Who owns community mailboxes

On any given day, the USPS delivers over million pieces of mail to recipients across the country. And because mailboxes are used exclusively by the USPS -- as opposed to private parcel and package delivery companies -- many people assume that they are federal property.

So, are mailboxes really considered federal property? Assuming a USPS-compliant mailbox is installed and ready for use, it's considered federal property.

In other words, the homeowner doesn't legally own his or her mailbox; it's the property of the U. Prior to installation, however, mailboxes aren't federal property. When first manufactured, a mailbox is the property of the manufacturing company.

The company may then sell the mailbox to a homeowner or community developer, at which point it will become the homeowner's or community developer's property.

Think about how the model will fit into your design. Plan your mailbox installation before you choose equipment. Is the space accessible to both mail carriers and residents? Think about safety measures for resident packages. Think through how the mailbox units will be identified. Leave a Reply Want to join the discussion? Feel free to contribute! Leave a Reply Cancel reply You must be logged in to post a comment. Main Phone Customers will receive a USPS approved master lock according to regulations.

If you lose the key to your tenant box and don't have a spare key, installing a new lock may be necessary. The USPS doesn't accept responsibility for lock replacement, and they don't fix defective mailbox components. Appendix A and B of the USPS regulations provide installation instructions and information that customers should follow when installing a new multiple unit box.

You can also refer to our cluster mailbox installation tutorial for more info. If you or your contractor install the mailbox incorrectly, then it may cause problems with USPS delivery. According to the regulations' information, there are several requirements that installers should put in place during installation.

These requirements include identifying a suitable location, foundation preparation, and specific mounting procedures. You can contact your local USPS growth manager if you need assistance or information on mail equipment installation. To start the process of installing a new cluster mailbox, contact Budget Mailboxes. We provide a wide range of USPS approved and private delivery community mailboxes. Tags: usps requirements mailbox buyers guides.

Related Posts. How Do Cluster Mailboxes Work? For additional information see: What is a Cluster Box? If Privately owned or maintained by a landlord, apartment complex, condo association or other housing group, then that management is responsible for maintaining the box including keys.

Go to USPS. Sign In. FAQs Home. How can we help? Search for a topic. Share via email. Mailboxes - The Basics Managing mailboxes and general delivery services. Information Article Number. Customer Information. General Delivery A mail service for those without a permanent address, often used as a temporary mailing address.