The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has confirmed that, based on discussion with the MHI National Communities Council (NCC) and other real estate groups, that there will be no requirement for retrofitting existing mailboxes in its upcoming changes to the standards for wall-mounted cluster mailboxes. Earlier this year, USPS proposed requiring all manufactured home communities, apartment buildings, subdivisions and commercial buildings that had wall-mounted cluster mailboxes to retrofit those boxes with newer boxes that were 25 percent larger and also provide a parcel locker for every eight mailboxes.

USPS stated that the current standard, adopted in 1975, needs to be updated to accommodate growing mail volume and improve mail safety and security. Although it has not released any statistics, USPS states that identity theft through the mail is on the rise and these new boxes with stronger locks will help prevent that, although there is no effort to require curbside boxes to have any lock. Further, USPS over the next two decades plans on delivering mail in presorted sealed plastic bags that will fit more easily into the boxes.

Proponents of the new boxes, besides USPS, include mailbox manufacturers and direct mail and magazine distributors. Direct mail companies want more room in boxes for advertising promotions, while magazine distributors want mailboxes that will allow magazines to be delivered flat and not rolled, given the growth of magazine inserts, such as CDs and perfume samples.

USPS believes the requirement for parcel lockers will allow it to compete more effectively with FedEx and UPS in the growing home delivery market.

Specifically, USPS wanted to require mailboxes to be redesigned to 3” (height) x 12” (width) x 15” (depth). The proposed locker size is 12” (height) x 12” (width) x 18” (depth).

Hundreds of communities responded to the NCC questionnaire on the impact of requiring mailboxes to be retrofitted. Estimates on replacement costs ranged from $10,000 to $50,000 per community depending on the complexity of the mail facility.

Now, based on extensive discussions with the NCC and its real estate allies that were adamantly opposed to any retrofit requirement, the USPS has announced that the new standard will only apply to newly developed communities or those that undergo substantial renovation impacting mail facilities. The NCC and other groups are now discussing the appropriate number of parcel lockers that should be required with the new mailboxes and the phase-in period of the new standard. The NCC wants to assure that the cost of the new parcel lockers is not prohibitive and that community developers have a reasonable amount of time to incorporate the new mailboxes in their planning.

A proposed rule from USPS is now expected in early 2004.

NCC members with questions may contact Mike O’Brien at (703) 558-0652 or mobrien@mfghome.org.