Program webpage
Census contact email: 2030.LUCA@census.gov
What is LUCA?
Local officials know their community and their address list the best. The Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) is a once a decade, pre-census activity, where local officials review the Census Bureau’s Master Address File (MAF) for completeness. They can suggest improvements to the MAF including corrections, new addresses and deleted addresses.
Why does LUCA matter to a community?
If a housing unit isn’t in the Census Bureau’s Master Address File, its residents will likely not be included in the decennial census counts. Participation in LUCA is the best way to ensure that the Census Bureau address list includes all of the housing units in a community. LUCA reviews focus on:
- Hard-to-locate units, internally-subdivided homes or informal units
- Converted garages, sheds and accessory dwellings
- Rural areas where mail is not normally delivered
- Areas of new single and multi-dwelling construction
How does LUCA work?
Each community that agrees to participate in LUCA assigns designated reviewers with technical skills needed to review the Master Address List against local address sources. These include lists maintained by a county 911 agency or planning departments. Reviewers must agree to strict confidentiality provisions.
The LUCA review period is six months long. Where reviewers find discrepancies, they will submit corrected addresses; prioritizing those areas of the community where differences are most prevalent. Both housing units and group quarter facilities such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, college dormitories and correctional facilities are included in the scope of a LUCA review.
Who can participate in LUCA?
The Census Bureau invites the highest-elected official in each state and local government to participate in LUCA. They should expect to delegate responsibility for the LUCA review to staff. In some cases, a state or local government with more resources and background in GIS, partners with smaller communities to complete the review.
What software and data are required?
- The Census Bureau provides the necessary software and data to participate in the program. This includes an online software called Geographic Update Partnership Software (GUPS) that is used to submit make changes over a secure connection. No local software installation is required.
Notices and Census Bureau Announcements
LUCA is authorized under the Census Address List Improvement Act of 1994 (P.L. 103-430).