Are you required to buy a PO Box?

In my small town I am required to purchase a PO Box from our local post office. Years before I moved here the town decided to deliver all mail to PO Boxes, and at first all boxes were free to residents. Now that I have moved here we have to BUY a PO Box... at first it was about $30 a year, but now they've rezoned or something and it's about $50 a year!! What's worse is 2 of my neighbors, who's houses were built before this post office was put in, get their mail delivered to them in a regular mail box. But I was told that if I put a mail box up I will get no mail delivered to it. If I want mail delivered to my house I have to pay zoning fees (or something like that), lots of paperwork, buy special mail boxes, and require all the other people on my street to do the same thing.
How is it fair that everyone else gets free mail service, only having to pay postage, but I have to pay postage and delivery??
Does ANYONE else have to do this? If so, where are you?
Anyone know of legal action?

I have to go to the post office and get my mail from a PO Box.

Ever since I was a child, it was understood that PO Boxes are rented. I have never heard of them being free. As far as no mail being delivered to residential boxes, I think that is cheesy as all get out. I know my step-dad, who retired after 35 years of US Postal Service, would be disgusted. It almost sounds like it's a budgetary situation, but that cannot be correct, since mail carriers are federal employees. City governments really cannot tell the Post Office what to do and how to do it. If your two neighbors are getting mail delivered to their houses, then everybody should be able to. I would request information on what the box rent is going to. Chances are the increase could be going to someone's pocket. $50 a year is simply highway robbery.

Here's something I found that may shed a little light on your predicament:

"Less publicized than the increase in stamps and postage was a nationwide adjustment in the cost of Post Office Box rental.

According to Manchester Postmaster Kathleen Murphy, the increased rates are based on the commercial real estate values of each post office building, using a 鈥渧alue-based pricing algorithm鈥?determined by higher-ups in the USPS."

You are not required to rent the box, but I do find it fishy that they are offering you no choice at all. "Rent a box in the Post Office because we won't deliver it." That's almost extortion.

You can have your mail addressed to General Delivery, and then go pick it up at the window.

Are you taling about a PO box or a "gang box" where everyone goes to a box at a corner or central location in the neighborhood.