NEWS

Why Your Government Website Should Probably Be a .gov

When residents need information from their city, county, or other local government, they shouldn't have to wonder if they're in the right place.

Where do I pay my utility bill?
When is the next council meeting?
Is the courthouse closed today?
Where can I find election information?
Who do I contact about a building permit?

For many residents, the government website is the first—and sometimes only—place they look for answers.

That's why something as simple as the website address matters more than you might think.

A .gov Address Immediately Says “Official”

There are plenty of familiar domain extensions on the internet: .com, .org, .net, .us and many others.

But those domains don't tell a visitor who is actually behind the website.

A .gov domain is different.

The .gov domain is reserved for verified U.S. government organizations. Cities, counties, townships, school districts, special districts and other eligible government organizations can register a .gov domain through the federal .gov registry.

That means when a resident sees an address like:

www.yourcity.gov

there's an important message built right into the web address:

This is an official government website.

That may seem like a small thing, but in an age of phishing emails, fake websites and online scams, that distinction matters.

Trust Starts Before Someone Visits Your Website

Think about how people use Google.

A resident might search:

“City of ______ water bill”

or

“______ County property taxes”

or

“______ SD election information”

They're likely to see several results. Some may be official. Others may be third-party websites, outdated pages, social media accounts or even websites designed to look legitimate.

A recognizable .gov address gives residents an easy way to distinguish the official source.

CISA notes that criminals can create fake websites and email addresses to impersonate government organizations and trick people into providing personal or financial information. Moving a website and email to .gov can help reduce that risk.

In other words, your domain name is part of your organization's digital identity.

And Yes, .gov Is Free

Here's one of the biggest reasons every eligible government organization should at least consider making the move:

A .gov domain doesn't cost the government organization anything.

Eligible government organizations can register .gov domains for free through the federal .gov registry.

Of course, moving a website isn't completely without work.

Your website needs to be configured for the new domain. DNS records need to be updated. Email addresses may need to be changed. Redirects should be put in place so residents who still use the old address don't end up at a dead end.

But the domain registration itself?

Free.

.gov Isn't a Magic Security Shield

It's important to make one distinction.

Having a .gov domain does not mean a website is automatically secure, well designed or properly maintained.

You can still have an outdated website on a .gov domain.

You can still have a poorly configured server.

You can still have vulnerable WordPress plugins.

And you can still have a website that is difficult for residents to use.

A .gov address is one piece of a larger security and communication strategy—not a replacement for good website security.

That said, the .gov infrastructure does provide some important security advantages.

For example, .gov registrar accounts require multifactor authentication, and newly registered .gov domains are preloaded for HTTPS, helping ensure visitors connect securely to websites using the domain.

The .gov registry also recommends using DMARC and other email-security practices to help prevent criminals from impersonating government email addresses.

What About Your Old .com or .org?

This is probably the biggest concern we hear from organizations considering a move.

“What happens to everyone who already knows our current website address?”

Fortunately, you don't have to simply abandon the old domain.

A properly planned migration can allow the existing domain to redirect visitors to the new .gov website.

That means someone who types your old web address into their browser can still find the information they're looking for.

The same approach can be used with search engines, printed materials, social media profiles, business cards and other places where your old address appears.

The goal isn't to make residents learn an entirely new system overnight.

The goal is to make the transition as seamless as possible.

Your Email Address Matters, Too

There's another part of the .gov conversation that is easy to overlook: email.

A government employee sending an email from:

john@cityname.gov

looks and feels very different from:

john.cityname@gmail.com

or even:

john@cityname.com

A .gov email address reinforces that the communication is coming from an official government organization.

That doesn't eliminate phishing, but it gives residents another recognizable signal when deciding whether a message is legitimate.

And because email impersonation is such a common tactic, CISA recommends strong email authentication practices such as DMARC for .gov domains.

The Website Is Part of Your Public Service

A government website isn't just another marketing website.

It's a public-service tool.

Residents use it to find meeting agendas, pay bills, download forms, read ordinances, find contact information, register for programs, learn about emergencies and understand what's happening in their community.

That means the website should be:

• Easy to find
• Easy to understand
• Mobile-friendly
• Accessible
• Secure
• Kept up to date
• Clearly identifiable as an official government source

The domain name is just one piece of that puzzle—but it's an important one.

So, Should Your Government Website Be a .gov?

In our opinion, yes.

If your organization is eligible for a .gov domain and you're still using a .com, .org, .net or another domain, it's worth having the conversation.

Not because .gov will magically fix your website.

Not because residents can't find you otherwise.

And not because every government website needs to look exactly the same.

It's because government websites should make one thing as clear as possible:

Residents should know when they're getting information directly from their government.

A .gov domain is a simple, recognizable way to establish that trust.

And with .gov domains available at no cost to eligible government organizations, there has never been a better time to consider making the move.

Thinking About Moving to .gov?
The transition doesn't have to be complicated. It just needs to be planned carefully—from selecting the domain and handling DNS and email to redirecting the old website and making sure residents can still find everything they need.

If your city, county, township or other government organization is considering a new website—or thinking about making the move to .gov—we'd be happy to help you figure out the best approach.