| The United States Postal Service (USPS) governs | | | | mailboxes. |
| the placement of mailboxes and posts at the | | | | Important regulations in the USPS mailbox manual |
| curbside. Failure to comply with the regulations can | | | | include; required dimensions for mailboxes and |
| result in undelivered mail. Fortunately there is a | | | | posts; who is authorized to deliver to mailboxes; |
| USPS Domestic Mailbox Manual that provides all | | | | placement of the mailbox and post near the |
| the installation rules and regulations. Make sure | | | | curbside; the importance of understanding the |
| that you have a copy of these guidelines before | | | | carrier's route for your location; and the |
| erecting any mailboxes and posts. | | | | placement of address information on the mailbox. |
| Mailbox posts must be 6 to 8 inches back from | | | | Approval is required for any curbside installation, |
| the roadside and must be approximately 42 to 46 | | | | by the USPS. |
| inches above the ground, measured from the | | | | When positioning your mailboxes and posts you |
| ground to the top of the Mailbox. Remember that | | | | must always consider the safety of the mail |
| approved mailboxes vary from 6 inches to 11 | | | | carriers. The mailbox must be on the right hand |
| inches tall, so you will need to alter your post | | | | side of the road in the direction of the mail |
| height accordingly. Many of the mailbox posts that | | | | carrier's normal route. Your mailbox must be kept |
| are available today have arms that extend either | | | | free of anything than may obstruct the safe |
| perpendicular to the street or parallel to the | | | | delivery of mail. If the United States Postal |
| street. In all cases, the arm should not extend | | | | Service employee determines that your mailbox is |
| any closer than 6 inches from the roadside. | | | | unsafe, the postmaster may withdraw delivery to |
| Mailbox posts must be made of material that can | | | | your mailbox. |
| adequately support the mailbox. If you live in | | | | Mailboxes must display the occupant's name and |
| snow belt areas, you must consider the pressure | | | | address as assigned by the local post office. |
| of plowed snow against your mailbox. Your post | | | | These must be placed on the flag side of the |
| may need to be installed further in the earth or | | | | mailbox (the direction facing the mail carrier's |
| reinforced with more concrete than a typical | | | | approach). Address numbers and letters must be |
| installation. | | | | at least one inch in height and in a contrasting |
| Although we all like to create our own unique | | | | color to the mailbox. They must be clearly legible |
| designs, our mailbox post cannot represent | | | | to the carrier. In circumstances where multiple |
| images that may ridicule or disparage others. | | | | mailboxes are clustered on a mailbox post, and |
| There are three approved sizes for mailboxes; | | | | the address cannot be placed on the flag side of |
| small, which is approximately 6 inches tall, 18 | | | | the mailbox, then the address should be placed on |
| inches in depth and 5 inches in width; medium, | | | | the door of the mailbox. It is also not permitted |
| which is approximately 7 inches tall, 19 inches in | | | | to display advertising of any kind on your |
| depth and 6 inches in width; large, which is | | | | mailboxes and posts. Deliveries of mail or |
| approximately 11 inches tall, 22 inches in depth and | | | | packages are restricted to authorized letter |
| 8 inches in width. These dimensions are | | | | carriers only, and all items must have proper |
| considered to be the interior size of the | | | | postage. |