Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) Operation is a once–a-decade opportunity for local designated representatives to review the
addresses that will be used to conduct the Decennial Census
Advanced notice send out to Highest Elected Officials and other LUCA contacts.
In addition to the Advance Notice Letter, the LUCA information booklet, promotional
participant workbooks and instructor guides, the Census Bureau will provide tools for
potential LUCA partners at the Advance Notice stage. These tools will include an
Address Count List for each GU, as well as a public geocoding tool. Potential LUCA
partners can load their own residential address list into the Census Bureau’s geocoding
tool to generate a count of residential addresses by block and compare it to the Census
Bureau’s count of residential addresses by block. This will allow potential LUCA
partners to see where the Census Bureau’s residential address count differs from their
own and to assess their need to participate in the LUCA Operation. Address Count List are now availale at the Census Bureau LUCA web site
July 2017
Invitation and registration mailed to Highest Elected Officials (cc: other LUCA contacts)
LUCA information booklet
Confidentiality and Security Guidelines
Forms for Registration:
Registration Form
Confidentiality Agreement Form
Product Preference Form
Self-Assessment for the Confidentiality and
Security Guidelines
October 2017
LUCA Training Workshops begin
Between February 2018 and May 2018
Address review by the participants. Participants have a maximum of 120 days from the date of receipt of materials to complete and submit their address and spatial updates to the Census Bureau.
Between August 2019 and October 2019
The Census Bureau will provide a feedback package to governments that participate in the operation. There will be an opportunity to appeal the Census Bureau decisions.
Format of LUCA submissions
Address Updates
The information collection on living quarters address additions, corrections, deletions, and address attribute updates, at the participating government's preference, can be submitted in the form of:
Digital data files output by the Geographic Update Partnership Software (GUPS), a desktop application supplied free-of-charge to LUCA participants to facilitate the review and update of Census Bureau address and map information;
Digital data files formatted to Census Bureau specifications; or
Handwritten annotations to printed-paper address listings and address locations on Census block maps (for governments with 6,000 or fewer addresses).
Feature Updates
The information collection on living quarters structure point coordinates, roads, and road attribute updates, at the participating government's preference, can be submitted in the form of:
Digital data shapefiles output by GUPS;
Digital updates to Census Bureau supplied shapefiles; or
Handwritten annotations on Census Bureau supplied paper maps.
How to prepare for LUCA
Submit Contact Information Update Form
Develop a strategy for your address review
Access the Census Bureau’s count of residential
addresses by census block for your government
Ensure that your address list contains individual multiunit
structure identifiers (Apt 1, Apt 2)
Identify local address sources such as building permits,
E-911 address files, local utility records, annexation
records, and assessment or taxation files
