Mailbox Support Policy

Hubbard County Mailbox Support Policy
The Hubbard County Highway Department may, at its discretion, replace all nonconforming mailbox supports as part of a reconstruction or resurfacing project. The County will continue to monitor existing mailbox supports and notify owners of their noncompliance.

The new mailbox supports that have been installed by the County become and remain the property of the owner upon completion of the installation. Maintenance of mailbox supports also becomes the responsibility of the owner. Mailboxes must conform to U.S. Postal Service requirements.

Separate newspaper holders and paraphernalia may result in damage to mailbox supports.  Newspaper boxes should be installed adjacent to mailboxes and not below them as they can be more easily damaged by snowplowing.


The important features of an approved, conforming mailbox design for rural roadways include the following:

  • The post is located a minimum of 3 feet from the edge of the road shoulder.
  • The front of the mailbox is located right above the edge of the shoulder.
  • The bottom of the box is at the proper height (normally 41-inch minimum to 45-inch maximum - check with your mail carrier).
  • An installation that will pivot or rotate in some fashion when hit.

The purpose of this policy is to establish uniformity and consistency in the application, installation, and maintenance of mailbox supports on Hubbard County's road system. It is our goal to provide public rights-of-way for the traveling public that are safe, efficient, and free of unnecessary hazards, while providing minimum inconvenience to property owners. Minnesota law declares certain mailbox installations to be a public nuisance, a road hazard, and a danger to the health and safety of the traveling public (Minnesota Rules Chapter 8818) and authorizes the road authority to remove the nonconforming supports (Statute 169.072).

Please see the State of Minnesota swing-away mailbox support diagram here

The County Board adopted policy (2/7/92) that during snowplowing operations along county highways, Hubbard County will not be responsible for damage to non-standard mailbox support installations. If the installation is a standard swing-away mailbox support and damage is caused to the vertical support by direct contact of the snowplow equipment, then Hubbard County will repair or replace the support with a standard swing-away support as soon as possible.