Mailboxes in Tahoe Donner

Tahoe Donner understands the challenge many members face when it comes to association mailboxes and is working to alleviate this issue. The Director of Capital Projects recently initiated a meeting with the postmaster to learn more, and staff are excited to share updates.

Tahoe Donner mailbox clusters operated by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) currently hold 2,630 mailboxes. There are currently not enough mailboxes to accommodate all property owners within the association. However, because Tahoe Donner is classified as a rural area (this classification cannot be changed), only full-time residents are eligible for a mailbox. Tahoe Donner is not in charge of these mailboxes; USPS assigns and maintains them. Tahoe Donner does keep the surrounding mailbox cluster areas maintained and clear of snow.

In the past USPS has taken the stance that, in order to increase the number of mailboxes within Tahoe Donner, enough mailboxes had to be provided for every home. That policy has recently changed, and staff are working with USPS to increase the number of mailboxes in the area. More information will be communicated to the membership as this project develops.

In the meantime, please read up on the following tips:

• Mailboxes in each neighborhood have waitlists overseen by that area’s driver, and joining a waitlist is the only way to be considered for a mailbox spot.
• To join a waitlist for a mailbox, please visit the Bridge Street post office (located at 10050 Bridge St, Truckee, CA 96161) with a deed or lease to apply for your area’s mailbox waitlist, free of charge.
• Mailboxes are organized in sequential order based on your address, so in order to be chosen from the waitlist for a vacant mailbox, your address has to fall between the sequence of the boxes surrounding the vacant box.
• Homeowners selling their property are not able to transfer mailbox ownership to a new homeowner. When you sell your home, please return your mailbox keys to a post office clerk.
• If you are assigned a mailbox from your area’s driver, please visit the post office to activate your delivery address.
• If you are a full-time resident who will be out of town for up to 30 days, please contact your post office to hold your mail and maintain your box.
• If you see a mailbox in need of repair, please contact your post office driver or talk to a Bridge Street post office clerk to make them aware of the deficiency.
• Be mindful of staffing shortages, and thank your local post office team for their hard work!
• Alternatives to mailboxes in Tahoe Donner include mailboxes at your physical USPS location, private mailboxes from the UPS Store on Donner Pass Road or P.O. boxes at Office Boss (near Safeway).

The Tahoe Donner General Plan Committee (now Long-Range Planning Committee) investigated this mailbox issue in 2018, and a mailbox enhancement project was added to the 5-Year Capital Improvement Plan. Based on this recent meeting with the postmaster, the project timeline may be escalated due to the reduced complexity of adding additional mailboxes. To learn more about the Tahoe Donner mailbox enhancement project, contact Jon Mitchell, director of capital projects, at jmitchell@tahoedonner.com.  To learn more about day-to-day mailbox operations, please visit the Bridge Street post office at 10050 Bridge Street or email Postmaster Darrin Freeman at darrin.freeman@usps.gov.