Installation of a mailbox is allowed within the right-of-way of Jefferson County’s public roads if its meet county standards. Jefferson County does not issue permits for mailbox installation, and no permit is required for an installation that meets the county's published standards.

The most current Jefferson County Mailbox Standards document may be downloaded below.

Safety and Usability

Like anything placed in the right of way, a mailbox and the post on which it is mounted are a potential hazard to users of the county road and a potential impediment to the operation and maintenance of the county road. Each mailbox must therefore be installed properly to ensure that mail can be delivered and that the mailbox does not substantially interfere with the safety of public users of the road nor with the operation and maintenance of the road.

Risk of Damage and Liability

Each mailbox is installed entirely at the owner’s risk. If the mailbox incurs damage during road maintenance or operations, other than through direct physical contact with a mailbox installed to meet the Standards, the property owner is not entitled to replacement or compensation. The property owner may be held liable for injuries or damages that may have been incurred as a result of installation that is not in accordance with these standards.

Applicable written standards

1. The United States Postal Service (USPS) Mailbox Guidelines. This includes the USPS Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) chapter D041, “Customer Mail Receptacles”; USPS standard USPS-STD-7C, “U.S. Postal Service Standard: Mailboxes, Curbside”; and this USPS overview information.
   
2. Chapter 11, “Erecting Mailboxes on Streets and Highways,” of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Roadside Design Guide.
   
3. Chapter 4, “Accessible Routes,” of the Americans with Disabilities Act for mailboxes installed in areas with sidewalks, especially section 403.5.1 – “Clear Width.”
   
4. The Jefferson County Public Works Mailbox Standards (download available below).

A mailbox installation that does not conform to the requirements of the Jefferson County Mailbox Standards will be considered an unauthorized encroachment on the county right of way and shall be removed by the owner upon notification by the Department of Public Works. If, following such notification and a specified time for removal, Public Works may remove the installation and charge the owner the cost of removal.