Replacing Aging Apartment Mailboxes With a Secure Cluster Box Unit (CBU)

Bellingham Mailbox •

For this project, a property manager contacted us to upgrade the existing mailboxes at a multi-unit rental property in order to comply with BMC 6.15.050, an ordinance in Bellingham, WA requiring rental properties to provide locking mailboxes for tenants.

The ordinance was designed to help:

  • Reduce mail theft
  • Protect tenants from identity theft
  • Support renters’ financial security

At the same time, the property owner wanted to modernize mail delivery for tenants.

The Original Mailbox Setup

The property originally used 12 non-locking mailboxes mounted together along the roadside.

Over time, the mailbox structure had deteriorated badly enough that portions of it had been propped up just to keep it from leaning or falling over entirely.

In addition to lacking security, the existing setup had several drawbacks:

  • No locking mail protection
  • No secure package delivery
  • Exposed outgoing mail
  • Aging unstable structure
  • Less convenient access for tenants

Rather than simply replacing the old mailboxes with another similar setup, we proposed a larger upgrade: installing a centralized cluster box unit (CBU).

Why We Recommended a Cluster Box Unit

A Cluster Box Unit CBU provided several major advantages for both the property owner and tenants.

The upgraded system would:

  • Provide locking tenant mailboxes
  • Comply with rental property requirements
  • Secure outgoing mail
  • Include built-in parcel lockers for package delivery
  • Create a cleaner and more organized appearance
  • Reduce future maintenance concerns

One of the biggest advantages was package delivery.

The new CBU included two integrated package lockers, allowing carriers to securely leave packages inside locked compartments rather than exposed outside tenant doors or mailboxes.

As package delivery volume continues increasing, parcel lockers have become one of the most valuable upgrades for multi-unit properties.

Coordinating the New Mailbox Location With USPS

Whenever relocating centralized mail delivery, it’s important to coordinate the plan directly with USPS.

Before installation began, we worked with both the property owner and USPS to confirm a new mailbox location that would:

  • Be safe for the mail carrier
  • Improve delivery efficiency
  • Better serve the tenants
  • Provide easier long-term access

One additional benefit of the new mailbox location was convenience. The relocated CBU ended up being closer for tenants to access compared to the original roadside mailbox location.

Minimizing Tenant Mail Disruption During Installation

One of the most important parts of multi-unit mailbox upgrades is minimizing disruption to tenant mail delivery during the transition.

To avoid interrupting service, we left the original mailbox system in place while the new CBU installation was completed.

This allowed:

  • Existing mail delivery to continue uninterrupted
  • USPS to transition service smoothly
  • Tenants to receive new mailbox keys ahead of activation
  • The property manager to coordinate tenant access properly

Once the new Cluster Box Unit CBU was fully installed and placed into service, the old non-locking mailboxes were removed from the property.

The Finished Result

What started as:

  • An aging unstable mailbox structure
  • Non-locking tenant mailboxes
  • Limited package security
  • A deteriorating roadside installation

became:

  • A secure centralized mailbox system
  • Locking tenant mailboxes
  • Integrated package lockers
  • Protected outgoing mail
  • Improved tenant convenience
  • A cleaner and more professional appearance for the property

For property managers, projects like this often end up improving much more than compliance alone. Upgrading to a modern cluster mailbox system can significantly improve security, package handling, maintenance, and overall tenant experience at the same time.