USPS Growth Management Assistance Request: Submission, Review, and Rules

The USPS Growth Management Assistance Request is an online form on the USPS website that puts real estate developers in touch with a local Growth Manager to plan mail service for a new development. A district-level Growth Coordinator follows up to walk through delivery mode approval, mailbox equipment selection, and site placement. Submit it early: the Postal Service requires delivery point locations and mail receptacles to be approved before anyone moves in.1United States Postal Service. Postal Operations Manual Section 631 – Modes of Delivery, Mail Receptacles, and Keys

When to Submit

Reach out during design and planning, before you finalize your site plat with the municipality. Handbook PO-632 spells this out: notify the Postal Service during the design and planning phase, before submitting plans to your local planning or zoning authority, so USPS can determine the delivery mode.2United States Postal Service. Handbook PO-632 – National Delivery Planning Standards That means contacting USPS before construction begins, not after framing is up.

The Postal Service holds sole authority over how mail is delivered to new addresses. Under Postal Operations Manual Section 631, centralized delivery is the preferred mode for all new residential and commercial developments. Curbside, sidewalk, and door delivery are generally unavailable for new delivery points, with rare case-by-case exceptions at USPS discretion.3United States Postal Service. POM Revision – Modes of Delivery Planning for curbside boxes in a new subdivision will likely be rejected.

Some zoning boards also want proof that mail service has been arranged before granting final building permits. Starting the process early gives you documentation for local approvals and keeps a stalled permit from becoming a stalled build.

How to Submit the Request

There are two routes. The faster one is the online Growth Management Assistance Request on the USPS website. It is a web form, not a downloadable PDF with a PS Form number. You complete it in your browser.4United States Postal Service. Growth Management Assistance Request

The form asks for:

  • Your name, mailing address, phone, and email.
  • Your role: builder, planner, property owner or management, or residential customer.
  • Development type: single-family residential, multi-family residential, or single/multi business.
  • What you need help with: approved mail receptacle information, receptacle location approval and delivery mode agreement, Arrow lock installation scheduling, questions about new addresses, or converting existing delivery to cluster box units.
  • The five-digit ZIP Code of the development, so USPS can route your request to the correct Growth Manager.
  • The street address of the development, if you have one at submission.

The alternative is to email Delivery.Growth@USPS.GOV or call your local Post Office and ask for the Postmaster or the person who helps developers plan new mail service.5United States Postal Service. Find Your Local USPS Growth Manager Either path connects you to the same district Growth Manager.

What to Bring to the Growth Manager Review

The form is just the opener. Real coordination happens when the Growth Manager reviews your plans, which Handbook PO-632 directs you to arrange before submitting your master plan and plat to the municipality.6United States Postal Service. Handbook PO-632 Chapter 1 – Introduction Have the following ready:

  • Your master plan and site plat, showing lot lines, streets, common areas, and proposed locations for mail equipment.
  • Unit counts by type (single-family, apartment, townhome, commercial), broken down by phase if the project is phased.
  • Proposed equipment and locations for Cluster Box Units or 4C horizontal mailboxes, with enough detail for the Growth Manager to evaluate carrier access and customer convenience.
  • Street names and address ranges, even preliminary, so USPS can begin planning routes and updating its address database.
  • A construction timeline with anticipated phase completions and first occupancy, so USPS can schedule Arrow lock installation and route adjustments.

Expect back-and-forth on placement. If a proposed cluster box location creates a traffic hazard or sits too far from the homes it serves, the Growth Manager will push back.

Equipment and Placement Rules You’re Responsible For

Builders and developers purchase, install, maintain, repair, and replace all mailbox equipment. The Postal Service does not cover this cost. You buy the CBUs or 4C wall-mounted units, prepare the pad, and handle installation. USPS then installs the Arrow locks that give carriers master access.7United States Postal Service. National Delivery Planning Standards – A Guide for Builders and Developers

Equipment must come from USPS-approved manufacturers. The list is published annually in the Postal Bulletin and kept current on the USPS Delivery Growth Management page.8United States Postal Service. Delivery Growth Management Non-approved equipment is a guaranteed rejection at site inspection, so verify the manufacturer before ordering. Wall-mounted 4C receptacles in multi-family buildings must meet USPS-STD-4C specifications.9United States Postal Service. Wall-Mounted Centralized Mail Receptacles (USPS-STD-4C)

Every centralized mail installation must include parcel lockers. The minimum ratio is one parcel locker for every five mailbox compartments, and there is no maximum.2United States Postal Service. Handbook PO-632 – National Delivery Planning Standards Given current package volumes, exceeding the minimum is worth considering.

Location matters as much as equipment. Cluster boxes must be safely placed so residents are not walking an unreasonable distance for their mail; the general guideline is within one block of the residence. Carriers also need enough room to approach, service, and leave the location safely. Outdoor kiosks with canopies must protect against weather, including driving rain, and provide adequate nighttime lighting. In apartment buildings, mailboxes go near the entrance in vestibules, halls, or lobbies, positioned so swinging doors do not block carrier access.2United States Postal Service. Handbook PO-632 – National Delivery Planning Standards

Accessibility requirements for customers with disabilities vary by facility type and jurisdiction. USPS directs developers to consult local building officials and codes for ADA and accessibility rules that apply to their project.7United States Postal Service. National Delivery Planning Standards – A Guide for Builders and Developers The Growth Manager can flag obvious problems, but code compliance is on the builder.

What Happens After You Submit

Once the request reaches the right Growth Manager, expect a site review. Postal staff evaluate your proposed mailbox locations against the site plan, check whether delivery vehicles can safely navigate the streets, confirm the equipment is accessible to both carriers and residents, and look for safety hazards near the proposed spots. If everything checks out, USPS approves the delivery plan and you can move forward with purchase and installation.

USPS does not publish a fixed approval timeline. Speed depends on project complexity, your district’s current growth volume, and how quickly you provide complete plans. Having your documents in order before the first meeting is the single best way to avoid delays.

If You Don’t Hear Back

USPS has a built-in escalation path. If your District Growth Manager does not respond, email Delivery.Growth@USPS.GOV and the request moves up.5United States Postal Service. Find Your Local USPS Growth Manager

  • District Growth Manager: should respond within two weeks.
  • Area Growth Manager: should respond within two weeks.
  • Headquarters Growth Manager: should respond within 30 days.

Document your outreach dates. On a tight permitting schedule, knowing the escalation path exists, and using it, is often what keeps a project moving.