USPS^®CASS^™ Address Standardization
+   Intelligent Mail^®/POSTNET^™ Barcode
       USPS Mail Automation Compatibility

USPS address quality and address standardization is key to mail automation compatibility, ZIP+4™ delivery point Intelligent Mail/POSTNET barcode accuracy, presort accuracy, carrier route coding and postage payment accuracy.

Address quality and barcode accuracy is also the key to timely consistent mail delivery. USPS address standardization assures complete correct addresses reducing costs by minimizing return mail.

Jointly developed by the United States Postal Service^® and the mailing industry, USPS address standardization and address quality standards enhance the processing and delivery of mail, reduces undeliverable mail and provides mutual cost reduction opportunities through improved efficiency.

Address Enhancement postal software assures address quality, Intelligent Mail/POSTNET barcode accuracy, address standardization and carrier route accuracy.

USPS Address Standardization
Address Quality and Intelligent Mail/POSTNET Barcode

This page describes USPS address standardization including Postal delivery line, last line, ZIP Code™, ZIP+4, delivery point, Intelligent Mail/POSTNET barcode and carrier route. USPS address standardization requires that names be fully spelled out or abbreviated by using abbreviations found in current City/State and ZIP+4 data.

Intelligent Mail/POSTNET Barcode

The validated address's USPS POSTNET barcode is a machine-readable 12-digit code including ZIP Code, ZIP+4, delivery-point and check digit. The POSTNET barcode will not qualify for discounts after November 11th, 2011. Intelligent Mail barcode will gradually replace the POSTNET barcode.

Carrier Route

The carrier route directs the mail piece to a specific letter carrier. The carrier route begins with a one-character carrier route type code followed by a three-digit carrier route number.

Puerto Rico Urbanization

Puerto Rico commonly requires three address lines for physical addresses. The urbanization must appear above the delivery line if the CASS standardized Puerto Rican street address is in an urbanization.

Puerto Rican postal carriers rely on building names. The USPS publishes most Puerto Rico building names. AES recommends using the published building name above the delivery line if not required for Puerto Rico urbanization

Postal Address Syntax Diagrams

Conventions:
•   Literal elements are upper case.
•   Elements between '[]' are not required by all addresses.

Postal Last Line

The last line follows the same syntax regardless of address type or
•    city two_character_state_code five_digit_ZIP_Code-ZIP+4

Postal Delivery Line

Delivery line elements change by address type but not by region. General delivery is not listed because it supports no elements other than 'GENERAL DELIVERY'

Physical Street and Building Address Types
•    door# [directional] street_name [suffix] [directional] [unit_type [unit#]] [PMB pmb#]

Postal PO BOX Address Type
•    PO BOX po_box# [PMB pmb#]

Postal Rural Route Address Type
•    rural_route_type_designator rural_route_number [BOX box_number] [PMB pmb#]

Auxiliary Line

Except for Puerto Rico, this line is for private mailbox designator and number or “Dual Address” line. In Puerto Rico this line is required for urbanization and although not required, the building name is useful delivery information.

•    [PMB pmb#] or [urbanization_name] or [building_name]

PMB Private Mailbox Alternate Formats

USPS regulations for private mailboxes are documented in USPS Domestic Mail Manual 508.1.9.2.{e,f}. The USPS allows alternate formats. The private mailbox data may be placed on either the delivery or auxiliary line. Mail*LIST supports both format options. AES prefers delivery line placement of private mailbox information in Puerto Rico when urbanization is required or useful building name information exists.

Dual Address Support

The USPS requires support of dual addresses usually having a physical street address and a PO BOX postal address. If only one of the address lines DPV^® confirms, that line appears as the official delivery line. If both address lines DPV confirm, the PO BOX address takes precedence and becomes the official delivery line while the physical street address goes above the delivery line. The USPS last line always reflects the official delivery line just above the last line.

ZIP+4 Add On

ZIP+4 represents a limited set of delivery points for a single letter carrier. For example a ZIP+4 never crosses street corners, but may include both sides, one side or only part of a block. PO BOX's typically have their own ZIP+4.

Delivery Point

This two-digit code generally (but not always) designates a single address.

Check Digit

The number is a check sum for POSTNET barcode reading accuracy. The sum of the other 11 digits of the barcode plus this 12th digit must be a multiple of 10.