Installing a Mailbox Post by USPS Standards
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has strict regulations about curbside mailboxes and the posts you mount them to. If you are installing a new mailbox and post on your property, you need to follow the USPS guidelines and requirements to ensure that you will receive your mail. At any time, you can request that the postmaster in your area send a representative to inspect your post and mailbox. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Shovel
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Instructions
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Select a mailbox post stable enough to withstand the elements and support the box. Use a post that is free of any advertising or brand names.
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Install the mailbox post on the right-hand side of the road. Set the post so that the front of the mailbox will mount 6 to 8 inches from the edge of the road.
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Dig the post hole with a shovel and position the post so that the bottom of the mailbox is between 41 and 45 inches from the ground. Fill the hole around the post with the soil you dug up. Pack the soil tight to make sure that the post is stable, but loose enough to allow the post to fall aside if struck by a car.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not reinforce the mailbox post. USPS regulations require that it bend or fall if it is hit by a vehicle.
References
- Photo Credit mailbox image by palms from Fotolia.com
