “Myself and the Neighbors” would have to pay to replace the box. I asked her that with the Post Office being Federally Funded and that do to the fact that no one in my block caused this damage and we all pay taxes and it was the post office that asked us to start receiving our mail through the community style mail box and doing away with our individual mail boxes over 20 plus years ago. We shouldn’t have to come out of pocket for the cost. Our taxes should be paying for this. She agreed. She added that it has been appealed . But if it is denied we will have to put up our own mailboxes or pay for replacement.
So if I have to put a new mailbox up and I remember close to where my original one was located. Do I need to get the neighbor’s permission across the street from my home before putting the mailbox up? Or if I follow the guidelines from roadway edge 8″ back good. I don’t want to get in a turf war. I not sure what the easement from roadway to owner property is?
I cannot knowledgeably respond to many of your questions but in response to the comments “we all pay taxes and it was the post office that asked us to start receiving our mail through the community style mail box and doing away with our individual mail boxes over 20 plus years ago. We shouldn’t have to come out of pocket for the cost. Our taxes should be paying for this.” I would note that none of the taxes you pay are for the US Postal Service. The USPS was restructured in 1971 to be independent of taxes and operates only on the revenue it receives from postage, box rental, etc. It’s true that none of you caused the destruction of the box however the USPS did not either. For those reasons, the USPS is not and should not be responsible for replacing the mailbox. That said, having had my own mailboxes destroyed a time or two, I do feel your pain.
We just bought a house on a corner lot and our mailbox is on the wrong street. It’s a problem for delivery people (pizza, UPS, Amazon, etc.) & service providers (think exterminators, etc.) because when they get to our house, the mailbox indicates that our house is on “street A” when it’s actually on “street B”. I asked a person at the post office if I could move the box to the correct street & was told no because that’s where the mail carrier is used to the box being. Do I just take that as the final answer, or can I move the box anyway?
You can file an application to the office and move your mailbox.
Where is the authority to make New residence stop receiving mail on there porch like the other 3houses on the block and put up a curb side box?
Please contact your nearby post office
We need the regulations for placing a mailbox on a state highway (Hwy 225 in Spanish Fort, AL).
I live on a corner and my mailbox is mounted on my house on the side street. Placement is near a public sidewalk and the walkway to my back door. I want to move the box to the front of my house on the porch which has steps. Can I move it?
You did NOT site the specific USPS Instructions by number. Like the one about, ” the customer is responsible for keeping the path to the mailbox clear for delivery.” I believe a version of that is in USPS 632. (something). When you are THIS specific the USPS can not argue. I require them to stay off my lawn. I site their own instructions. I have a sidewalk that I keep “clean and clear for delivery” therefore IAW their own USPS INST they do NOT need to walk on my lawn.
USPS did not adhere to their own instruction so I call my Senator because I attempted local resolution, I tried USPS HQ and they still walked on my lawn. I had to call twice. There is now a “DANGER” notification for my property about dangerous animals. Yeah, that is their little dig at me for calling out their laziness.
Respectfully,
Charles R. Williamson Jr.
EW1(SW/MTS) USN(Ret.)
A.F. & A.M., L.M.I.P.
Are there any rules about CB units. Can you attach reader boards to them ?
Our mailbox had been destroyed by construction workers and a week later my landlord replace the mailbox but it has no back to it and the mail gets wet. Is there a USPC code for a mailbox to have a back on it?
You may need to buy a new mailbox with back on it.
I have a white flag with a american flag on it. is rthat ok?
yeah why not!
I live on a rural road and get my mail about 350 yards from my house and on a pole. I am the near the last stop on the route and THIS time of year my mail may NOT arrive until 8 pm – after dark. When there is snow, it may be later. I’m well over 60 and live alone and am no longer comfortable walking to the mail box and back at late, dark hours. But -I have told my mail man to PLEASE make sure the door is closed as Once it is dark – I will no longer be doing so. Do I need to get permission to replace THIS box with a locking mail box with a bin and incase it in a brick pillar instead? It would keep my mail safe until I could retrieve it in daylight?
you can replace the mailbox at the same place without permission.
We have a new “gated” community of 10 lots. Currently only two lots have homes on them. The gate is open from 7am till 8pm daily. The entire length of the road from the main county road to the end of our road is 1800′. Post Master refused my request to allow for delivery to boxes along our road. How is this any different than a developer putting in 1000’s of feet of road and having mailboxes in front of each home?
I think you should consult a lawyer on this.
I had 3 mail boxes in front of my house. I coordinated with post office to relocate to a better site for the carrier and for me. One of the neighbors was very happy about the relocation and the other threatened me if I moved his. The post master doesn’t want to get involved. What can I do?
And related question, does this neighbor have any right to keep a large parcel box in front of my property to receive sometimes 20 packages a day from all delivery trucks? I prefer to act fully within the law and not be taken advantage of.
i built my brother a mailbox 30 years ago he recently passed away and we sold the house can i take the box if it is not on the property
yes you can
the mailbox has our last name welded into the side
My place has door slots, and mail was delivered in them, until my neighbor got a dog, and without any notice to me, he put cheap cluste mailboxes outside the fence, on the street.
When I found out where my mail was going, I called the building manager, who told me the neighbor bought and installed the mailboxes (effectively making himself unaccountable). The boxes are super-cheap, and have been pried open several times, but I cannot get the manager to install better. I have had mail stolen, and had to report it. How do I get a secure mailbox?
My husband and I are Senior citizens, We have a problem with walking to our mailbox. Last nite we had a snow storm and the plow knocked the neighbors mailbox and it landed next to ours. Our mailbox door was opened by the jolt and some mail came out and landed in the snow getting soaked. The neighbors mailbox was laying on our box. CAN I PUSH IT BACK OVER TO GET IT OFF MY BOX?
I work for a telecommunication’s company where we work in residential neighborhoods installing the backbone for a fiber to the home project. We are constantly being accused of not giving the homeowners notice of our work. We put door hangers on the front doors of the houses a few days in advance letting the homeowners know where and when we are working. The problem is that the door hangers blow off especially this time of the year due to the weather in Ohio. Is it legal to put the door hangers in the homeowner’s mailbox? Thanks in advance!
i have a customer whos uses a walker to go across a rural highway in KY. She wants to build a concrete pad around her mailbox so she can get to the rear of mailbox so she’s not standing in the road as she gets her mail. Is this ok to build a 6′ x6′ pad around her mailbox? there is no body living on mailbox side just an empty field. Thanks Jim
Can my neighbor put his mailbox on the sidewalk in front of my house? They have the option to receive mail via post box.
No. You can file a complaint against it.
This was a very helpful article!! One thing—there was one typo that may confuse people:
“Can I move my mailbox to the other side of my entrance?
No, you can just move your mailbox. You need to get permission from the USPS.”
This should say “cannot,” not “can.” Figured it didn’t hurt to let you know!
I appreciate it.
I have a post office box in the post office. Must I still have to have a mail box installed at my home?
Our Highway Contract letter carrier has issues with securely closing the residential mailboxes, leaving the doors open from 1 to 4 inches. What, if any, are the regulations for securely closing the mailboxes? It is a concern, as this area is windy, and we are finding the mail outside of the mailboxes. The local postmaster has been notified, but no changes have taken place.