The 2030 Census Local Update of Census Addresses Operation (LUCA) is an opportunity for officials of tribal, state, and local governments to engage with the 2030 Census by reviewing and commenting on the U.S. Census Bureau's address list prior to the 2030 Census.

While 2030 LUCA does not officially start until 2027, governments can choose to start preparing now. Read more below in the section How to Start Preparing.

LUCA is one of the Census Bureau’s Geographic Partnership Programs that supports the 2030 Census. This operation supports the Census Address List Improvement Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-430).

What is LUCA?

The Census Bureau relies on a complete and accurate address list to reach every living quarter and associated population for inclusion in the decennial census. LUCA provides an opportunity for governments to participate in reviewing this address list.

A LUCA review starts with governments reviewing their address count list by tabulation block and compare the totals to their own address list to determine if any discrepancies exist. Governments may find the address count meets expectations and no further review may be necessary.

Governments who agree to protect the confidentiality of our address list can receive the addresses for their jurisdiction. They have the option to provide suggestions to add residential addresses, delete residential addresses that do not exist or update the geographic location of residential addresses. The U.S. Census Bureau's address list includes street address or other descriptive information about the location where people live.

Governments who provide suggestions will receive feedback on their submission and will have the option to appeal results to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Why Governments Should Participate

Participation in LUCA is not required, but governments may want to get involved for several reasons:

LUCA helps the U.S. Census Bureau develop the housing unit and group quarters address list that we will use to conduct the 2030 Census. Other methods we use to keep the address list updated include:

Updating the Census Bureau address list with United States Postal Service address files.
Using automated change detection with imagery at moderate and high-resolution to identify change areas for further research.
Comparing identified areas of change to parcel data and building footprints.
Applying data science practices to automate and improve accuracy of address updates.
Using in-office research and updates to supplement automated processes.

There have been continued advancements in the tools, sources, and methods available to maintain the Census Bureau address list, resulting in increased accuracy in most areas of the country.

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LUCA is an opportunity to provide input that helps ensure a complete and accurate address list for your jurisdiction, which is an important step towards ensuring everyone is counted in the 2030 Census.

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The Census Bureau estimates that trillions of dollars in federal funding have been distributed annually to tribal governments, states, communities, and other recipients using Census Bureau data in whole or in part. This includes data from the decennial census. Programs include health care, nutrition, highways, housing, school lunches, childcare and more. Read more about how decennial census data impacts federal funding in this report.

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What's New for 2030 LUCA

Governments can access recent Census Bureau address counts before LUCA starts. This will allow additional time to review resources and gather information needed to review and submit changes to the addresses in their jurisdiction.
We will use email instead of paper mailings as primary means of contact to reduce paper, costs, and increase timeliness of communications.
Improved tools will be available to help governments review the Census Bureau’s address list. This includes introducing an address matching service, web-based tools that eliminate the need for the download of software, and a secure portal to facilitate communication and registration.
Governments will have more time to submit changes to the address list. We have extended the review period’s duration from four months to six months.
We emphasize using a coverage based and data-driven review approach. A coverage-based review will focus on determining if the Census Bureau’s address list has the right number of addresses, and if those addresses are in the right location. A data-driven approach will enable governments to take a consistent, systematic approach to reviewing their addresses and providing updates. It will also maximize the value that LUCA adds to the 2030 Census.

How to Start Preparing

Reviewing your jurisdiction's address counts is an important first step. If address counts do not meet expectations in specific blocks, governments may decide to devote more time and resources to LUCA. Where address counts do meet expectations, governments may not need to request the Census Bureau address list to conduct further review.

While 2030 LUCA does not officially start until 2027, governments can choose to start preparing now by doing the following:

Federally recognized Tribal Nations with a reservation and/or off-reservation trust lands.
States.
Counties.
Cities (incorporated places).
Townships (minor civil divisions).

Highest elected/appointed officials from active, functioning, legal governments can designate the person who will represent their jurisdiction. This may include direct employees, interns, contractors, or designating alternate reviewers, such as county, state data center, or regional planning agency.

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Local address sources, such as building permits, E-911 address files, local utility records, annexation records, or taxation files may be available. The address list should include location information, such as latitude and longitude. Community-based organizations may also be a resource to identify any missing or hidden housing.

Only residential living quarters will be included in the frame for 2030 Census operations, so care should be taken to exclude other addressed structures, such as libraries, fire hydrants, or businesses.

You can use the current address count listing files and the housing unit change viewer to review address changes in your community compared to the 2020 Census. Access these in the section below, Resources You Can Use to Prepare.

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The Census Bureau uses a variety of sources to maintain the address list. Consider publishing address data in the National Address Database (NAD) and sharing address and parcel data online.

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These may include finding out if an alternate reviewer is available to support your governments’ work to review the Census Bureau’s address list once the review period begins. Alternate reviewers may include the county, state, state data center, or regional planning agency.

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Important Dates

Starting now, governments can choose to begin preparing for LUCA by following the steps outlined in the section above, How to Start Preparing.

Governments learn details about LUCA, set up accounts, and get registered.
Gather materials to support the process of reviewing the address list once the review period opens.
Practice conducting an address-level review. Submissions will not be accepted at this time, but there will be opportunities for training and hands-on practice.

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Continued opportunity to learn about LUCA, set up accounts, and get registered.
Governments review the Census Bureau’s address list and submit suggestions to add residential addresses, delete residential addresses that do not exist or update the geographic location of residential addresses.
There will be a firm deadline for LUCA submissions so that the Census Bureau has time to process submissions and ensure all eligible addresses are included in the 2030 Census.

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Governments receive address-level feedback on how their submissions are incorporated into the Census Bureau’s address list.
Governments must submit any appeals within 45 days of receiving feedback to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

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The closeout phase marks the end of governments’ access to confidential LUCA materials.

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Resources You Can Use to Prepare

These resources are available now to view census address data. Additional details and information on how to use to these resources are available in the links below.