Switching From PO Boxes to Secure Home Mail Delivery With Locking Mailboxes

Bellingham Mailbox •

No existing mailbox? No problem.

For this project, two neighboring homeowners had been relying on USPS PO boxes for their mail delivery. Over time, the inconvenience of driving to the post office and the rising cost of maintaining PO boxes made them start looking for a better solution.

After finding Bellingham Mailbox online, they contacted us about installing mailboxes at their homes for the first time.

Coordinating With USPS Before Installing a New Mailbox

One of the most important parts of a first-time mailbox installation happens before any digging begins.

Whenever you're:

  • Installing a mailbox for the first time
  • Relocating an existing mailbox
  • Changing a mailbox configuration

it's important to coordinate with the post office serving your mail route.

Without approval from USPS, there is a risk that:

  • Mail delivery may not begin
  • The mailbox location may need to be changed
  • The mailbox may need to be reinstalled

For this project, we worked directly with the post office responsible for the route and agreed upon a mailbox location that would work for both the homeowners and the mail carrier.

Tip: How to Find Your Local Post Office

If you're unsure which post office serves your address, a simple way to start is by searching your ZIP code online along with "which post office serves my address."

Once you've identified the correct office, you can contact them directly to discuss mailbox placement and delivery requirements.

Taking a few minutes to make that call can save a lot of frustration later.

Installing Mailboxes on a Steep Embankment

One challenge with this installation was the terrain.

The approved mailbox location was positioned along the roadway with a steep embankment directly behind it.

When installing mailbox posts on sloped ground, burial depth becomes especially important.

A shallow installation may appear stable initially, but over time soil movement, erosion, and seasonal weather changes can cause the post to lean.

To create a stronger foundation, we lengthened the heavy-duty steel mailbox post by welding a reinforced rebar-framed extension to the bottom of the post.

This allowed us to achieve 24" to 30" inches of burial depth while maintaining proper mailbox height above the roadway.

For homeowners tackling a similar project themselves, Mail Boss also offers bolt-on post extensions that can be used when welding equipment isn't available.

Installing the New Mailbox System

Once the post was configured for the site conditions, we secured it in concrete and carefully checked it for alignment.

After ensuring the post was plumb, we mounted a two-mailbox spreader plate and then installed two Mail Boss Mail Manager Pro high-security locking mailboxes.

The Finished Result

What started as:

  • Two homeowners relying on PO boxes
  • Ongoing trips to the post office
  • Rising annual PO box costs
  • No residential mail delivery

became:

  • Secure home mail delivery
  • Two high-security locking mailboxes
  • A shared heavy-duty mailbox post
  • A reinforced installation designed for sloped terrain
  • Improved convenience and mail security

For these homeowners, the biggest benefit wasn't just the new mailboxes, it was finally having secure mail delivered directly to their homes.

Learn More About the Products Used

Want to learn more about the products used in this installation?

Watch our YouTube product reviews here:
Mail Boss Mail Manager Pro
Two Mailbox Spreader
Heavy-duty Steel Post

The Mail Boss Mail Manager Pro mailboxes, heavy-duty steel mailbox post, two-mailbox spreader plate, and post extension accessories are available through our online store:
Mail Boss Mail Manager Pro
Two Mailbox Spreader
Heavy-duty Steel Post