What are the rules for registering a .gov domain?
Who Is Eligible
The .gov TLD is restricted to official U.S. government organizations. This includes federal agencies, state and territorial governments, counties, cities, towns, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments. Some public institutions like public school districts and public libraries may also qualify if they are part of a government entity.
Eligibility does not extend to private companies, non-profits, or individuals—even if they work closely with the government. Political parties, candidates, and campaign committees are also not eligible. The domain must be used for official government purposes.
- Federal agencies and departments
- State and territorial governments
- County, city, and local governments
- Federally recognized tribal governments
- Public school districts and public libraries (in some cases)
How to Register
The .gov registry is managed by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) within the Department of Homeland Security. To request a .gov domain, you must submit an authorization form signed by a senior official of your government entity, such as a mayor, county administrator, or agency head.
The process typically involves verifying your organization's legal status and confirming that you are authorized to request the domain. Once approved, the domain is registered through CISA's DotGov program. There is no cost for the domain itself, but you are responsible for any technical setup and hosting.
After registration, you must maintain accurate contact information and follow security requirements, such as using DNSSEC and HTTPS. CISA may also conduct periodic reviews to ensure continued eligibility.
Key Restrictions and Requirements
You cannot transfer a .gov domain to a non-governmental entity. If your government status changes—for example, if a public hospital becomes private—you may lose the domain. Domains are also subject to naming rules: they should reflect the official name of the government entity and avoid misleading terms.
CISA provides guidelines on acceptable domain names, and they generally prefer names that are concise and clearly identify the government body. For example, a city might use 'cityname.gov' or 'cityname-stategov.gov' if the simple name is taken. You can check availability through the DotGov program website.
Common mistakes
- Thinking that any organization with 'government' in its name qualifies—only official government entities are eligible.
- Assuming .gov domains are free for everyone—they are free for eligible entities, but you must pay for hosting and other services.
- Believing that a .gov domain can be bought or sold like a .com—transfers are restricted to government entities only.