History of the TLD

.city is a generic top-level domain (gTLD) that was introduced in 2014 as part of ICANN’s expansion of available domain extensions. The purpose of this expansion was to increase naming options beyond legacy domains such as .com and to provide new semantic choices for registrants and organisations. .city is intended to serve cities, local businesses, organisations, and communities with a focus on metropolitan presence and urban‑oriented web identities. The delegation record shows that .city was assigned to Binky Moon, LLC and is administered by Identity Digital Inc. and Donuts Inc. as the registry operator.

Main Use and Industry Position

.city is primarily used for websites that emphasise a connection to a city or urban area. This includes municipal services, tourism boards, city guides, local media, small businesses, community organisations, event listings, and other entities that want to signal locality in their web address. This TLD provides a clear and memorable way to signal urban relevance and can be leveraged for local SEO and branding. It is recognised in the domain industry as one of the city‑oriented gTLDs alongside city‑specific geographic TLDs such as .london, .nyc, and others.

Comparison to Other TLDs

.city differs from traditional generic domains such as .com or .net by offering specific semantic locality to cities and urban communities. Unlike city‑targeted geographic TLDs like .nyc or .london which are tied to particular cities and may have nexus requirements, .city is globally generic, meaning it is not restricted to residents or organisations of a specific city. Compared to country code TLDs (ccTLDs) such as .au or .uk, .city does not imply national affiliation. Compared to brand or niche gTLDs (e.g. .shop or .blog), .city communicates a distinct focus on urban or local services.

Pros and Cons of the TLD

Pros

• Conveys clear city or local focus for web identity
  

• Availability of desirable names often higher than in legacy TLDs
  

• Useful for local branding and search relevance
  

Cons

• Less recognised by general internet users than legacy domains like .com
  

• May be perceived as niche or specialised
  

• SEO and marketing impact depends on content and strategy
  
  

Registration Criteria

.city domains are open for general registration with no specific geographic or organisational restrictions. Registrants may include individuals, businesses, organisations, or municipal entities seeking a city‑oriented domain name.

Summary

.city is a generic top‑level domain established in 2014 that provides a location‑oriented namespace for websites connected to city life, local services, and urban branding. It is managed by Identity Digital Inc. and Donuts Inc. with open registration policies, making it suitable for a wide range of users aiming for a geographically resonant online presence.