Except as excluded by 3.1.2, every letterbox or
other receptacle intended or used for the receipt or
delivery of mail on any city delivery route, rural
delivery route, highway contract route, or other
mail route is designated an authorized depository
for mail within the meaning of 18 USC 1702, 1705,
1708, and 1725.
3.1.2 Exclusions
Door slots and non-lockable bins or troughs used
with apartment house mailboxes are not letterboxes
within the meaning of 18 USC 1725 and are not
private mail receptacles for the standards for
mailable matter not bearing postage found in or on
private mail receptacles. The post or other support
is not part of the receptacle.
3.1.3 Use for Mail
Except under 3.2.11, Newspaper Receptacle,
the receptacles described in 3.1.1 may be used only
for matter bearing postage. Other than as permitted
by 3.2.10, Delivery of Unstamped Newspapers,
or 3.2.11, no part of a mail receptacle may be used
to deliver any matter not bearing postage, including
items or matter placed upon, supported by, attached
to, hung from, or inserted into a mail receptacle.
Any mailable matter not bearing postage and found as
described above is subject to the same postage as
would be paid if it were carried by mail.
3.1.4 Clear Approach
Customers must keep the approach to their mailboxes
clear of obstructions to allow safe access for
delivery. If USPS employees are impeded in reaching
a mail receptacle, the postmaster may withdraw
delivery service.
3.2.1 Manufacturer Specifications
Manufacturers of all mailboxes designed and made to
be erected at the edge of a roadway or curbside of a
street and to be served by a carrier from a vehicle
on any city route, rural route, or highway contract
route must obtain approval of their products under
USPS Standard 7, Mailboxes, City and Rural Curbside.
To receive these construction standards and drawings
or other information about the manufacture of
curbside mailboxes, write to USPS Engineering.
3.2.2 Custom-Built Mailbox
The local postmaster may approve a curbside mailbox
constructed by a customer who, for aesthetic or
other reasons, does not want to use an approved
manufactured box. The custom-built box must
generally meet the same standards as approved
manufactured boxes for flag, size, strength, and
quality of construction.
3.2.3 Locked Box
A mailbox with a lock must have a slot that
is large enough to accommodate the customer's normal
daily mail volume. The USPS neither opens a locked
box nor accepts a key for this purpose.
3.2.4 Mailbox
Post
The post or other support for a curbside mailbox
must be neat and of adequate strength and size. The
post may not represent effigies or caricatures that
tend to disparage or ridicule any person. The box
may be attached to a fixed or movable arm.
3.2.5 Advertising
Any advertising on a mailbox or its support is
prohibited.
3.2.6 Location
Subject to state laws and regulations, a curbside
mailbox must be placed to allow safe and convenient
delivery by carriers without leaving their vehicles.
The box must be on the right-hand side of the road
in the direction of travel of the carriers on any
new rural route or highway contract route, in all
cases where traffic conditions are dangerous for the
carriers to drive to the left to reach the box, or
where their doing so would violate traffic laws and
regulations.
3.2.7 Address Identification
Every curbside mailbox must bear the following
address information:
a. A box number, if used,
inscribed in contrasting color in neat letters
and numerals at least 1 inch high on the side of
the box visible to the carrier's regular
approach, or on the door if boxes are grouped.
b. A house number if street
names and house numbers have been assigned by
local authorities, and the postmaster authorizes
their use as a postal address. If the box is on
a different street from the customer's
residence, the street name and house number must
be inscribed on the box.
3.2.8 Owner's Name
The mailbox may bear the owner's name.
3.2.9 More Than One
Family Sharing a Receptacle
If more than one family wishes to share a mail
receptacle, the following standards apply:
a. Route and Box Number
Addressing. On rural and highway contract routes
authorized to use a route and box numbering
system (e.g., RR 1 BOX 155), up to five families
may share a single mail receptacle and use a
common route and box designation. A written
notice of agreement, signed by the heads of the
families or individuals who want to join in the
use of such box, must be filed with the
postmaster at the delivery office.
b. Conversion to Street Name
and Number Addressing. When street name and
numbering systems are adopted, those addresses
reflect distinct customer locations and
sequences. Rural and highway contract route
customers who are assigned different primary
addresses (e.g., 123 APPLE WAY vs. 136 APPLE
WAY) should erect individual mail receptacles in
locations recommended by their postmasters and
begin using their new addresses. Customers
having different primary addresses who wish to
continue sharing a common receptacle must use
the address of the receptacle's owner and the
"care of" address format:
JOHN DOE
C/O ROBERT SMITH
123 APPLE WAY
Customers having a common primary address (e.g., 800
MAIN ST) but different secondary addresses (e.g.,
APT 101, APT 102, etc.) may continue to share a
common receptacle if single-point delivery is
authorized for the primary address. Secondary
addresses should still be included in all
correspondence.
3.2.10 Delivery of Unstamped
Newspapers
Generally, curbside mailboxes are to be used for
mail only. However, publishers of newspapers
regularly mailed as Periodicals may, on Sundays and
national holidays only, place copies of the Sunday
or holiday issues in the rural route and highway
contract route boxes of subscribers if those copies
are removed from the boxes before the next scheduled
day of mail delivery.
3.2.11 Newspaper Receptacle
A receptacle for newspaper delivery by private
carriers may be attached to the post of a curbside
mailbox used by the USPS if the receptacle:
a. Does not touch the mailbox
or use any part of the mailbox for support.
b. Does not interfere with the
delivery of mail, obstruct the view of the
mailbox flag, or present a hazard to carrier or
vehicle.
c. Does not extend beyond the
front of the mailbox when the box door is
closed.
d. Does not display
advertising, except the publication title.
