How to Obtain an Address for a New House

Quck answer

To get an address for a new house, follow these steps:

1. Contact the local government: Reach out to the local municipality or county office responsible for assigning addresses. Provide them with the necessary information, such as the location of the house and any relevant documentation.

2. Complete the required forms: Fill out any application forms provided by the local government. These forms typically require details about the property, including its size, location, and any existing structures.

3. Pay any fees: Some municipalities may require a fee for processing the address request. Make sure to inquire about any applicable fees and arrange for payment.

4. Wait for approval: Once you have submitted the necessary forms and paid any fees, you will need to wait for the local government to review and approve your request. This process can take some time, so be patient.

5. Receive your address: Once your request is approved, the local government will assign an address to your new house. You will receive the address in writing or through other means of communication.

6. Notify relevant parties: Inform the necessary parties about your new address, including the postal service, utility companies, and any other organizations or individuals who need to know your address.

By following these steps, you can obtain an address for your new house and ensure that you receive mail and services at the correct location.


Relocating can be complex, especially when moving into a newly constructed house. One of the challenges is ensuring that mail carriers and delivery drivers can locate your new address. The process of obtaining an address for a new home and getting USPS to deliver mail to your new address are two separate issues. Here’s how to accomplish both.

Obtain an Address for a New House

The process of obtaining a street address is relevant at the beginning stages of building a new house. The assignment of a street address occurs well before you can start receiving mail at your new residence. The creation of street addresses for new builds is not handled by USPS; instead, it is overseen by local government agencies. New street addresses must be approved and registered with the local government to ensure that emergency services can locate your home in case of a 911 call, among other reasons.

Typically, the responsibility of obtaining approval for a new build home address falls on the builder, as an address may be assigned to a parcel of land before any construction begins. Although each municipality has its own process, the city or county zoning department often handles the approval of plans and street addresses for new constructions.

Receive Mail at a Newly Constructed House

Many individuals who move into a newly built home are unsure about how to register their new-construction address with USPS. They believe that establishing an address with the post office is necessary for USPS to acknowledge the existence of the newly constructed home.

Receiving mail at a new construction involves a two-step process. According to USPS, the first step is to visit a post office in the vicinity of your new residence to establish mail delivery to your new address. Essentially, this ensures that your address is included in the USPS database and assigned to a mail delivery route.

USPS does not provide detailed instructions on what documents to bring or what forms to fill out when establishing delivery to your new address. However, it is advisable to bring the deed to your home and a valid photo ID. Once you have spoken to a clerk and confirmed that your address is in the USPS database, the second step is to update your address so that USPS is aware of your move.

Update Your Address with USPS

Whenever your address changes, even temporarily, it is important to complete the USPS new address form. This form ensures that the post office knows where to forward any mail sent to your old address. The change-of-address form is available online and can be completed in just a few minutes. Alternatively, you may fill out the form in person at the post office. (If you are moving to another country, filing the form in person is the only option for updating your address.)

If your entire family shares the same last name and is moving together, you only need to submit one change-of-address form to forward mail for the entire family. Provide your old address, new address, and the desired start date for mail forwarding. When submitting the form online, a fee of $1.10 is required. There is no cost to file a change-of-address form in person at the post office.

Remember to inform anyone who sends mail to your previous address about your updated information. The United States Postal Service (USPS) will forward your mail for a maximum of one year, but you can choose to extend the forwarding period for an additional 18 months by paying an extra fee. Additionally, USPS offers assistance with updating voter registration details when you fill out a change-of-address form. (Don’t forget to sign up for informed delivery as well; it’s one of the many useful USPS techniques that simplify the process of receiving mail!)

Helpful Suggestion

While it is important for USPS and other delivery services to know your current location, you might not want your home address to be easily accessible to the general public. Consider taking measures to remove your new address from websites like Whitepages and other publicly available directories.

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