Posted on , by Chad Niles

Mailbox Laws and Regulations

  • According to Section 319 of the New York State Highway Law, mailboxes are considered highway obstructions and are only “allowed” in the right-of-way as a convenience to the owner as it is understood they are required for mail delivery.
  • The NYS traffic laws require the Highway Departments to keep a minimum two 15 foot lanes clear of obstructions for the motoring public. This is a minimum total width of 30 feet, roadway and shoulder
  • Per USPS the face of the mailbox should be a minimum of 16 feet from the center line of the roadway and always at least 6 inches off any asphalt edge or shoulder edge
  • The design of the snow plow with a wing is so that it plows a 15 foot wide path in one pass, at its narrowest setting. The NYS Traffic Laws do not allow anyone to cross the centerline of the roadway, therefore anything within 15 feet of the center of the road will most likely get hit.
  • The mailbox and its support arm should have a minimum of 42 inches of clear space under it and at least 2 feet back to the post from the face of the mailbox to allow the snow plow wing to pass under the mailbox and its arm. USPS allows 41 inches to 45 inches from the roadway surface, a snowplow wing is 40 inches, you must take in to consideration snow and ice buildup when calculating your minimum clear space.
  • The mailbox post and box must be strong enough to stand up to heavy snow coming off the plow, but also must bend or fall away if a car hits them. 
  • It is understood that mailboxes must be placed in the highway right-of-way; however the does not grant homeowners any legal rights in the highway when needed for highway purposes. The Attorney General on February 28,1966 stated “When the necessity of keeping the highway open conflicts with an individual’s reception of the mail, the later must stand aside”.
  • In extreme winter conditions, mailboxes can be damaged during snow removal. Damage is often a result of the force of snow coming off a plow’s blade. Mailboxes are often damaged due to weather conditions, amount of snowfall, and the weight of snow. Highway Drivers do their best to avoid mailboxes, but often times visibility, oncoming traffic and heavy snow work against them.
  • The best way to protect your mailbox is to ensure it is properly attached to the post and to keep the mailbox assembly simple, and limit the impact surface area from plowed snow. The Highway Department recommends that homeowners check their mailboxes periodically. 
  • The Town is not responsible for damage from plowing operations to basketball hoops or any other property placed within the Town right-of-way.