When designing and building new housing, it’s easy to get lost in all the details. At first glance, mailbox installations might seem low on the priority list; however, a well-planned mail and package solution is integral to community design and keeping residents happy with a great mail experience.

Because mailboxes are something a resident interacts with nearly every day, here are a few things to keep in mind as you begin planning for your centralized mailbox solution.

1. Location, Location, Location

Determining the location of your mailbox solution is an important first step in planning. Whether you are establishing a new single-family development, multifamily apartments, student housing, or condos, the US Postal Service (USPS) requires centralized mailbox equipment be used. Adding clustered mailboxes improve delivery speed while reducing the environmental impact of multiple vehicle stops. By planning early, you can easily incorporate your centralized solution into other common space elements of the development.

Having mail and package delivery located in a central or common space ensures easy access to the equipment by both the Postal Carriers and residents. A central location also helps deter criminal actions such as theft and vandalism, as they are most often located in proximity to other higher-traffic amenities, like lobbies or clubhouses.

When selecting the ideal location for your centralized mailbox installation, also keep in mind how many different points of entry the Carriers and residents will have to cross to get to the mailboxes. Passing through more than one main gate or door places too many obstacles to their efficient delivery and could cause headaches for onsite staff that need to help gain access every day.

2. Plenty of Space for Mail and Packages

In the age of one-day shipping, people are receiving more packages than ever before. In response, in the early 2000’s the USPS changed their mailbox design specifications to accommodate small packages and larger volumes of mail. As a result, more space is required in your common area to accommodate these cluster mailboxes.

As the USPS requires there to be one parcel locker for every five mailboxes installed, this will need to also be factored in when determining the overall space your centralized mailbox installation will take. While many centralized mailbox modules contain built-in parcel lockers, you can also add parcel locker only modules to expand your capacity for USPS package delivery.

(And don’t forget, that if you are also planning for other major carrier package deliveries by FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc., that you will need additional space for a separate package equipment solution since only the USPS is allowed to deliver to the centralized mailboxes.)

When evaluating how many parcel lockers you may need, keep in mind that while one mailbox may be assigned per address, that multiple package-purchasing people may live at that address. It is therefore essential that you are not conservative when determining the amount of parcel lockers by only installing the minimum required, but to think about the Holiday package volume and instead consider one parcel locker to every three mailboxes. By thinking about the type of residents living in your community, family, retiree, or students, and their purchase patterns, you can ensure you have planned sufficient space for your centralized mailbox installation.

3. Meet All Necessary Regulations to Remain Compliant

When planning for centralized mailbox solutions, USPS regulations are not the only codes that need to be taken into consideration. It is also important to include the various state and local codes, as well as federal accessibility regulations for mailboxes and the Fair Housing Act.

For property owners, the importance of providing centralized mailboxes installed in a manner that complies with both USPS specifications, accessibility requirements and all the various other regulations cannot be minimized. Ensuring compliance will avoid mail stoppage or occupancy permit denials.

Following regulations set forth in legislation, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as the standards set by the USPS, can seem a daunting task. Consulting with an expert mailbox provider, one who knows code requirements in detail, prior to construction will help ensure your centralized mailbox project is compliant with all requisite regulations.

4. Customize Mailboxes to Fit Your Design Aesthetic

Just because your centralized mailbox installation serves a utility purpose doesn’t mean it has to be boring! Your community’s mailbox solution should be a direct reflection of your architectural design as well as the resident population it serves.

To help with the planning process, give our DIY online configurator a try where you can put together different mailbox modules and add customizations to make it your own. Think about how the mailboxes you select don’t just fit in but stand out as well!

Because centralized mailboxes can be wonderful accents in any community, thoughtful planning is important to ensure these common use spaces are functional, convenient, compliant, and attractive places for residents. Need some inspiration? Visit our image gallery or Pinterest boards to see how other communities have added a little spice to their mail and package centers.

There are numerous reasons a construction project can fall behind schedule, don’t let planning and selecting multi-unit mailboxes slow down your project. At Florence Corporation, we’ve been in the business of designing and supply USPS-Approved centralized mailboxes for over 90 years. We also have Authorized Dealers nationwide that stand ready to assist you in planning your mailbox installation every step of the way, freeing you up to focus on other aspects of your project.

For more information about planning a great resident mail experience, check out our Planning Guide.