Why Can't I Put a Flyer in a Mailbox?

Many small businesses have a limited budget for advertising, and passing out flyers is one of the cheapest ways to get the word out on their sales and specials. Putting the flyers in mailboxes can cause trouble, though.

Flyers in mailboxes are a bad idea.

Flyers

Flyers are a cheap form of advertising for small businesses. Many young people are willing to pass out flyers for a small amount of money.

Flyers in Mailboxes

When passing out flyers, time is often of the essence. It is faster to put the flyer in the mailbox than to walk up the sidewalk and put it on the door or doorknob.

The Law

According to the United States Postal Service, access to your mailbox is only allowed by postal workers in the business of delivering the mail. Only items with postage on them are allowed to be placed in a mailbox.

Consequences

For each flyer found to have been delivered into a mailbox, the sender could possibly get a fine, according to U.S. Code Title 18, Part I Chapter 83 § 1725.

Alternatives

It is perfectly legal to put flyers on doorknobs, attached with a rubber band. The flyer could be slipped between the screen door and the door frame, as well.

References

• USPS, When is mail not mail?
• Cornell Law School U.S. Code page