Mailbox Regulations
Updated January 30, 2023
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General Guidelines | Wall-mounted Mailboxes | Freestanding Mailboxes
Many mailboxes in Cerritos are 30 years old or more and showing their age. To help beautify Cerritos and protect residents from mail theft, the City Council recently approved these guidelines for residents planning to replace their old models. Residents are encouraged to work with their neighbors to choose mailboxes that are attractive and compatible, for a beautiful streetscape.
A wide variety of mailboxes that meet these guidelines can be found at your local home improvement, discount or hardware store.
General Guidelines
All new mailboxes should be made of a rust-resistant material and should be compatible with the color, style and material of your home and neighboring homes.
All new mailboxes should also have a locking device that only you can access with a key. A locking device allows your postal carrier to deliver your mail through a slot, which helps to reduce the potential for mail theft.
Wall-mounted Mailboxes
Wall-mounted mailboxes can be attached to the outside of your home, near your front door.
Freestanding Mailboxes
Freestanding mailboxes can be installed in the parkway in front of your house. A "paired freestanding mailbox" is actually two mail boxes, installed in a parkway, that are joined together by a metal or wood structure. Each mailbox is assigned to one property address and the owner is responsible for its maintenance.
Freestanding mailboxes should be no more than 48 inches from the top of the mailbox to the ground, and no shorter than 25 inches from the bottom of the mailbox to the ground. The mailboxes should be supported with a metal or wood post or structure painted to match or complement the color of the box. To prevent wear, the base (at least four inches above the ground) should be made of concrete or protected with metal flashing or a similar wear-resistant material.
If you have questions or need suggestions for your new mailbox, call the City's Community Development Department at (562) 916-1201.