Not every US address has a street number. Rural route and highway contract addresses use a route number and a box number. A form that requires a street name will reject them.
The format
A rural address may look like “RR 2 Box 145, City, ST 12345” or “HC 1 Box 20, City, ST 12345”. The route and box identify the delivery point.
Validation rules
Allow letters, numbers, and the words “Route”, “RR”, “HC”, and “Box”. Do not require a street suffix such as “Street” or “Avenue”.
Why it matters
Ecommerce forms that only accept street addresses can block rural customers. Test at least one rural format if you ship nationally.
Questions
- No. It is a delivery route, not a box at a postal facility, although both use a box number.
- Some carriers can, some cannot. Check the carrier’s service area before promising delivery.
Is a rural route a PO box?+
Can a courier deliver to a rural route?+
Examples are synthetic. Do not use a generated address for identity checks, account registration, or delivery.