What's the fine for putting flyers in mailboxes?

Placing anything in a residential or business mailbox without postage is a federal violation. Under U.S. law, mailboxes are reserved exclusively for items that have gone through the postal system, so a flyer dropped in a box is technically an unlawful use of the receptacle.

• Maximum exposure: the statute allows penalties of up to roughly $5,000 per violation for individuals.
• Typical reality: first-time, small-scale offenders usually get a warning from the local postmaster rather than a fine.
• Higher risk: repeated violations or large campaigns are far more likely to trigger an actual penalty.

The clean, legal alternative is to send your flyer through the mail so it lands in the box with proper postage. USPS Every Door Direct Mail lets you reach whole neighborhoods without breaking the mailbox rule.