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The Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) contains the basic standards of the United States Postal Service (USPS) governing its domestic mail services; descriptions of the mail classes and extra services and conditions governing their use; and standards for rate eligibility and mail preparation. Domestic mail is classified by size, weight, content, service, and other factors. [G020.1.1]
The Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) is distributed to all post offices and is available online on the Postal Explorer web site (http://pe.usps.com). Copies of the DMM may be inspected during normal business hours at USPS Headquarters, area and district offices, and all domestic post offices, stations, and branches. A copy is also filed at the Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration. The public may buy copies by subscription from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office (see 8.1 for address). [G020.1.3]
The USPS reserves the right to change the standards in the Domestic Mail Manual. Substantive revisions are published in the Postal Bulletin and, when appropriate, the Federal Register. [G020.1.4]
Terms in the DMM referring to only one sex apply to persons of either sex. Terms referring to the singular also apply to the plural, unless the context indicates otherwise. The term postmaster also applies to an officer‑in‑charge if the postmaster position is vacant and, in district host cities, to the district manager. [G020.1.2]
Domestic mail is mail transmitted within, among, and between the United States of America, its territories and possessions, Army post offices (APOs), fleet post offices (FPOs), and the United Nations, NY. For this standard, the term territories and possessions comprises the following:
Mail originating in the United States of America, its territories and possessions, APOs, FPOs, and the United Nations, NY, for delivery in the Freely Associated States, and mail originating in the Freely Associated States for delivery within, among, and between the Freely Associated States and the United States of America, its territories and possessions, APOs, FPOs, and the United Nations, NY, is treated as if it were domestic mail. The term Freely Associated States comprises the following:
International mail is mail addressed to or received from foreign countries, except under 2.2. Provisions for international mail are in the International Mail Manual. [G011.2.3]
The USPS establishes and maintains post offices, stations, and branches for customer convenience. [G011.1.1]
Under 39 U.S. Code (USC) 404(b), any decision to close or consolidate a post office must be based on certain criteria. These include the effect on the community served; the effect on employees of the post office; compliance with government policy established by law that the USPS must provide a maximum degree of effective and regular postal services to rural areas, communities, and small towns where post offices are not self‑sustaining; the economic savings to the USPS; and other factors that the USPS determines necessary. In addition, certain mandatory procedures apply. [G011.1.2]
The Postal Operations Manual contains USPS rules for discontinuing, consolidating, or suspending service at an existing post office or other postal facility; changing a post office or other postal facility name; setting public business hours of postal facilities; and using bulletin boards and handling lost articles found in public areas of postal facilities. [G011.1.3]
Military post offices (MPOs) are branches of a U.S. civil post office, operated by the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps to serve military personnel overseas or aboard ships. The term includes Army post offices (APOs) for the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force and fleet post offices (FPOs) for the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps. MPOs provide postal service for military personnel where the U.S. civil postal service does not operate and a military situation requires the service. MPOs are established or discontinued by the USPS only on request of the military department that operates them. Notice of these actions is published in the Postal Bulletin. Military post offices do not verify and accept bulk or discounted‑rate mail; such mailings must be deposited at (nonmilitary) U.S. post offices. [G011.1.4]
Exhibit 3.2a and Exhibit 3.2b shows the national holidays observed by the USPS and the service levels provided on those holidays for retail window, post office box, firm call, delivery, and collection services. [G011.1.5]
New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day
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b. Holidays not widely observed:
Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday; Presidents Day; Columbus Day; and Veterans Day
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A single national USPS policy governs postage stamps and postal stationery, including their release, sale, and discontinuance. [G090.1.1]
Subjects for commemorative postage stamps and postal stationery may be proposed by the public through correspondence to the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee (see 8.1 for address). The Committee reviews suggestions and makes recommendations to the postmaster general, who makes the final selections. [G090.1.2]
Stamps, postal stationery, and philatelic products are sold at various types of postal retail facilities. Post offices establish special temporary stations to provide philatelic services and to sell commemorative stamps and philatelic products at activities of significant public or philatelic interest. Temporary philatelic stations may be authorized by the postmaster. Under specific circumstances, the USPS may limit or set conditions on the purchase of stamps and other forms of postage or postal stationery. [G090.1.3]
Mail orders for postage stamps of selected quality and other philatelic items must be directed to Stamp Fulfillment Services. Post offices do not fill mail orders for stamps and other philatelic items other than orders under the stamps‑by‑mail program and for locally precanceled stamps. Customers must provide a self‑addressed stamped envelope for the return of precanceled stamps. [G090.1.4]
Postmarking for philately is provided at the request of collectors or cover servicers for postmarking outside ordinary mail processing. The Postal Operations Manual contains USPS policy on philatelic postmarking, including cancelation devices, types of postmarks or cancelations, first day covers, postal cacheted envelopes, and service conditions. [G090.1.5]
Special cancelations are machine cancelations in which a caption publicizing an event is engraved on a die hub used to cancel mail. They may be used only in post offices with 190 or more revenue units for canceling large volumes of mail. Special cancelations are authorized only if the scheduled observance either is for a national purpose for which Congress has made an appropriation or is of general public interest and importance for a definite period and not conducted for private gain or profit. [G090.2.1]
Special cancelations are not authorized for events of interest primarily to a particular local group; fraternal, political, religious, service, commercial, or trade organizations; campaigns or events promoting the sale or use of private products or services; idea or slogan promotions not directly connected with an event of general public interest and importance; post office anniversaries; recruitment programs; or events that occur during a period when all canceling machines in the post office are scheduled for other special cancelation die hubs. [G090.2.2]
A written application for a special cancelation die hub must be submitted to the postmaster at the post office where the special cancelation is to be used. The application must be submitted by the sponsor at least 4 months before the date the special cancelation is to be used. The application must provide this information:
a. Complete description and schedule of the event to be observed; evidence that the event is not for private gain or profit; and the name, address, and telephone number of the sponsor to be billed for the cost of manufacturing the die hubs.
b. The wording of the special cancelation, which must be standardized and approved by the sponsor's national headquarters when the sponsor is an affiliate or local chapter of a national organization. Standardized requests for national events must be forwarded to the manager of Mailing Standards (see 8.1 for address.) Space available for the wording is limited to three lines of not more than 20 letters, numbers, or spaces each. Illustrations or designs may not be used. The wording must directly reflect the event to be commemorated.
c. Post office name and telephone number where the cancelation is to be used, number of die hubs required, and the requested period of use. [G090.2.3]
The sponsor must pay the cost of manufacturing the special cancelation die hub and any cost incurred for installing the hub or in adapting canceling machines for its use. [G090.2.4]
Use of a special cancelation may not exceed 6 months. A special cancelation approved on an annual basis is limited to one 60‑day period for each year. A request must be submitted for reuse of recurring annual cancelations 3 months before the date the sponsor wants the cancelation to be used again. For national cancelations, a single request from the national sponsor suffices. [G090.2.5]
Use of any special cancelation may be curtailed or revoked when it is necessary to use special postmarking dies for USPS purposes. [G090.2.6]
Used die hubs may not be given to sponsors or transferred to another post office. A request from the sponsor that a special cancelation die hub be kept for an appropriate purpose (e.g., placement in a museum, library, or historical site) may be approved by the manager of Mailing Standards (see 8.1 for address). [G090.2.7]
More information about special cancelations is in the Postal Operations Manual. [G090.2.8]
A mailer must affix First‑Class postage to mail that the mailer wants canceled with a special cancelation. The mail must bear a complete address. Stamps issued by foreign countries are not permitted on the mail. Mail bearing the special cancelation will not be enclosed in another envelope for return even if a postage‑paid envelope is provided by the customer. Damaged envelopes canceled with a special cancelation are not replaced. [G090.2.9]
By the laws known as the Private Express Statutes, Congress has generally conferred on the USPS the exclusive right to carry letters for others over post routes. USPS regulations under the Private Express Statutes are in the Code of Federal Regulations, 39 CFR 310 and 320, as amended by final rules published in the Federal Register. These regulations take precedence over all prior rulings and USPS publications. Copies of the regulations are available from the manager of the Pricing and Classification Service Center (PCSC) (see 8.4 for address). [G011.4.1]
For the Private Express Statutes, a letter is a message directed to a specific person or address and recorded in or on a tangible object. A message consists of any information or intelligence that can be recorded on tangible objects including, but not limited to, paper in sheet or card form, recording disks, and magnetic tapes. Certain matter is excluded from the definition of letter, e.g.: telegrams; checks and certain other instruments shipped to, from, or between financial institutions; newspapers; and periodicals. The regulations detail exclusions. [G011.4.2]
If the proper postage is paid, letters may be privately carried without violating the Private Express Statutes. The regulations detail compliance. Under certain circumstances, letters may be privately carried without paying postage. The principal exceptions cover letters sent with, and related in all substantial respects to, some part of the cargo or to the ordering, shipping, or delivering of the cargo; letters carried by the senders or the recipients, or by their regular salaried employees; and letters carried to or from a postal facility where they are to be or have been carried in the mail. The regulations detail exceptions. [G011.4.3]
Limited suspensions of the Private Express Statutes specify the conditions under which: (a) private couriers may carry data‑processing materials, international ocean carrier documents, extremely urgent letters, and advertisements incidental to the shipment of accompanying merchandise or periodicals; and (b) universities and colleges may carry the letters of their bona fide student and faculty organizations. Carriers wanting to use the suspension for data‑processing materials must file a notice of their intention on a form available from the manager of the PCSC. [G011.4.4]
The PCSC reviews initial reports of possible violations of the Private Express Statutes. When warranted by the facts, possible violations are forwarded to the USPS General Counsel for further action. [G011.4.5]
The public and USPS employees can obtain authoritative advice on the Private Express Statutes, including written advisory opinions, by contacting the Senior Counsel, Ethics and Information, USPS Headquarters (see 8.4 for address and telephone number). [G011.4.6]
Any postal customer may complain or inquire about postal products, services, or employees at any post office or directly to the USPS Consumer Advocate (see 8.1 for address). A complaint or inquiry may be made in person, by telephone, by e‑mail, or by letter. A complaint or inquiry about the handling of a specific piece of mail should include the related envelope or wrapper and copies of all postal forms filed. A customer who is dissatisfied with the local handling of a complaint or inquiry may send a written appeal to the Consumer Advocate. A court of law can require such appeal as a legal prerequisite for hearing a customer's suit against the USPS. [G011.3.0]
Instructions on mail security as it relates to unauthorized opening, inspection, tampering, or delay of mail are in Administrative Support Manual 274. Information and complaints on a possible postal law violation must be sent to the appropriate address according to the ZIP Code ranges shown below:
The following are among the registered USPS trademarks and service marks:
USPS trademarks must be used in the form listed in 7.1.1. Proper use of USPS registered marks requires capitalizing the initial letters of the marks to distinguish them from terms not used as trademarks. Words and phrases that are registered trademarks may also use the registration symbol ®. Figures that are registered marks must always use the registration symbol. (An exception to this rule is the USPS emblem used on letterheads and business cards. All other uses of the emblem must include the ®.) [G013.1.2]
The USPS has additional trademarks not yet registered. The rules in 7.1.2 apply to these common law marks, except that such marks are not to be identified by the symbol ®. Instead, the superscript initials TM may be used to identify these marks. The common law USPS trademarks and service marks for which registration is pending or proposed include the Express Mail International Service logotype, Presort, Registered Mail, and Standard Mail. [G013.1.3]
The USPS secures copyrights in its philatelic designs and certain publications. The designs of postage stamps, stamped envelopes, stamped cards, aerogrammes, souvenir cards, and other philatelic items issued on or after January 1, 1978, are copyrighted by the USPS under title 17 USC. [G013.2.1]
The use of illustrations of the designs covered by such copyrights is permitted:
a. In editorial matter in newspapers, magazines, journals, books, philatelic catalogs, and philatelic albums.
b. In advertising matter, circulars, or price lists for the sale of the postal items illustrated.
c. In advertising matter, circulars, or price lists for the sale of newspapers, magazines, journals, books, philatelic catalogs, and philatelic albums containing illustrations of philatelic designs.
d. In motion‑picture films, microfilms, slides, or electronic tape for projection on a screen or for use in telecasting. No print or other reproduction from such films, slides, or tapes may be made except for the uses permitted in this section. [G013.2.2]
Illustrations permitted by 7.2.2a. through 7.2.2d may be in color or in black and white, and may depict philatelic items as uncanceled or canceled. When depicting uncanceled items in color, illustrations must be less than 75% or more than 150% in linear dimension of the size of the design of the philatelic items as issued. Color illustrations of canceled philatelic items and black and white illustrations of uncanceled or canceled philatelic items may be in any size. [G013.2.3]
The USPS may grant licenses for the use of illustrations of its copyright designs and registered trademarks outside the scope of the above permission. A request for such a license must be sent to the manager, Licensing, Public Affairs and Communications (see 8.1 for address). [G013.2.4]
The USPS copyrights each edition of Publication 65, National Five‑Digit ZIP Code and Post Office Directory, to protect the accuracy and integrity of the ZIP Code information distributed to the public. The USPS licenses publishers on a nonexclusive basis to reproduce and sell Publication 65 or parts thereof, if the parts cover a complete state or a combination of states and include full ZIP Code information for multi‑ZIP Coded post offices. Licensees must comply with the terms of the licensing agreements. The licenses are issued on an annual basis and may be renewed. [G013.2.5]
Inquiries about USPS copyrights or use of USPS trademarks and service marks, copyright materials, and intellectual property other than patents and technical data rights in USPS contracts must be sent to USPS Stamp Development. Inquiries about licenses to publish or reproduce ZIP Code information must be sent to the National Customer Support Center (see 8.1 for address). [G013.3.0]
BMC Operations
US Postal Service
475 L'Enfant Plz SW RM 7631
Washington DC 20260‑2806
Business Mail Acceptance
US Postal Service
475 L'Enfant Plz SW RM 2P846
Washington DC 20260‑0846
Business Mailer Support
US Postal Service
475 L'Enfant Plz SW RM 2P826
Washington DC 20260‑0826
Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee
Stamp Development
US Postal Service
475 L'Enfant Plz SW
Washington DC 20260‑2435
Claims and Processing
Accounting Service Center
US Postal Service
PO Box 80143
St Louis MO 63180‑0143
Claims Appeals
Accounting Service Center
US Postal Service
PO Box 80141
St Louis MO 63180‑0141
Consumer Advocate
US Postal Service
475 L'Enfant Plz SW
Washington DC 20260‑2200
Customer Service Support
US Postal Service
475 L'Enfant Plz SW RM 5621
Washington DC 20260‑5621
Distribution Operations
Washington DC Post Office
900 Brentwood Rd NE
Washington DC 20066‑9704
Engineering
US Postal Service
8403 Lee Hwy
Merrifield VA 22082‑8101
Engineering Letter Tech
US Postal Service
8403 Lee Hwy
Merrifield VA 22082‑8101
General Counsel
US Postal Service
475 L'Enfant Plz SW
Washington DC 20260‑1100
Label Printing Center
US Postal Service
500 SW Gary Ormsby DR
Topeka KS 66624‑9502
(800) 332‑0317
Licensing
Public Affairs and Communications
US Postal Service
475 L'Enfant Plz SW RM 10519
Washington DC 20260‑3100
Mailing Standards
US Postal Service
475 L'Enfant Plz SW RM 3436
Washington DC 20260‑3436
Material Distribution Center
US Postal Service
500 SW SW Gary Ormsby DR
Topeka KS 66624‑9502
(800) 332‑0317
Money Order Branch
Accounting Service Center
US Postal Service
PO Box 82450
St Louis MO 63182‑2450
National Customer Support Center
US Postal Service
6060 Primacy Pkwy STE 201
Memphis TN 38188‑0001
Nonprofit Service Center
US Postal Service
1 N Front St
Memphis TN 38165‑9599
Postage Technology Management
US Postal Service
1735 N Lynn St RM 5011
Arlington VA 22209‑6370
Postal Inspection Service
222 S Riverside Plz STE 1250
Chicago IL 60606‑6100
Postal Inspection Service
PO Box 2613
Jersey City NJ 07303‑2613
Postal Inspection Service
225 N Humphreys Blvd
Memphis TN 38120‑2149
Post Office Accounting Manager
US Postal Service
475 L'Enfant Plz SW RM 8831
Washington DC 20260‑5241
Pricing and Classification
US Postal Service
475 L'Enfant Plz SW RM 5014
Washington DC 20260‑5014
Pricing Strategy
US Postal Service
475 L'Enfant Plz SW RM 3616
Washington DC 20260‑3616
Product Development
US Postal Service
475 L'Enfant Plz SW RM 5012
Washington DC 20260‑5012
Product Management-Correspondence and Transactions
475 L'Enfant Plz SW RM 5436
Washington DC 20260‑5436
Prohibitory Order Processing Center
US Postal Service
PO Box 3744
Memphis TN 38173‑0744
Recorder
Judicial Officer
US Postal Service
2101 Wilson Blvd STE 600
Arlington VA 22201‑3078
Senior Counsel
Ethics and Information
US Postal Service
475 L'Enfant Plz SW
Washington DC 20260‑1127
Stamp Development
US Postal Service
1735 N Lynn St RM 5013
Arlington VA 22209‑6432
Stamp Fulfillment Services
PO Box 219424
Kansas City MO 64121‑9424
Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms
US Department of the Treasury
1200 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington DC 20226‑0001
Bureau of the Public Debt
US Department of the Treasury
PO Box1328
Parkersburg WV 26106‑1328
Diplomatic Pouch Division
US Department of State
1375 K ST NW
Washington DC 20522‑0508
Office of the Federal Register
National Archives and Records Administration
1100 L St NW RM 8401
Washington DC 20005‑0001
Plant Protection and Quarantine Programs
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
US Department of Agriculture
4700 River Rd
Riverdale MD 20737‑1228
Postal Rate Commission
1333 H St NW STE 300
Washington DC 20268‑0001
Superintendent of Documents
US Government Printing Office
941 N Capitol St NE
Washington DC 20402‑9371
(For subscription to the Domestic Mail Manual)
US Fish and Wildlife Service
US Department of the Interior
18TH and C St NW
Washington DC 20240‑0001
American National Standards Institute
11 W 42ND St
New York NY 10036‑8002
(212) 642‑4900
www.ansi.org
Automatic Identification Manufacturers (AIM)
634 Alpha Dr
Pittsburgh PA 15238‑2802
(412) 963‑8588
www.aimusa.org
Uniform Code Council INC
7887 Washington Village Dr STE 300
Dayton OH 45459
(937) 435‑3870
www.uc‑council.org
8.4 provides the address and phone number of the Pricing and Classification Service Center (PCSC) and the district business mail entry offices that provide guidance on mail classification, rates, and mail preparation standards. Questions about mail classification and special mail services should be directed to local postal officials. The PCSC can help local offices answer these questions. (Note: Zip Code Prefix 340 is shared by South Florida and New York districts. Unassigned prefixes are not listed.) [G042]
1250 Broadway 14TH FL
New York NY 10095‑9599
Telephone: (212) 613‑8676 / Fax (212) 613‑8752
For district business mail entry offices see Exhibit 8.4.1 Business Mail Entry Offices.
Exhibit 8.4.1 Business Mail Entry Offices