According to USPS regulations, the property owners, builders, or developers are responsible for cluster mailboxes.
Privately Owned Cluster Box
The builder or property owner is responsible for providing lock and key service for privately owned cluster boxes.
Who Owns My Mailbox? This is an excellent question and can be confusing for some people. It generally depends on who installed the unit. Some units are purchased and installed privately, while the Postal Service puts others there themselves.
Who is responsible for community mailboxes? Like cluster mailboxes, community mailboxes are typically maintained and repaired by the property owner or HOA. While the USPS manages mail delivery, the upkeep of the mailbox unit falls under the responsibility of the community that uses it.
If owned by the United States Postal Service, contact your local Post Office. Postal owned Cluster Box: keys and locks (including parcel boxes), contact the Local Post Office.
According to USPS's Postal Operations Manual, “Purchase, installation, and maintenance of mail receptacles are the responsibility of the customer.” So it is best just to alert the property owner about these sorts of problems (or handle the repairs yourself if you are the property owner), though you can always get in ...
Cluster boxes must be safely located so that customers are not required to travel an unreasonable distance to obtain their mail and so there is sufficient access to mailbox locations with adequate space for carriers to deliver and customers to retrieve the mail.
It's always best to verify whether the United States Postal Service owns the mailbox. If this is the case, then you will contact your local post office for repairs. However, if this is not the case, then you as the property owner are responsible for maintenance and repairs.
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).
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.
Generally, the property owner or manager is responsible for maintaining and repairing Cluster Mailboxes. This person or group (such as an HOA group) is in charge of performing necessary repairs to the mailbox. However, the local USPS office should maintain the USPS arrow locks and master door locks.
You can't change the mail delivery method in your neighborhood without permission from the Post Office. USPS guidelines explain that each neighborhood must have approved modes of delivery by the postmaster. If you live in an area with cluster mailboxes, this method has already been approved as the method of delivery.
A cluster box unit (CBU) mailbox is a freestanding, pedestal-mounted mailbox that consists of multiple mailbox compartments and parcel lockers that can lock individually.
Yes, Mailboxes Are 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.S. government. Prior to installation, however, mailboxes aren't federal property.
If you have a key in your mailbox it is likely because you are using a Cluster Box. These units often have parcel lockers. The parcel locker is used for items that are too large for your individual box within the Cluster Box. The key in your mailbox is a parcel locker key.
Overall, cluster mailboxes are a popular choice among homeowners and businesses in the United States. They provide a secure and convenient way to receive mail, while also helping to reduce traffic in the neighborhood.
U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS)
Other structures coverage comes standard with most home insurance policies and covers structures on your property that are not attached to your house, like fences, a detached guest house, detached garages, mailboxes and sheds.
Finding your cluster mailbox number typically involves a few simple steps: Check Your Mailbox: The number is usually displayed prominently on the front or side of your mailbox.
If the box is maintained by USPS, then you can contact your local post office when repairs are needed. If the cluster mailbox is privately owned, then the responsibility will fall on the property owner or manager.
Call 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777) or TTY: 711. Locate your local post office to speak with your station manager.
It may seem like fun to vandalize a mailbox or drop a firecracker into a blue USPS collection box, but it is actually a criminal act that affects your neighbors and your community. Mail cannot be delivered to a damaged mailbox, and mailboxes cost money to replace.
Cluster mailboxes must provide compartments set fewer than 48 inches above the floor or curb, with no lock higher than 67 inches. Compartments and lockers for packages must be fewer than 15 inches and 28 inches from the floor, respectively.
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.
Are Cluster Boxes Secure? The most important concern over cluster boxes is whether or not they are secure. Cluster mailboxes are actually considered to be more secure than traditional mailboxes. The reason is that each resident using the cluster box will have a unique key to their particular mailbox.