.gov.uk domains for parish councils
An official address for an official council
A .gov.uk domain is a web and email address reserved for UK public sector bodies, and parish and town councils are eligible for one. It tells residents at a glance that a website or an email really comes from the council, rather than from someone pretending to be it. It also keeps the council’s email accounts with the council, which matters more every year.
ThenMedia, the company behind Parish Council Pigeon, is on Nominet’s authorised registrar list, so we can register and manage your council’s .gov.uk domain directly. Registration and ongoing management are included in both of our packages, Classic and Community, at no extra cost: it is all covered by your monthly fee.
Why councils are moving to .gov.uk
- Trust: residents can tell an official council email or website from a scam
- Ownership: the domain and the email accounts belong to the council, not to an individual
- Continuity: when a clerk or councillor moves on, the council’s correspondence stays with the council
- Assertion 10: council-owned email is part of the digital and data compliance question on the AGAR, explained in our guide to Assertion 10
- Security: .gov.uk domains are set up to government email security standards
How the switch works
Moving to a .gov.uk domain follows a well-trodden path, set out by the government in its guidance for parish clerks. We handle the technical parts for you.
| Step | What happens | Who does it |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Agree the move | The council resolves to move to a .gov.uk domain and minutes the decision | Your council |
| 2. Choose the name | A name that clearly identifies the council, usually based on the parish name | Your clerk, with our advice |
| 3. Apply | We submit the application as an authorised registrar, at no extra cost | Us |
| 4. Set up email | Council mailboxes are created for the clerk, councillors and shared roles | Us, with your clerk |
| 5. Switch the website | The website moves to the new address, and the old address points to it | Us |
What it costs
Government funding to help parish councils switch has been offered in the past, but it has been fully allocated. On our packages there is nothing extra to budget for: we register your .gov.uk domain and manage it for you as part of your monthly fee, with no separate registration or renewal charge while your website is with us.
Planning a wider move?
If you are changing website at the same time, our guide to planning a council website migration covers the rest of the move, and our packages show what is included.
Questions about .gov.uk domains
Can a parish council have a .gov.uk domain?
Yes. Parish and town councils in England are eligible for .gov.uk domains. The council needs to agree the move and apply through an authorised registrar.
How does a parish council get a .gov.uk domain?
The council agrees the move at a meeting, chooses a name that clearly identifies the council, and an authorised registrar applies on its behalf. Once approved, the registrar sets up the domain, email and website.
Is ThenMedia an authorised .gov.uk registrar?
Yes. ThenMedia, the company behind Parish Council Pigeon, is on Nominet’s authorised registrar list, so we can register and manage your council’s .gov.uk domain directly.
Is the .gov.uk domain included in the package price?
Yes. On both Classic and Community, we register your council’s .gov.uk domain and manage it for you as part of the monthly fee. There is no setup fee and no separate domain charge.
Is there government funding for .gov.uk domains?
Government funding was offered to help parish councils move to .gov.uk, but it has been fully allocated. On both of our packages, registering and managing your .gov.uk domain is included in the monthly fee at no extra cost.
Will our old website and email addresses stop working?
Not straight away. The old website address can point to the new one, and old email can be forwarded for a period while residents and contacts get used to the change.
The short version
A .gov.uk domain makes your council instantly recognisable and keeps its email with the council.
Eligible parish and town councils can register .gov.uk
Authorised ThenMedia is an authorised .gov.uk registrar
Included free registration and management on both packages
Assertion 10 council-owned email for every councillor
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