New ZIPs in the Mail for Many Box Holders

The San Diego area is about to undergo its biggest one-time introduction of ZIP codes, affecting more than 41,000 post office box holders at 26 post offices.

The ZIP codes of people who have mail delivered directly to their homes or businesses will not be affected.

The change, which goes into effect Sept. 1, means that 26 ZIP codes will be added, 23 in the city of San Diego and three in the rest of the county, said Postal Service spokesman Mike Cannone. There are now 145 ZIP codes assigned in the San Diego area, and the last big ZIP code shuffle started Sunday when Oceanside got five new codes and Escondido got three.

Growth and an ever-increasing mail supply have forced the Postal Service to make these changes. Cannone said 8.3 million pieces of mail are handled daily in San Diego County.

“We’re running out of numbers,” he said.

The ZIP code changes are expected to speed up automated mail sorting, and that will mean better delivery, said Bill Timms, station manager at the William Taft Station at 5052 Clairemont Drive, one of the places affected by the change.

But postal employees don’t expect any real hassles.

“It shouldn’t be that much of a problem because we’re starting to notify people now,” said Jim Courtney, superintendent at the Poway post office. The change will affect Poway’s 1,218 post office boxes.

Cannone plans to barrage the affected post-office boxes with flyers reminding customers of the upcoming change.

“I’ve worked very hard at reducing the confusion,” he said.

The Postal Service also has a one-year grace period, so it will honor both the old and the new ZIP codes during that time, but Cannone said people shouldn’t wait too long to make the change. The grace period gives businesses and other people affected a chance to order stationery and other supplies printed with the new ZIP codes.

The Postal Service warns that this isn’t the last change in ZIP codes the San Diego area will see. In January, a 919 ZIP code will be added, Cannone said. ZIP codes in the city start with 921 and in the county with 920.

ZIP CODE CHANGES

The Sept. 1 ZIP code changes will affect customers who have post office box addresses at the following 26 facilities:

New P.O. Current Box P.O. Box Post Office ZIP Code ZIP Code Hillcrest Station, 3911 Cleveland Ave. 92163 92103 North Park Station, 3791 Grim 92164 92104 City Heights Station, 4193 University Ave. 92165 92105 Point Loma Station, 2931 Canon St. 92166 92106 Ocean Beach Station, 4833 Santa Monica 92167 92107 Fashion Valley Station, 392 Fashion Valley 92168 92108 Pacific Beach Station, 4640 Cass St. 92169 92109 Southeastern Station, 2777 Logan 92170 92113 Encanto Station, 621 69th St. 92174 92114 Andrew Jackson Station, 92175 92115 6401 El Cajon Blvd. College Grove Station, 92195 92115 3450 College Ave. No. 121 John Adams Station, 3288 Adams Ave. 92176 92116 William Taft Station, 5052 Clairemont Drive 92177 92117 Clairemont Mesa P.O.Box Unit, 92197 92117 4686 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. Coronado Branch, 1320 Ynez Place 92178 92118 Navajo Station, 6519 Bisby Lake Drive 92159 92119 University City Station, 3298 Governor Drive 92192 92122 Serra Mesa Station, 3223 Greyling Drive 92193 92123 Mission Village P.O. Box Unit, 92194 92123 9208 Gramercy Mira Mesa Station, 9051 Mira Mesa Blvd. 92196 92126 Rancho Bernardo Station, 92198 92128 16960 Bernardo Center Drive Paradise Hills Station, 2356 Reo Drive 92149 92139 San Ysidro Station, 92143 92073 440 W. San Ysidro Blvd. Poway Post Office, 13308 Midland 92074 92064 San Marcos Post Office, 420 N. Twin Oaks 92079 92069 Vista Post Office, 960 Postal Way 92085 92083