Asked on Oct 07, 2017

I need to move my mailbox closer to my house. Where should it go?

Penny Carver
by Penny Carver
People kept hitting the mailbox when it was out on the curb. I don't have room for a mailbox on the wall by the door so where can I put the mailbox post?


  8 answers
  • William William on Oct 07, 2017

    You first need to check with your post office. They do have certain requirements on placement of mailboxes. If it was by the curb that may be where they want it. In my community some homes have them by the curb others by the house. The post office sets the rules on where they want the mailbox to be.

  • Michele Pappagallo Michele Pappagallo on Oct 07, 2017

    Typically, your mailbox has to be at the curb or at your front door. Depending on your town's requirements, you may not have a choice. Check with your local post office to see what their requirements are. You may be able to move the post back slightly from the curb as long as the mail person will still be able to easily reach it from their delivery truck.

  • 27524803 27524803 on Oct 07, 2017

    I am a retired mail carrier... You will have to contact your local Post Office and ask them if and where to move your mailbox...(your Mail Carrier may have some suggestions on how to solve the problem.).... you CANNOT just move it where ever you want, it must remain in the carriers "line of travel" according to the other address on your street...otherwise you risk having your mail held or delivery stopped until the box is moved back to the original location. The only time you are able to put it up by your door is if you mail route is a "walking" route (or if you have a disability and you are the only person in your household.. this needs Special Permission). If your Mail Carrier is in a Vehicle... the box must remain by the road and if you are in a "snow plow" area there are special requirements for that too.

    As a general rule: the front edge of the mail box should be in line with the edge of the road or curb (an inch back will not matter). The maximum height of the mail box (from the bottom edge of the box to the street or road surface) is 42 inches and the minimum is 36 inches. The box should not be placed where access can be blocked by trash cans, vehicles, etc.


    If your mail box is constantly being hit it may be due to a "vandal" who is doing it on purpose (contact your local Sheriff or Police department and let them know it is happening)... or your house is on a corner it may be people taking the corner too fast and hitting the box. Moving your mailbox to the other side of the driveway or 10 to 20 feet down the yard to give drivers more room to make the corner.. will solve the problem and this will not change the "line of travel" issue. Talk to your Mail Carrier.. he or she will be the best one to help you.

  • Cheryl A Cheryl A on Oct 07, 2017

    look at your neighbor's mailboxes to see where they are located because when homes are built, usually they install mailboxes according to your area's regulations and see if any of them have the same problems with mailboxes being hit

  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Oct 07, 2017

    If you have a garden against your house, perhaps you can put it in the garden next to your door. Check with the post office or your mailman to see if that would be ok, or if it has to be on the street. Perhaps if it needs to be on the street you could build a brick square tall enough for the mailbox and pole to sit in. If it gets run into at least you know they will get damage to their car for what they did.

  • NCbulldoglover NCbulldoglover on Oct 07, 2017

    You would need to check the postal service rules. Most places have specific rules for placing mailboxes. Where I live and where my mother lived you had to put your mailbox on the street unless you had a physical disability that made it so you could not walk to pick up your mail at the box. You needed a letter from your physician to be able to put one on the house. Depends on the rules for your particular place of residence.

  • Big lulu Big lulu on Oct 07, 2017

    I agree with William of Burbank.

  • Bobby Bobby on Jul 10, 2020

    I live on gold lake club rd. So can we all put are mail boxes. In front of each of are lots. Out the if its county rd on gold lake club rd. So. Y not have lot 16 to lot 27. With yhe mail box out front of are homes. Other then. On the hill of gold lake club rd. Please have some one to call me 5015044834. Bobby a bays from lot 27