Mailbox Policy

TOWN OF ORONO MAILBOX REPLACEMENT POLICY

During snow plowing operations, Town of Orono plows may damage or destroy privately owned mailboxes located in the street right of way.  While there is no legal requirement for the Town to replace these boxes, and the State of Maine and many municipalities do not, it has been the long-standing practice of the Town to do so.  In recent years, property owners have begun to install more expensive designer mailboxes and have asked the Town to install similar mailboxes at a higher cost.  In addition, the use of plastic mailboxes and post sleeves, which are more easily damaged, has increased.  The purpose of the new policy is to outline the circumstances under which the Town will replace private mailboxes or reimburse owners who wish to purchase more expensive replacements than the Town will provide.

In order to be eligible for replacement or reimbursement, the following conditions must be met:

  • The damaged mailbox and/or post must meet the requirements of the United States Postal Service in regard to construction and location; and

  • The damage must have been caused by direct contact with Town equipment.  The Town will not repair or replace mailboxes or posts damaged solely by snow thrown by Town plowing or snow removal equipment; and 

  • The property owner must notify the Town within seven days of the date the damage occurred.  If the responsible party (owner/tenant/property manager) was out of town, the damage must be reported within seven days of that individual’s return.

In the event that a mailbox and/or its support post is damaged or destroyed by Town equipment engaged in snow plowing or snow removal operations, the Town will offer the owner of the property the choice of one of the following options:

  • The Town will furnish and install a standard replacement post and/or mailbox; or

  • The Town will reimburse the owner in an amount established by the Fee Schedule adopted annually by Town Council. This amount shall be based on the Town’s cost for a standard mailbox and post on July 1st. The amounts approved by Council for the 2019-20 winter season are:

Mailbox Reimbursement: $ 30.00 each maximum

Mailbox Post Reimbursement: $30.00 each maximum

If you are interested in making improvements to your mailbox to help make it easier to plow by and less likely to be damaged by snow removal activities, the Maine Department of Transportation offers some helpful suggestions for mailbox placement and construction like the diagram below. This information can be found at:

https://www.maine.gov/mdot/winterdriving/mailboxpolicy/

If you have any questions regarding the Town of Orono’s Mailbox Replacement Policy, or would like to request replacement or reimbursement for a damaged mailbox or post, please contact the Orono Public Works Department at 866-5062 or via email at ryerxa@orono.org.