Guide to Obtaining Free US Locality Domains for Side Projects
This article provides a technical guide for developers seeking free domain names for personal side projects, highlighting an underutilized option: US locality domains under the .us top-level domain. With traditional free TLDs like .tk becoming unavailable and standard registrars charging annual fees, the author explores the hierarchical structure of .us domains defined in RFC 1480. These domains, such as example.portland.or.us, are managed locally by cities, counties, or states rather than a central registry. The piece outlines a three-step process for acquisition: identifying the local manager via WHOIS queries, verifying registration policies which vary significantly by locality, and configuring DNS records upon approval. While larger cities often restrict registrations, smaller municipalities may offer permissive policies for residents. The article emphasizes that while the process is fragmented and potentially slow due to manual administration, it remains a viable, cost-free alternative for hobbyists and developers looking to host personal homepages or APIs without recurring costs.
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