Mailbox Specifications

In order to better serve our customers and encourage cooperation with builders and developers, your Post Office has compiled the following specifications and suggestions for the construction of curbside mailboxes in new subdivisions:

Before starting construction, be sure which side of the street the box should be on. In many areas, all the boxes will need to be on the same side of the street to conform with the carrier's direction of travel. This is also a good time to find out if a double box needs to be put up to accommodate the house across the street, rather than re-building later.
Launch a map of the Cutter Ridge Subdivision postal route (warning: the map image is large [178K]): Postal Route Map
Box Specifications:
Minimum height: 42 inches from roadway to bottom of box.
Maximum height: 48 inches from roadway to bottom of box.
Distance from street: Face of box must be within 12 inches of outside edge or roadway.

A signal flag must be provided for each box, mounted as close as possible to its original location on the box being installed.If two boxes are installed in the same structure, the flags should be installed one above the other, with enough clearance to operate individually.
Suggestions:
Boxes in circles or cul-de-sacs should be built with the base set back 10 to 12 inches behind the face of the box, to give the carrier room to make the circle and still reach the box.

Boxes should not be placed directly above, or adjacent to, a storm drain.

The box itself should not be set flush in the support, but should extend out an inch or two to make it easier to open.

If at all possible, multiple boxes should be grouped horizontally, not vertically. If the boxes must be grouped vertically, the top box should be set at 48 inches, with the bottom box as close as possible below the top box.No more than 2 boxes may ever be grouped vertically.
Approved/Non-approved boxes:
Box manufacturers who comply with USPS regulations and obtain approval for their product are generally proud to prominently mark the box "Approved by the Postmaster General."If the box you are considering is not labeled "approved," it probably isn't.

Cast metal boxes, boxes with lock fronts, and boxes with slots instead of doors are usually not USPS approved.Non-approved boxes may receive reduced delivery services, or no delivery at all, at the discretion of the Postmaster.

If any questions should arise concerning these specifications and suggestions, please feel free to contact you Carrier, Customer Service Supervisor, or Postmaster. We will be happy to assist in any way we can, because we share a common concern: the satisfaction of our customers.

Sincerely,

Postmaster