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An official website of the United States government

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Choosing your .gov domain name

.Gov domain names must be unique and clear

Your domain name represents your organization and your services to the world online. Good domain names are memorable, easy to say out loud (like over the phone or in a presentation). .Gov domain names must follow the naming requirements for your type of organization.

While internet domain names must be unique, names of government organizations can be similar or even identical. Our domain naming rules aim to prevent confusion.

Your domain name must:

  • Be available (Check availability)
  • Be unique
  • Relate to your organization’s name, location, and/or services
  • Be clear to the general public. Your domain name must not be easily confused with other organizations.

Only federal agencies can request generic terms

Only federal agencies can request generic terms like vote.gov or benefits.gov.

That said, we can approve domains with generic terms, like marylandvotes.gov, because it references a location and a service.

Things to avoid in .gov domain names

Avoid using the following in your .gov domain name:

  • Dashes or hyphens
  • Numbers
  • Misspellings

Domain name requirements and guidance for specific types of organizations

Read domain name requirements and guidance for:

Executive branch federal agencies

These are agencies of the U.S. government's executive branch.

Examples:

  • fema.gov
  • medicare.gov
  • usda.gov

Judicial branch federal agencies

These are agencies of the U.S. government's judicial branch.

Examples:

  • uscourts.gov
  • ustaxcourt.gov
  • ussc.gov

Legislative branch federal agencies

These are agencies of the U.S. government's legislative branch.

Examples:

  • gao.gov
  • gpo.gov
  • loc.gov

Interstate organizations

These are organizations of two or more states.

Examples:

  • EMScompact.gov
  • wmataOIG.gov
  • trpa.gov

U.S. states and territories

This includes the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.

State .gov domains must include the two-letter state abbreviation or clearly spell out the state name.

Examples:

  • AmericanSamoa.gov
  • Coloradog.gov
  • Georgia.gov
  • Guam.gov

Tribal governments

Tribal governments recognized by the federal or a state government.

Tribal domains may include the suffix -nsn, for native sovereign nation.

Examples:

  • tbyi.gov
  • pitu.gov
  • TulalipTribalCourt-nsn.gov

Counties

This organization type includes counties, parishes, or boroughs.

Most county .gov domains must include the two-letter state abbreviation or the full state name. County names that aren’t shared by any other city, county, parish, town, borough, village or equivalent in the U.S., at the time a domain is granted, can be requested without referring to the state. Counties can include “county” in their domain to distinguish it from other places with similar names. We use the Census Bureau’s National Places Gazetteer Files to determine if county names are unique.

Examples:

  • AdamsCountyMS.gov
  • LivingstonParishLA.gov
  • MitchellCountyNC.gov
  • Erie.gov

Cities

This organization type includes cities, towns, townships, villages, etc.

Most city domains must include the two-letter state abbreviation or clearly spell out the state name unless city or county exceptions apply. Using phrases like “City of” or “Town of” is optional.

Some cities don’t have to refer to their state.

  • City names that aren't shared by any other U.S. city, town, or village can be requested without referring to the state. We use the Census Bureau’s National Places Gazetteer Files to determine if names are unique.

  • Certain cities are so well-known that they may not require a state reference to communicate location. We use the list of U.S. “dateline cities” in the Associated Press Stylebook to make this determination.

  • The 50 largest cities, as measured by population according to the Census Bureau, can have .gov domain names that don’t refer to their state.

Examples:

  • CityofEudoraKS.gov
  • WallaWallaWA.gov
  • Pocatello.gov
  • nyc.gov

Special districts

These are independent organizations within a single state.

Domain names must represent your organization or institutional name, not solely the services you provide. It also needs to include your two-letter state abbreviation or clearly spell out the state name unless city or county exceptions apply.

Examples:

  • ElectionsShelbyTN.gov
  • GlacierViewFire.gov
  • HVcoVote.gov
  • TechshareTX.gov
  • UtahTrust.gov

School districts

School districts that aren’t part of a local government are eligible for .gov domains.

Domain names must represent your organization or institutional name.

Example:

  • mckinneyISDTX.gov

Check if your desired .gov domain is available

Check to make sure your desired name hasn’t already been registered.

[field].gov Check availability

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