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.S. government.
Once you install your mailbox, and it is ready for the receipt of mail, you effectively lease your mailbox to the federal government for the service of mail delivery.
Because it's your land and it is affixed to your land, it legally belongs to you. Thus, if he refuses to move the mailbox, you can remove it from your property yourself. You don't need to call a lawyer or the post office unless the post office put it there rather than your neighbor or the builder.
508.3. 1.3 of the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM): "No part of a mail receptacle may be used to deliver any matter not bearing postage, including items or matter placed upon, supported by, attached to, hung from, or inserted into a mail receptacle.
If the LPO does not service the mailbox, this means the property owner or manager is responsible for the maintenance. The US Postal Service® does not maintain personal mailboxes: The property owner is responsible for the repair of personal boxes.
Although mailboxes are the responsibility of the customer/property owner as defined U.S. Postal Service™ Post Office Manual Section 632, mailboxes are considered federal property, and federal law (Title 18, United States Code, Section 1705), makes it a crime to vandalize them (or to injure, deface or destroy any mail ...
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.S. government. Prior to installation, however, mailboxes aren't federal property.
Not having a proper mailbox is a violation and the unit is considered uninhabitable according to CA law.
Finally, non-mail items may also be placed in mail slots in residential doors because they provide direct access to the home. According to the Government Accountability Office, if you stuff a non-mail item into someone's mailbox, you could face a fine of up to $5,000 per occurrence.
Mailboxes are considered federal property, protected by rules set by the United States Postal Service. Because of this, only authorized persons (mail carriers and the owner of the property of the mailbox) are legally allowed to place things into and retrieve items from the mailbox.
While the USPS sets specific standards and regulations for mailboxes, the homeowner or property owner owns the physical mailbox. This ownership provides the freedom to select the design and location of your mailbox, provided it follows USPS regulations.
Under the mailbox rule, an offer is considered accepted the moment the offeree mails their letter, rather than when the offeror receives the letter in the mail. The mailbox rule also applies to other means of communication, such as a fax, telegram, or email, provided that it is irrevocable once sent.
Absolutely do not open it. Even if your intentions are good, or you know the person the mail is addressed to, opening and reading another person's mail is a felony.
The principle that an acceptance becomes effective, and binds the offeror, once it has been properly mailed.
California law states that police must have a search warrant before they can search your mail.
If you had a mailbox on post office property, or on common areas in your community, only authorized persons can move it. He could actually be charged with a misdemeanor for moving a mailbox without permission. 18 U.S.C. 1708.
The Mailbox Restriction Law
Anyone else who opens the box or puts anything inside of it is a criminal act. The U.S. Postal Service explains that "by law, a mailbox is intended only for receipt of postage-paid U.S. Mail."
It's only really federal property for things like abuse and vandalism, mail tampering and theft, when installed and in use. Otherwise you still own it, and can take it down, destroy it, sell it, do whatever you like with it.
But there is only one acceptable “innocent” purpose - putting mis-delivered mail into the box. That is, mail that the carrier put into your mailbox by mistake. It's illegal to put anything except US Mail INTO a mailbox. So if you're trying to save a stamp by just sticking into the box, then it's illegal.
Well, legally under CA law, the party who causes damage is liable for repairing that damage and putting the property back to the state it was in prior to the accident.
Here are some helpful guidelines to follow when placing your mailbox: Position your mailbox 41″ to 45″ from the road surface to the bottom of the mailbox or point of mail entry. Place your mailbox 6″ to 8″ back from the curb. If you do not have a raised curb, contact your local postmaster for guidance.
It's important for you to know that in some situations it is actually illegal to place a camera in your mailbox. If you own your mailbox, then this is fine, but if your mailbox is USPS property, then you should not place a camera inside of your mailbox, although you may consider placing it adjacent to the mailbox.
Yes or no. If the mailbox is free-standing for a single address, it is owned by the customer. It must maintain certain standards, but it is owned by the customer. If you have a mailbox inside a post office, the box is owned by the PO.
Per the U.S. Code, anyone who willfully damages or destroys any mailbox or other similar receptacle meant to receive mail is guilty of a federal offense. The law also prohibits anyone from breaking open a mailbox to destroy the mail inside.
If you have information on mailbox vandalism or mail theft in your area, report it to your local Post Office™ or to the Postal Inspection Service at 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777).