Homebuyers looking at one of several new developments planned for South Bryan County will find one thing missing when they move in — a mailbox by the curb.

Although the regulation is four years old, the United States Postal Service nationwide is starting to enforce rules that require centralized delivery when possible.

Richmond Hill Postmaster Vanessa Bush said the rule is now being put into place here.

“The change was made in April 2012 when Congress updated our operations manual,” Bush said. “We have to enforce it.”

Bush said new developments are installing CBUs, or cluster box units, similar to the type that have been used at apartment complexes for years. The large, metal structures are divided into boxes and labeled with house addresses and include larger slots that residents can access for parcel delivery.

Bush said developers are installing CBUs in a convenient area for residents, such as by an entrance or at a pool/common area.

“If a subdivision has a pool, that makes for a good spot because there’s already parking right there,” she said.

The USPS has said the change will make for more efficient mail delivery, especially in growing areas such as South Bryan, save carriers time and cut down on fuel costs.

Homes that already have a curbside mailbox, including those in newer developments such as Buckhead East, would not be effected. In existing subdivisions that expand, however, the newer CBUs would be required.