Published: 17.10.2026
The .city extension is a generic top-level zone, so it is not tied to any country. Its ending is the ordinary English word city, which makes it a natural choice for guides to towns, neighbourhood projects, local news and community portals. A name in .city suggests its topic before a visitor even opens the page. Use the availability form just below this text to see whether your name in .city is still free.
Check if a .city domain is available .city Check
A short history
The .city zone is one of the many generic extensions added to the domain system in the 2010s, when the namespace opened to a wide range of everyday words. Since then it has been taken up by city guides, local bloggers, tourism projects and community groups. Like most newer generic zones, it is less familiar to the public than .com, so visitors may need a moment to recognise it.
Who runs it
As a generic zone, .city is run by a registry operator under a contract with ICANN, the organisation that coordinates the global domain name system. The operator sets its own registration policies, which may include rules on reserved or restricted names, and accredited registrars sell names to customers. Because the policies are set by the operator and can change, read the terms that apply at the time of the order.
Rules in practice
- Open use: generic zones are usually open to any applicant, but the operator may set its own acceptable use rules.
- Place names: some city and place names can be reserved or handled under special conditions, so check the policy before you build a name around a particular town.
- Contact data: the holder details must be accurate, and the registrar may ask you to confirm them.
- Length and characters: names use letters, digits and hyphens, and a single label can be up to 63 characters long.
Who uses .city
- City guides, travel writers and tourism projects that cover one or more towns.
- Neighbourhood associations, local news sites and community portals.
- Event listings, transport information and everyday services for residents.
- Estate agents, cafes and small businesses that want a local and memorable address.
Strengths
- The word city tells visitors at once what the site is about, which helps recognition on printed materials and signs.
- The name can be built around a town, a district or a theme such as a guide or a directory.
- The zone is not tied to a country, so a city guide that covers several places can keep one consistent address.
Things to keep in mind
- A generic word is broad, so pair it with a place name or a clear descriptor when you want the topic to be specific.
- Visitors may expect an official municipal website under a .city name, so make clear on the homepage who runs the site if it is independent.
- Many short names are already registered, so prepare a few alternatives before you order.
- Operators can change their terms, so an older registration may need updated details later.
Tips before you register
- Search the name in .com and on the social networks where your audience looks for local information.
- Choose a name you can explain in one sentence, so that people remember what the site covers.
- Plan the core pages, such as a map, a listing page and a contact page, before you launch.
- Set up mail records before you send newsletters from the domain.
- Use two-factor login on the registrar account and keep the recovery details current.
Frequently asked questions
Is .city only for official city websites? No. It is a generic zone, and independent guides, communities and businesses use it as well. Make clear who runs the site.
Does a .city name help a site rank higher? No ending can promise a ranking. Search engines look first at content, local relevance and links, so the name should be chosen for clarity.
Can I use a town name in a .city address? It is possible, but check the operator's policy on place names first, since some names may be restricted.
