Roadside Mailbox Guidelines
Our plow drivers are instructed to take all necessary precautions to avoid striking mailboxes with the wing of their plow truck. Please remember, State law provides that any installations within the Town's Right-Of-Way including mailboxes, shrubbery, fences and other property enhancements are placed there at the owner's risk. Municipalities are not responsible for any damages caused during snow removal operations. In most cases, mailboxes are damaged by the weight of the snow and not from direct contact from plow equipment.
Residential property owners are advised to place these structures at the maximum usable distance beyond the paved area of the roadway. Below are some tips for mailbox placement to help reduce the chances of damage during winter plowing:
Place reflective material on the side of the box visible to approaching traffic. Also, 4"high letters to identify the address is recommended to assist emergency vehicles.
Mailbox post size must not exceed 4" by 4" for a wooden post or 2" diameter for a steel pipe post for roadside barrier safety. Posts that are more substantial in construction are considered deadly fixed objects - and are not permitted within the Right-Of-Way.
Mailboxes should be installed at least 42 inches high to provide clearance for the plow wing as shown in the picture above. We recommend the use of an extended arm type of post with a free-swinging suspended mailbox, again, as shown in the picture above. This allows snow plows to sweep near or under boxes without damage to supports and provides easy access to the boxes by your postal carrier.
Below you will find a sketch showing the recommended location for your mailbox. Placing the mailbox on the side of your driveway away from approaching traffic will allow our driver to properly clear the roadway and to get as close as possible to your mailbox to minimize the amount of shoveling you will have to do to clear the mailbox for the postal carrier.
For un-curbed roadways, set the mailbox back at the far edge of the road shoulder to provide the maximum possible roadway clearance. For curbed roads, the face of the mailbox should be 8-12 inches back from the curb face.
Your participation and cooperation in complying with the above recommendations will be greatly appreciated by your rural carrier, postal service and the Fairfield Public Works & Public Safety Departments.
USPS Mailbox Guidelines (click here)
In the event your mailbox is damaged during a storm, we encourage you to contact the Post Office regarding temporary hold or forwarding options.
Fairfield P.O.: 453-6101 - Hinckley P.O.: 453-9263 - Shawmut P.O.: 453-7860