• You should just post your mailbox up in the yard. There are rules to follow.mailbox image by Pix by Marti from Fotolia.com
  
  You may never have thought about it, but there are federal rules governing how your mailbox is supposed to be displayed in your yard. The rules are fairly simple and are designed to make the job easier for mail carriers so they can efficiently deliver the mail. Take note of the regulations, and make any adjustment that are necessary.
  
  

Mailbox Design Rules

• All custom-designed mailboxes must be approved by the local postmaster. Any mailbox that has a lock must be USPS approved by the Postmaster General and must have a slot large enough to handle your regular amount of mail. Advertisement cannot be displayed on the mailbox or its post. A newspaper receptacle can be attached to the mailbox as long as it does not: touch the mailbox for support, interfere with mail delivery, block the mailbox flag from view, extend beyond the front of the mailbox when the box door is closed and is not hazardous to a mailperson or vehicle. The name on your mailbox should be at least 1 inch high.
  
  

Mailbox Positioning

• The height of the mailbox must be between 41 and 45 inches above the road surface, unless the road or curb does not allow for this. All mailboxes must be on the right side of the street and facing the mail carrier's direction of travel. Your mailbox should be between 6 and 8 inches from the curb. Contact your post office before moving your mailbox.
  
  

Mailbox Maintenance

• You must maintain the upkeep of your mailbox post to ensure that it is sturdy and unbroken. Also, you must maintain a clear pathway for mail carriers to access the mailbox. If the mailbox does become damaged, it is the responsibility of the owner to replace it.
  
  

Ohter Information

• Postal service rules about mailboxes apply to curbside and other outdoor mailboxes, but door slots have different rules and many of the above rules do not apply. There may be neighborhood-specific rules governing mailboxes that an individual will also be held to.