LEGAL REQUIREMENTS:
MAILBOX AND MAILBOX STAND INSTALLATION –MUST READ!

Mailbox installation may seem very simple, but consider safety first before you install your new mailbox stand and mailbox. Mailboxes and stands that are set too firmly into the ground can become a fixed-object hazard. Mailboxes that are not fixed properly to their stand can break loose and become dangerous projectiles, endangering motorists and residents.

When installing your mailbox and stand you should look at a few issues before selecting the right location. The safety and convenience of the mail carrier and the resident as well as traffic must be considered. A mailbox should not be installed where a person will have to walk along the shoulder of a road for more than 200 feet. The mailbox should also be located in an area visible to motorists, but should not be placed too close to the roadway or the usable shoulder. It should be placed on the right side of the road in the direction that the postal employee is traveling and on the far side of the resident’s driveway.

The U.S. Postal Service has regulations for mailboxes and mailbox height. It does NOT have any regulations regarding mailbox installation. The U.S. Postal Service only approves certain mailbox types and requires that the bottom of the box be 42 to 48 inches above the ground. This height is at windshield level, and is the main reason for having the mailbox firmly attached to the stand. A mailbox that becomes unattached can break through the windshield of a vehicle and possibly injure the occupants.

CUSTOMERS ARE REQUIRED TO CONTACT THE LOCAL POST OFFICE BEFORE INSTALLING THE MAILBOX TO ENSURE ITS CORRECT PLACEMENT AND HEIGHT AT THE STREET. GENERALLY, MAILBOXES ARE INSTALLED AT A HEIGHT OF 41-45 in. FROM THE ROAD SURFACE TO INSIDE FLOOR OF THE MAILBOX OR POINT OF MAIL ENTRY AND ARE SET BACK 6-8 inches FROM FRONT FACE OF CURB OR ROAD EDGE TO THE MAILBOX DOOR.

The mailbox should be approved by the U.S. Postal Service, and should be as lightweight as possible. The mailbox should be attached to the support firmly to prevent it from coming off and possibly injuring motorists and residents. Improper support systems, such as concrete or sand-filled containers and thick metal pipes, can be hazardous to motorists. The post or stand should not be more than 24 inches into the ground and should not be set in concrete. By following these guidelines, the mailbox post will either break or be moved rather than be a safety hazard for motorists and residents.

Before installing a mailbox and stand, please contact your local municipality or permit department to determine if there are any mailbox ordinances in your community. Please note that mailboxes and posts are often subject to local restrictions, state laws and federal highway regulations. For example in Florida , the publication “Manual on Uniform Minimum Standards for Design, Construction and Maintenance for Streets and Highways” developed by the Florida Department of Transportation, quotes the AASHTO recommendations.

For more information please contact the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) who published a guide for mailbox location and assembly titled, "A Guide For Erecting Mailboxes on Highways”, at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Suite 225, 44 North Capitol Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001, (202) 624-5800.

Horseshoe-Hardware sells and retails other manufacturer’s mailboxes and mailbox stands. We do not assume any liability for their use or installation. Any and all liability is the sole responsibility of our customer and/or their installer. If you are concerned about proper installation you may contact a professional installer in your area, your local government municipality, or the AASHTO (as above). If you are not prepared to assume the responsibility and any liability associated with our product and its installation please feel free to immediately return it for a full refund of the purchase price.

GovtReg