Residential Address

What is a residential address?

A residential address is the address of a place of residence. Residential addresses apply to single-family homes, apartments, condos, townhomes, mobile homes, accessory dwelling units, and other permanent types of places of residence—whether it’s where someone lives full time, a second home, or a rental property. So, home and residential addresses are the same thing. 

Residential addresses don’t necessarily have to receive postal mail. People might have both residential and postal addresses, meaning that their physical address and their correspondence address, or the place where they receive mail, are different. There are a couple options for shipping and mailing addresses, such as a P.O. box at a local post office, a private mailbox offered by third-party shipping companies, or a virtual mailing address and/or virtual mailbox. 

Knowing the difference between residential and mailing addresses is important for situations where you need proof of residence, such as voter registration, getting a driver’s license, setting up utilities, or applying for government services. 

FAQs 

What is a valid residential address?

A valid residential address typically follows the postal address standards set by the United States Postal Service, which require a street address, building or apartment number (if applicable), street name, city, state, and ZIP code. 

What makes an address residential or commercial?

The difference between a residential address vs. a commercial address is that residential addresses only apply to dwelling units. Commercial addresses are typically found in areas that are zoned for commercial use. Virtual mailing addresses are usually considered commercial addresses because they don't represent places of residence. 

Is your residential address the same as your mailing address?

While your residential address can be the same as your mailing address, postal and residential addresses don’t have to be the same. Here are some scenarios where people might choose a different postal or mailing address: 

• Some people choose to have mail sent to a P.O. box address if they travel a lot or simply don’t want large packages delivered directly to their doorstep.
• Homeowners with multiple properties may choose to have mail for multiple residential addresses sent to one virtual address.
• Many business owners who work from a home address get a dedicated business mailing address to separate personal and business mail, have a dedicated virtual office address, comply with registered agent requirements, and maintain a professional image.

How do I verify my address of residence?

You can verify your residential address with documentation that shows the physical address, such as a rental agreement, property deed, or mortgage paperwork, utility bill, or bank statement.