I offered to purchase a new expensive/attractive mailbox to replace the one provided by my homeowner's assn. (the box sits on the street in front of the home - it is not a condo). The developer refused my offer and said I have to put up with the decorative one he provides. The problem is that the box provides no place to put outgoing mail, no flag to signal it, and it isn't waterproof so mail is soaked when it rains. In edition, all the development's boxes are rusting because the are cast iron and they are getting less and less "decorative" as they rust. What are my rights re a FUNCTIONAL mailbox that protects my mail (ingoing or outgoing)?

You have no rights essentually, (you signed them away when you moved into a house in a development with one of those)... the Homeowners association has the rights to dictate... yes dictate many things... including what color you paint your house... any visible renovations, and in many cases what flowers you can plant.

As well as dictate what type and style mailbox you can have.

You did read those homeowners association papers (the covenants and restrictions) you had to sign when you bought the house... didn't you.

Welcome to the wonderful world of Homeowners Associations and their Petty power trips.

I will self edit what I really think of them... because this is not the place for it.