As a general guide, post offices should be provided so that large groups of population in urban areas should have access to facilities within 1.2km from where they reside or work. For rural areas a distance of 3.2km should be assumed. Other factors to be considered include population in proposed catchment areas; the nature of the terrain over which customers must travel; physical features such as busy main roads and railway lines etc.; the existence of any special social or postal need, and whether the location is being considered as a focal point at which most of the day-to-day needs of the community will be provided. The provision of post offices is subject to the advice of the Postmaster General.

The planning standards and guidelines should be applied with a degree of flexibility, having regard to land use demands, local conditions, development constraints, resource availability and financial viability.