Rural Delivery Mailbox Requirements
Mailbox delivery requirements, as established by the United States Postal Service, or USPS, outline specific rules for mail delivery in residential areas. The USPS does not distinguish between rural and urban mailbox requirements, with all locations being subject to the same set of standards. Anyone intending on installing or replacing a mailbox must follow the requirements to ensure mail delivery without interruption. Does this Spark an idea?
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Mailbox Style
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Regulation mailboxes can be purchased at numerous department stores and other locations. Custom mailboxes must be approved by your local postmaster, who will generally grant them approval as long as they meet regulations. All mailboxes must meet the USPS Mailbox Standard 7B in order to be eligible for delivery services. A copy of the Mailbox Standard 7B can be acquired at your local post office.
Mailbox Placement
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Regulations specify that mailboxes must be placed on the right side of the road, with 6 to 8 inches between the curb or roadside and the mailbox door. The mailbox must also be installed with a vertical distance of 41 to 45 inches between the surface of the road and the bottom of the box. For any location making it impossible to meet the placement requirements, contact your local postmaster to make necessary changes.
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Mailbox Labeling and Content
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The name placed on the mailbox needs to be at least 1 inch in height and easily visible. Advertising on mailboxes is not allowed. Mailbox locks must meet postmaster general requirements and be accompanied by a mail slot large enough to accommodate your average daily mail volume. Any private company newspaper receptacles must be placed without using the mailbox for support, may not interfere with delivery and cannot include any advertising beyond the private publication's logo or title.
Support
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The USPS does not provide specific regulations regarding mailbox support. Any type of support used should adequately maintain the weight of the mailbox and should easily break away or bend in the event of a vehicle collision. As with mailboxes, advertising on the support mechanism is prohibited.
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References
- Photo Credit mailbox image by palms from Fotolia.com
