Mailbox Repair/Replacement Policy

Our plow drivers are instructed to take necessary precautions to avoid striking mailboxes with the wing of their plow truck. Please remember that any improvements within the Town's Right-Of-Way including mailboxes, shrubbery, fences, sprinkler heads 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.

 The Town of East Longmeadow will evaluate damages to a mailbox on a case-by-case basis. However, damaged mailboxes will only be replaced when it is determined to be caused by direct contact with plow equipment and not caused by Incidental conditions such as heavy snow. The Town will replace damaged structures with a typical 4 X 4 pressure treated post and standard metal USPS box. Residential property owners are advised to place these structures at the maximum allowable distance beyond the paved area of the roadway. Refer to United States Postal Service Guidelines at https://www.usps.com/manage/mailboxes.htm.

 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 can be dangerous to moving vehicles and are strongly discouraged within the Right-Of-Way. Mailboxes should be installed at least 42 inches high to provide clearance for the plow wing. Residents may want to consider the use of an extended arm type of post with a free-swinging suspended mailbox. 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.

 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 6-8 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 East Longmeadow Department of Public Works. In the event your mailbox is damaged during a storm, we ask you to make any needed temporary repairs or arrangements to pick up your mail at the Post Office. Only substantially damaged structures resulting from direct contact with plow equipment will be replaced with a basic metal mailbox and 4” X 4” post. The cost associated with these repairs is $50 per mailbox. If any resident would like to repair themselves the DPW will reimburse $20 for the post and $30 for the mailbox.  Residents must report damage within 7 days of incident in order to be eligible for replacement. Newspaper boxes or other attachments not above the recommended 42” height will not be repaired or reset by the Town.