In the Capital Region, we count on our towns and cities to keep the roads clear all winter long. But when a snowplow clips your mailbox, it raises a pretty common question. Who pays for that?
Under New York State law, the answer is usually the homeowner.
The State Attorney General considers mailboxes to be private property, even though they sit near the road. They are placed in the public right-of-way for convenience, so mail carriers can reach them easily. Because of that, towns and cities are generally not required to repair or replace a mailbox that gets damaged during plowing…