Snowplow hit your mailbox in Madison, WI? What the city pays

Wisconsin · Last checked November 2026

Key facts

Cap

Up to $75.

Covered

Damage by a city operator working within the gutter or curb line.

Not covered

Damage from the weight of snow coming off the plow.

Condition

Mailbox must meet USPS installation guidelines.

How it works

Mailboxes sit in the public right-of-way, so plows hit them every winter. Most cities pay only when the plow blade or truck touches the mailbox, not when the weight of thrown snow knocks it over, and most cap the payout at $40 to $100.

1. Take photos of the damage and the plow path before you clear anything.
2. Report it quickly. Some places want a call within 24 hours, others set a spring deadline.
3. Check that your mailbox met USPS height and setback rules, since many policies require it.
4. Keep receipts for the new box and post if you replace it yourself.
5. Put up a temporary box so mail delivery does not stop.

What it costs

City payouts usually run $40 to $100, with a few higher. A standard post and box from a store often costs more than the cap, and a custom or masonry mailbox is usually only covered up to the standard amount.

Full guide: what to do when a snowplow hits your mailbox.

More in Wisconsin and nearby

• Elm Grove Only if the plow hits it
• Janesville Reimbursement available
• New Berlin Plow hit or plowed snow
• Oak Creek Reimbursement available
• Three Lakes Only if the plow hits it
• Wausau Only if the plow hits it
• Solebury Township Only if the plow hits it