Updated: 5 February 2025
The government is encouraging councils, including parish councils, to move to gov.uk domain.
Are you in the process of establishing a government website under the gov.uk domain? Selecting an appropriate domain name is crucial for ensuring clarity and accessibility for users and that it is going to be accepted by the Naming and Approvals Committee. Here are some guidelines to help you choose a suitable domain name that complies with gov.uk regulations.
- Choose a Descriptive Domain Name: Your domain name should clearly reflect the nature of your organisation. Keep it concise and straightforward to facilitate easy understanding by users. Ensure that the name is not excessively long or complicated. Here are some key requirements:
- Length: Your domain name must be between 3 and 63 characters.
- Characters: It should only contain alphanumeric characters (0-9 and a-z) and the ‘-‘ (dash) symbol.
- Restrictions: Avoid names that are the same or substantially similar to existing .gov.uk domain names. If there a council with the same name as your you can add the area in which the council is based e.g. chalford-glos.gov.uk
Use the Full Name or Appropriate Suffix:
The Parish Council Domains Helper Service has listened to feedback from councils about long .gov.uk domain names. Based on this, naming conventions have been updated to allow for the use of established acronyms in domains.
The updated Choose your .gov.uk domain name guidance now states:
“If your council uses an established abbreviation in its current domain name, you may be able to use it for a .gov.uk domain. Any domain applications using an abbreviation must end with -pc.gov.uk.”
If a parish council already has a .gov.uk domain and wants to switch to an acronym, they can apply for a new domain. They will be required to show that the acronym is currently in use.
Make Your Proposed Domain Name Unique: Ensure that your proposed domain name is distinct from existing .gov.uk domain names. If your chosen name is identical to another domain, you must select an alternative. You can check if a domain has already been registered here: https://community.jisc.ac.uk/janet-apps/whois
Examples of acceptable names for councils:
- Town council: biggleswadetowncouncil.gov.uk, biggleswadetown.gov.uk or biggleswade-tc.gov.uk
- Parish council: bonbyparishcouncil.gov.uk, bonbyparish.gov.uk or bonby-pc.gov.uk
- Community councils: actoncommunitycouncil.gov.uk, actoncommunity.gov.uk or actoncommunity-cc.gov.uk
By adhering to these guidelines, you can ensure that your gov.uk domain name accurately represents your organisation or initiative while complying with regulatory standards. Remember, a well-chosen domain name enhances user experience and strengthens the credibility of your online presence.
Based on: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/choose-your-govuk-domain-name
Contact Vision ICT
We would be delighted to assist you in selecting and registering your .gov.uk domain name. Contact our friendly and experienced team at or call us at 01392 669497 to discuss your requirements.
