Mailbox Guidelines - Our plow drivers take all precautions to avoid striking mailboxes with the wing of the plow. Below are some tips for mailbox placement to help reduce the changes of damage during winter plowing:
- Place reflective material on the side of the box visible to approaching traffic, also, 4" high letters to identify the address is recommended to assist emergency vehicles.
- Mailbox post size must not exceed 4" by 4" for a wooden post or 2" diameter for a steel pipe post for roadside barrier safety. Posts that are more substantial in construction are considered "deadly fixed objects" and are not permitted within the Town Way.
- Mailboxes should be installed at least 42 inches high to provide clearance for the plow wing as shown in the picture on the right. We recommend the use of an extended arm type of post with a free-swinging suspended mailbox as shown on the picture to the right. This allows snowplows to sweep near or under boxes without damage to supports and provides easy access to the boxes by carrier and customers.
USPS regulations specify the location of mailboxes. Roadside mailboxes must be on the right-hand side of the road, determined by the direction the carrier will be traveling. The front of the mailbox must be set back from the edge of the road or curb by 6 to 8 inches.
Your participation and cooperation in complying with the above will be greatly appreciated by your rural carrier, postal service and the Town of Manchester.
Mailbox Support Design:
It is best to use an extended arm type of post with a free-swinging suspended mailbox. This allows snowplows to sweep near or under boxes without damage to supports and provides easy access to the boxes by carrier and customers. The picture below shows a free-swinging suspended mailbox.
Offset:
Mailboxes should be set back from the edge of the shoulder - regardless of whether the shoulder is gravel or paved. In other words, the face of the mailbox should be at least one foot (1') back from the edge of the normally plowed surface of the highway or the face of curb. Greater offset distances are encouraged whenever possible to allow the mail carrier to get further out of traffic and to further minimize potential damage to your mailbox. The photo below shows a mailbox with a reasonable offset.
Height:
According to USPS standards, a mailbox must be installed with the bottom of the mailbox located between 42" and 45" high above the surface of the highway shoulder. We recommend that this height be closer to the 45" measurement to minimize conflict with the height of the plow truck wing when snow is being pushed back during, or between, winter storms. The photo to the br;pe further clarifies the height considerations.
Post Size, Type and Embedment Mailbox posts must be sturdy enough to hold up the mailbox in all types of weather conditions; however they cannot be so rugged that they present a hazard to vehicles that inadvertently leave the road. If a mailbox support is struck by a vehicle, it must easily break away. Therefore, the following types of posts are deemed acceptable:
- 4" x 4" wooden posts embedded 2 feet into the ground. Larger wooden posts may be used only if the post is drilled through with an appropriate spade bit to create a shear plane that is no higher than 6" above the surface of the surrounding ground. The number and size of the drilled holes depends upon what is necessary to bring the cross-section of the larger post down to the equivalent cross-sectional area of a standard 4" x 4" post. (MaineDOT Standard Specification 606.06)
- 1" to 2" round diameter steel or aluminum pipe or standard U-channel post embedded 2 feet into the ground.
- Unacceptable mailbox supports include: anything that is filled with concrete, masonry and stone structures, heavy steel structures, and most objects that were intended for other uses (e.g. antique plows, I-beams, and various other household tools and objects).
NOTICE: Mailboxes, attachments or support systems not consistent with this policy are considered "Deadly Fixed Objects" (aka. "DFOs") and are in violation of 23 MRSA §1401-A on state and state aid roads. On local roads, they can be considered as "obstructions" and a number of statutes relate to these obstructions. As such, when these installations are recognized by the municipality, the owner will be informed of the hazard and immediate removal will be requested. If the property owner does not comply with this request, the municipality may elect to remove the installation and seek reimbursement from the property owner for all costs incurred.
Replacement Standards: The Town of Manchester recognizes that having your mailbox hit during a snow storm can be an inconvenience and nuisance. Please understand our drivers to pay close attention to mailbox locations, however sometimes it is simply unavoidable. Should your box be hit, the Town does make an effort to reimburse you, Contact the Town Office