What Landlords Need To Know About Mailbox Requirements
If you run an apartment complex or rent out a few rooms here and there, you already know a thing or two about the job. One of these regards the mail, or rather how your tenants receive it. What are your responsibilities regarding mail delivery or providing mailboxes? Here’s a quick breakdown of what landlords need to know about mailbox requirements.
You and the USPS
The mail is and always has been serious business for the Unted States Postal Service. It follows and enforces all laws regarding the postal service set by the Federal government. Violating these regulations can bring the risk of a hefty fine or imprisonment. When it comes to your tenants’ mail, don’t do anything by half.
Providing Mailboxes
While there’s no Constitutional right to receive mail, landlords are obligated to help their tenants receive mail. Landlords should provide a mailbox or similar receptacle for every tenant, but it can’t be any receptacle. Mailboxes must meet USPS codes outlining features, measurements, and more. These codes ensure the swift delivery of packages and establish safety features that protect the carrier, tenants, and yourself.
Codes covering mailbox standards for apartments are referred to as 4C standards. The 4C refers to the common type of mailboxes in apartment complexes. They can include outdoor cluster mailboxes and other types. Here are a few things you should be aware of as a landlord:
Heights and Widths
Mailboxes must meet several stipulations before carriers can deliver to them. Non-apartment mailboxes cannot be too close to a curb (at least six to eight inches away), and the poles can’t be buried any deeper than 24 inches in the ground. Apartment mailboxes must be located around 48–67 inches above the floor, but no more. Parcel lockers for packages, on the other hand, can be located much lower, but 15 inches above the floor is the minimum.
Make Room!
While no one expects a single mailbox to be the size of a closet or a suitcase, they do need to be roomy enough to accommodate the post. A mailbox must be at least three inches high, 12 inches wide, and 15 inches deep. As it turns out, mailboxes don’t necessarily have to be squarish in shape. Still, for purposes of saving space in your vestibule or lobby, the traditional long rectangle is best. Most apartment mailbox set-ups come in units as well.
Those are the basics about what landlords need to know about mailbox requirements. Have any questions? Contact Postal Supply LLC today for a consultation!