How to Get a Free .city.state.us Domain in the US

Key Takeaways

• US locality domains under .city.state.us are free but require specific eligibility
• Amazon Lightsail provides free nameservers needed for registration
• The delegated registrar list dates from 2009, so contact info may need updating

Most people assume custom domain names cost money. That's true for .com, .org, or .io addresses. But the US government maintains a free alternative that's been around since 1992: locality domains.

These domains follow the format yourname.city.state.us. Developer Fred Chan recently documented the registration process after setting up frederick.seattle.wa.us, which redirects to his personal site. The setup is free but requires navigating some bureaucratic steps.

Who Can Register

Locality domains aren't open to everyone. You must be a US citizen, permanent resident, or an organization incorporated in the US. Foreign organizations can qualify if they have a bona fide presence in the US with regular lawful activities or a physical office.

The infrastructure has been maintained under government contract since the domains were created in 1992. Registration itself costs nothing, but the process has some quirks that make it more complicated than buying a standard domain.

Step 1: Find Your Locality's Registrar

The government delegated registration authority to various companies that handle domain requests for specific cities. There's a list of delegated subdomains with contact emails for each registrar.

Here's the catch: that list dates from 2009. Many companies have restructured or renamed since then. Chan found that the email listed for seattle.wa.us was domainrq@nwnexus.com for NW Nexus. That company is now NuOz Corporation, so he had to contact support@nuoz.com instead.

If you don't live in a delegated locality, you have an alternative. You can register under gen.your-state.us. For example, next.gen.oh.us would be available for general independent entities in Ohio. The contact for these should be in the same delegated list.

Step 2: Get Nameservers First

When you buy a normal domain from GoDaddy or Namecheap, the registrar provides nameservers automatically. Locality domains work differently. You need to already have nameservers before you can register.

This creates a chicken-and-egg problem. Most free DNS providers only support top-level domains like .com or .org. They won't work with a fourth-level domain like yourname.city.state.us.

Chan found one solution: Amazon Lightsail. It's Amazon's low-cost web hosting service, but you don't need to rent a server. You can use just the DNS zone feature for free.

Setting Up Amazon Lightsail DNS

1. Create an AWS account if you don't have one
2. Go to the Lightsail console
3. Click 'Domains & DNS' in the left navigation panel
4. Click the 'Create DNS zone' button
5. Select 'Use a domain from another registrar'
6. Enter the locality domain you plan to register

Lightsail will generate nameserver addresses for your domain. You'll need these for the registration form in the next step.

Step 3: Submit the Registration Template

The final step involves sending the Interim .US Domain Template to the delegated manager for your locality. This is the email contact you found in step one. The template asks for your contact information, the domain you want, and the nameserver addresses from Lightsail.

After approval, you can configure DNS records in Lightsail to point your locality domain wherever you want. Chan points his to his web host, which then redirects to fredchan.org.

Is It Worth the Effort?

For most people, a $12 per year .com domain is simpler. But locality domains make sense in specific situations. Local businesses might want the geographic association. Developers might appreciate the novelty for side projects. And anyone bootstrapping with zero budget gets a legitimate domain without spending money.

The main barrier isn't cost. It's patience. Between hunting for current registrar emails, setting up AWS, and waiting for approval, expect the process to take longer than a typical domain purchase. But if you fit the eligibility requirements and your city has delegation, it's a genuine free option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are locality domains really free?

Yes. There are no registration or renewal fees. You may need an AWS account for nameservers, but Lightsail DNS zones are free to create.

Can I register a locality domain if I don't live in that city?

The requirements focus on US citizenship or presence, not your specific city of residence. You can try gen.state.us domains as an alternative.

Why hasn't the 2002 policy on undelegated domains changed?

No official explanation exists. The policy was marked as temporary but has remained in place for over 20 years under NeuStar's management.

Can businesses use locality domains?

Yes. US-incorporated organizations qualify. The geographic identity could benefit local businesses, though the long domain format may be awkward for marketing.

Source: Hacker News: Best