Postal Explorer > Publication 28 - Postal Addressing Standards > 2 Postal Addressing Standards > 28 Post Office Box Addresses

28 Post Office Box Addresses

281 Format

Post Office Box addresses are output as PO BOX NN on the mailpiece.

282 Leading Zero

Post Office Box numbers that are preceded by significant leading zeroes are identified in the ZIP+4 file by a hyphen (-) preceding the box number. Convert the hyphen into a zero on the output mailpiece.

283 Designations

PO Box addresses often appear with the word CALLER, FIRM CALLER, BIN, LOCKBOX, or DRAWER. Change these to PO BOX as output on a mailpiece.

284 Private Mailbox Addresses

Private companies may uniquely identify, by number, individuals or offices within their company for the purpose of simplifying their internal mail distribution. Print this number, called a MailStop Code (MSC), above the Recipient Line or the Attention Line. The words POST OFFICE BOX or PO BOX and the private mailbox number cannot be used on the Delivery Address Line. Only the Postal Service is entitled to provide delivery to a PO Box.

The Delivery Address Line is the standardized address of the private company.

Private companies offering mailbox rental services to individuals and businesses are considered commercial mail receiving agencies (CMRA). Addresses on mail received at a CMRA must adhere to specific requirements in the use of their private mailbox number (PMB). Mail sent to an addressee at a CMRA must include either the PMB identifier or the #, followed by the appropriate private mailbox number. Use of any other identifier is prohibited. Either a three line or four line address format can be used with a CMRA address and the PMB or # identifier, with the exception noted below. Where the CMRA's physical address requires its own secondary address element, the PMB or # address must follow the specific format rules stated below. It is not permissable to combine the secondary address element of the mailing address for the CMRA and the CMRA customer's private box number.

Examples:

Exception:

When the CMRA mailing address contains a secondary address element (e.g. rural route box number, suite, # or other term), the CMRA customer must use PMB when utilizing a three line address format:

Examples:

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