USPS has outlined regulations for the size, shape, and placement of residential and commercial mailboxes. But what about people that live in apartments?
The USPS provides requirements for the size and construction of door slots. Wall-Mounted Manufacturers of wall-mounted receptacles intended for centralized use by multiple users, including those used in apartment homes, must receive USPS approval of the product. Conversely, USPS regulations do not govern what can be placed in a mail slot on your door. This means that if a local business wants to put a flyer in the mail slot, they can do so. Address identification.
Most people either just leave the letters sticking out from under the cover of the door slot, or I've seen clothes pins holding the letters to the flap, possibly even a bag clip with a magnet if there is a magnetic surface. No more USPS mail delivery to your door by 2022 under plan OK'd by House committee. About 30 million residential addresses receive delivery to boxes at the door or a mail slot.
A recent survey found that 20% of Americans live in apartment buildings that house more than 2 families.
The USPS delivers about 493.4 million pieces of mail every day.
If 20% of people live in apartments, that would mean there is an average of 98.7 million pieces of mail delivered to apartment mailboxes every day!
Of course, with all that mail going to apartments communities, USPS needed to lay out regulations for block-style apartment mailboxes as well.
These regulations are often referred to as 4C standards because the most common type of mailbox block installed in apartment communities are the 4C mailboxes.
We have researched all the rules and regulations USPS has placed on apartment mailboxes. Read on to find out what they have decreed.
Postal Carrier Access
The arrow lock is the device that allows the postal carrier to access all the mail compartments of a particular block of mailboxes.
USPS regulations state that the landlord must affix this device 36″ to 48″ from the floor.
Additionally, if the mailboxes are behind a locked door, the landlord must also furnish the postal worker with a key(s) so they can get to the mailboxes.
Parcel Lockers
Often times, people will receive mail that is much larger than the standard letter size.
USPS mandates that landlords supply 1 locked parcel box per every 10 mailboxes for larger items.
The postal carrier would then put the parcel in the designated box and put the key for that box inside the mail compartment for the correct recipient.
Height of Apartment Mailboxes
USPS has also outlined how high a landlord can install mailboxes.
The bottom row of mailboxes must be no lower than 28″ from the floor. The only exception being for parcel lockers which can be no lower than 15″ from the ground.
The top row of mailboxes must not exceed 67″ in height. This way, all average height adults can reach the top mailboxes.
Numbering and Labeling
According to USPS, landlords must label each mailbox with an apartment number and/or tenant name.
As tenants move in and out, it is also the landlord’s responsibility to make corrections to those labels so the postal carrier is not misinformed.
Mail Compartment Size
Mailboxes may be in a variety of sizes and shapes but the smallest dimensions for a standard tenant mailbox must not be smaller than 3 inches high by 12 inches wide by 15 inches deep.
Anything larger than that is acceptable for the USPS regulations.
Broken or Inoperable Locks
If the mailbox has a locking function, the postal carrier may not deliver any mail to that mailbox.
Even if the box is open and the postal carrier can place the mail in the box, if the lock is not functional, mail cannot stay in that box.
More Mail Madness
All those rules and regulations are enough to make anyone’s head spin, especially if you are not already familiar with other mailbox regulations.
If you still have questions about your apartment mailboxes or if you have questions about residential or commercial mailboxes, contact us today!
DSF2®
DSF2® is an approved method outlined in the Domestic Mail Manual for sequencing mail pieces in walk-sequence when not using a simplified address.
Who is DSF2® for?
To become a DSF2® Licensed Service Provider, applicant must be in the business of, or planning to be in the business of, providing address verification and list processing services.
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Description
What is DSF2®?
The DSF2® Product identifies whether a ZIP + 4® coded address is currently represented in the USPS® delivery file as a known address record. The DSF2® Product contains vacant, residential, business or seasonal address information. It also identifies if an address is delivered to a curb-side mailbox or by a door-slot. This information will allow for more targeted mailings. DSF2® processing is one of the approved methods outlined in the Domestic Mail Manual for sequencing mail pieces in walk-sequence when not using a simplified address.
What documentation do I need for DSF2®?
Once you have decided to apply to become a DSF2®, the next step is to complete the certification process. The process includes the completion of the following documentation:
Usps Door Slot Regulations
- Application
- Confidentiality Statement
- Self-Certification Survey
- Key Personnel Listing
- Security Documentation
- Technical Proposal
- Licensee Survey
- Equipment Information
Upon completion of these documents, the license must be executed, including the payment of the appropriate licensing fees.
Featured Resources
Licensing and Certification Key Personnel Form for DSF2®
This document contains an application form, Licensing and Certification Key Personnel Form, for Delivery Sequence File Second Generation (DSF2®).
DSF2® Licensee Agreement
This document provides a license agreement for DSF2®.
DSF2® Licensees
This document contains a list of DSF2® licensed providers with contact information.
Advertising Technical Guide
Advertising technical guide for licensed products.
DSF2® Interface Developers Guide
This document provides a technical guide for DSF2® interface developers.
DSF2® Flat File Interface Developers Guide
This document contains a technical guide for DSF2® flat file interface developers.
Information on Public Seed Records
This document provides facts and additional information on Public Seed records.
DSF2® Definition of Throwback Table
This document contains a throwback table for DSF2®.
DSF2® Certification Package
The following material describes the necessary steps of the certification process to qualify for a license to the DSF2 Licensed Service.
How to know if a Record is not a Business
This document provides a quick service guide to know if a record is not a business.
DSF2® Licensee Performance Requirements
To achieve DSF2 certification, the Licensee must comply with all requirements and specifications contained within the License Agreement, the most current version of this document, and the most current version of the Interface Developers Guide unless explicitly allowed, prohibited, or modified by USPS in writing.
How the Educational/Seasonal Indicator is used
New DSF2 Educational/Seasonal Indicator.
Licensing Fees
This document contains information about licensing fees for USPS® Licensed Products.
DSF2® Developer Resources
DSF2® Interface Developers Guide
This document provides a technical guide for DSF2® interface developers.
Usps Door Mail Slot Regulations
DSF2® Flat File Interface Developers Guide
This document contains a technical guide for DSF2® flat file interface developers.
Modifications to DSF2® License and Supporting Documents
This document lists modifications to DSF2® license agreement and supporting documents.
DSF2® Definition of Throwback Table
This document contains a throwback table for DSF2®.
DSF2® Licensing & Certification Resources
Licensing and Certification Key Personnel Form for DSF2®
This document contains an application form, Licensing and Certification Key Personnel Form, for Delivery Sequence File Second Generation (DSF2®).
Advertising Technical Guide
Advertising technical guide for licensed products.
Information on Public Seed Records
This document provides facts and additional information on Public Seed records.
DSF2® Certification Package
The following material describes the necessary steps of the certification process to qualify for a license to the DSF2 Licensed Service.
DSF2® Archived Announcements
No-Stat Reason Code Table - DSF2® (March 30, 2018)
No-Stats Increase (November 22, 2017)
No-Stat Record Increase
Updated REST Web Services Documentation
The Electronic Product Fulfillment (EPF) REST Web Services document has been updated to include both USPS® and Akamai server calls.
PO Box™ Throwback Table in the DPV® Product
In an effort to facilitate and grow the packaged‐service business, the USPS® has made the decision to include the PO Box Throwback table in the DPV and AMS API Products.
Door Not Accessible (DNA) & No Secure Location (NSL) Tables
In addition to verifying USPS® delivery points, the DPV and DSF2 Products have added two additional hash tables to assist mailers in streamlining delivery to reap the benefits of deliverable mail.
Licensing Announcement: Issue with Downloading Both SHA-1 and SHA-256 Products on Electronic Product Fulfillment (EPF)
This announcement details an issue with downloading both the SHA‐1 and SHA‐256 versions of the products using the SOAP Web Services (ColdFusion).
Licensing Announcement: SHA-256 Products on Electronic Product Fulfillment (EPF)
To comply with the recommendations from the December 2014 Office of Inspector (OIG) audit of the NCOALink® program, the USPS® will begin the transition from SHA‐1 to SHA‐256 technology as the method for data encryption.
Licensing Announcement: Reminder on Electronic Product Fulfillment (EPF) Server Migration
As a reminder, the Electronic Product Fulfillment (EPF) website will be migrated to a new server Saturday, March 15.
Licensing Announcement: Reminder on Electronic Product Fulfillment (EPF) for Large Files Beta Test
This licensing announcement serves as a reminder that the EPF for Large Files beta test concludes on Saturday, June 15, 2013.
Licensing Announcement: DPV®/DSF2® Files to Support Hurricane Sandy
To support addresses impacted by Hurricane Sandy, the USPS® is providing vacant and no-stat information via a weekly download from the Electronic Product Fulfillment (EPF) website.
DPV® PBSA Records
Effective with the August release, the USPS® has included the PBSA (Post Office Box Street Address) records in the following products.
DPV® CMRA Table Expansion
Effective with the February release of the DPV® monthly data fulfillment, P.O. Box™ (PBSA) records will be added to the CMRA table.
Licensing Announcement: DSF2® Throwback Table Expansion
In an effort to provide value added enhancements to the traditional P.O. Box™ service, 3,700 postal locations are adding ‘P.O. Box Street Addresses’ (PBSA) to the AMS database.
Licensing Announcement: DSF2® Updated LPR (October 20, 2010)
The DSF2® Licensee Performance Requirements (LPR) has been updated.
Licensing Announcement: DSF2® Updated LPR (October 15, 2010)
The DSF2® Licensee Performance Requirements (LPR) has been updated.
Licensing Announcement: DSF2® Monthly Reports (October 15, 2010)
The USPS® has updated the DSF2® monthly report log layout to clarify and define the specific data and/or data counts to be populated in each field of the report.
Licensing Announcement: DPV® Known False Positives (January 25, 2008)
Below are important announcements regarding the DPV Known False Positive files, a DSF2 clarification on False Positive Reporting, and maintenance of False Positive reports.
Licensing Announcement: DPV®/DSF2® Header Files
DPV and DSF2 Products currently have a very limited header file called month.dat which only contains the product month.
Footnote Code Changes
As presented at the CASS PIT meeting on February 17, 2005, there are some changes to the Footnote codes and how to process records when there is no delivery type on a match.
Related Products
DPV®
The DPV® Product identifies whether a ZIP + 4® coded address is currently represented in the USPS® delivery file as a known address record. It also allows users to confirm known USPS addresses, as well as, identify potential addressing issues that may hinder delivery.
ZIP + 4® Product
The ZIP + 4® Product is a base reference file that can be accessed by an application to assign the correct ZIP + 4® Code associated with a physical address.
Contact
For more information on the DSF2® licensing and certification process, please contact the Move Update Support Department at 1-800-589-5766.