JEFFERSON COUNTY ENGINEER’S OFFICE

MAILBOX INSTALLATION POLICY

The following is a summary of standards for mailbox installations along Jefferson County roads. Mailboxes that are installed within the public road right-of-way are considered obstructions as they present a hazard to the traveling public (O.R.C. 5547.03, 5547.04). Therefore, Jefferson County recommends the following mailbox materials and installation method as recognized by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Unites States Postal Service (USPS). Please contact your local postmaster for mailbox location approval prior to installation.

POST MATERIALS

1. Wood posts shall be a maximum of 4 inches by 4 inches square or 4-1/2 inches round timber.
2. Steel posts shall be a maximum of 2 inches in diameter (2-3/8 inch O.D.) schedule 40 standard strength steel pipe.
3. Any material with a breakaway cross section characteristics equivalent to methods 1 or 2 above.

SETTING POSTS

Contact the Ohio Utilities Protection Service (800-362-2764) so they can notify utility members to mark their underground utilities prior to digging the post hole.

Posts shall be set to allow a minimum of 3 feet from the edge of the pavement to the roadside face of the mailbox. Where curbs are present, the face of the mailbox shall be 8 inches behind the face of the curb. Only 2 mailboxes are permitted on 1 post. If more than 2 mailboxes are required, then set posts 3 feet apart for each set of double mailboxes. The post shall be set to a maximum depth of 24 inches and in no instance shall the post be encased in concrete. Mailbox height shall be 41 to 45 inches from the road surface to the bottom of the mailbox.

DAMAGE POLICY

Mailboxes will only be repaired/replaced if the Jefferson County Highway Department snowplow driver contacts the mailbox with the snowplow. However, mailboxes placed closer than 3 feet from the edge of pavement will not be repaired/replaced if they are hit by the snowplow. Mailbox damage caused strictly by the force of the plowed snow will not be repaired/replaced. Authorized Highway Department personnel will determine if and when a mailbox gets replaced based on the above information. If a replacement is necessary a standard issue conventional mailbox and wood post will be used.