Upgrading Apartment Mailboxes to Locking Wall-Mounted Mailboxes for Rental Property Compliance

Bellingham Mailbox •

For this project, a property manager contacted us to upgrade the existing mailboxes at a 4-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

In this case, the property still had its original non-locking wall-mounted mailboxes installed.

Removing the Existing Non-Locking Mailboxes

The original setup consisted of four smaller non-locking wall-mounted mailboxes installed side-by-side in a single row.

One thing that worked out well on this project was that the home had previously been repainted with the old mailboxes already removed during painting preparation. Because of that, there wasn’t any mismatched paint or fading behind the old boxes that needed to be repaired after removal.

That helped create a much cleaner final installation once the new mailboxes were mounted.

We began by removing the existing wall-mounted mailboxes and preparing the mounting surface for the upgraded locking mailbox installation.

Installing New Locking Wall-Mounted Mailboxes

For the replacement, the property manager chose our proposed Mail Boss Metro wall-mounted locking mailboxes.

Compared to the original boxes, the new locking mailboxes were slightly wider in size. Instead of mounting all four in a single row, we installed them in two grouped sets of two mailboxes positioned directly beside one another.

That layout created:

  • Better spacing
  • A cleaner overall appearance
  • Improved symmetry on the wall
  • Easier access for tenants

Why Property Managers Are Upgrading to Locking Mailboxes

Many older rental properties still have original non-locking mailboxes that were installed decades ago before mail theft became as common as it is today.

For property managers, upgrading to locking mailboxes can help:

  • Improve tenant satisfaction
  • Reduce mail theft concerns
  • Modernize the appearance of the property
  • Meet local compliance requirements
  • Reduce maintenance complaints from aging mailbox systems

Smaller apartment properties often benefit especially from wall-mounted locking mailbox systems because they provide security without requiring large freestanding mailbox structures.

Note: If your property has curbside mail delivery that doesn't mean you can remove that system and instead mount wall mounted boxes. Confirm with your local post master.

Why Mail Boss Locking Mailboxes Work Well for Property Management

One advantage of the Mail Boss Mail Manager system is the simplicity of replacement key ordering.

Each mailbox key includes a unique serial number that allows replacement keys to be ordered directly from the manufacturer quickly and affordably. Replacement keys are relatively inexpensive, eliminating the need for:

  • Locksmith services
  • Lock drilling
  • Full lock replacement
  • Third-party coordination

For property managers handling tenant turnover, lost keys, or maintenance coordination, this creates a much simpler long-term ownership experience.

The Finished Result

The final result completely updated the appearance and functionality of the original mailbox setup.

What started as:

  • Aging non-locking mailboxes
  • Minimal mail security
  • An outdated wall-mounted installation

became:

  • Four high-security locking mailboxes
  • A clean modernized layout
  • Improved tenant mail security
  • A more durable long-term installation

Projects like this are a great example of how a relatively straightforward mailbox upgrade can make a property feel substantially more updated while also improving everyday functionality for tenants.

The Mail Boss Metro wall-mounted locking mailboxes used in this installation are also available through our online store:
Mail Boss Metro