How to Plan Your Mail Service for New Housing Developments
August 15, 2024
There are many factors to consider when establishing a new housing development, and it’s easy for certain details to slip through the cracks. Mail service may not seem like a high priority at first, but you’ll soon realize how pivotal dependable mail delivery is to the success of your community. Residents rely on receiving bills, jury summons, and other important correspondence on time and in good condition. The same goes for packages containing items they spent their hard-earned money to purchase.
The stress of managing this project may make planning mail service for your development seem overwhelming. It can be tough to even know where to start. Let us help! In this blog post, you will find the steps you need to take so that you can set up mail service and install mailboxes and parcel lockers that your residents can rely on. This guide will also help you to conform to USPS guidelines and requirements so you can avoid any problems later down the line.
Here's a breakdown of how to plan your mail service for new housing developments.
Connect with Your Local USPS
A step you should take early on in the process of establishing your new housing development is involving the United States Post Office. During the development’s design and planning phase, you must notify the USPS. Contact your local post office for delivery mode approval, or complete this growth management assistance request form online.
After you reach out, your local growth coordinator or USPS representative will help you establish the most efficient and effective mail service methods for your community. There are several guidelines and requirements the USPS will expect you to adhere to as you move forward, which we will discuss in the next section.
Assess the Guidelines and Requirements Involved
The Postal Service’s preference for new housing developments is centralized delivery. This way, residents can all pick up their mail at one location rather than several. This saves mail carriers time and effort and results in greener neighborhoods. Mailboxes being used for new construction must be 4C wall-mounted mailboxes or free-standing Cluster Box Units (CBUs). There also needs to be at least one parcel locker for every five mailbox compartments. Don’t forget to consult with your local USPS for details on the appropriate mailbox for your project.
It's also important to make sure that your project complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. After all, you want all your residents and mail carriers to be able to access your mailboxes.
You’ll need to ensure that you’re allotting adequate space so that you can adhere to ADA compliance guidelines.
We have an extensive United States Postal Service Mailbox Regulations and Specifications page where you can read up on USPS requirements for your mailboxes. You can also find ADA compliance guidelines for 4C horizontal mailboxes and CBUs.
Buy USPS Approved Salsbury Mailboxes
You may be thinking it would be nice if you could find mailboxes that you already know meet or exceed USPS regulations. Fortunately, Salsbury Industries carries a complete line of commercial mailboxes and parcel lockers that are approved by the USPS for delivery. Salsbury offers many models of the 4C horizontal mailboxes and CBUs that are required for new construction. With an extensive array of sizes, styles, and colors, you are sure to find mailboxes that will suit your new housing development perfectly.
The ordering process is quick and easy as well. A customer service representative will be happy to assist you with your mailbox design and order. Our website has a convenient Live Chat option that will allow you to speak instantly to a representative, and you can check our Contact page for other ways to get in touch.
Another useful tool you will have at your disposal is our Mailbox Configurator. It will help you figure out the optimal number of mailboxes and parcel lockers needed for your new housing development based on your specific requirements. We will provide a summary including sample installation instructions, elevations, rough opening dimensions, model numbers, and more.
Install Your Centralized Mailbox
Salsbury Industries’ support doesn’t stop after you place your order. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what to do when it comes to installing your mailbox, we have many resources to help. You can easily download installation instructions for our models online. Our vast video library also has several videos that will walk you through the process of installing various types of mailboxes. We have a page specifically dedicated to resources for builders and developers as well that includes building and renovation guidelines and other helpful information.
With all the stress and headaches involved in establishing a new housing development, the idea of planning your mail service might seem like the straw that’s going to break the camel’s back. But it doesn’t have to be that way! With Salsbury Industries, you’ll know that you’re in good hands. Since our mailboxes are USPS approved, a lot of the heavy lifting is already done. You just need to get in touch with your local post office and then focus on the fun part—picking out mailboxes that will appeal to your residents, ensure quick and efficient mail delivery, and add to the overall aesthetic of your community.
Click here to start browsing our USPS approved commercial mailboxes today.
