July 14, 2025

📮 The Most Reliable Way to Find ZIP Codes for Any City and State (and How to Use Them in Zors)

When it comes to building franchise territories, precision is everything. Whether you’re defining exclusive rights, setting marketing boundaries, or mapping a franchise territory, having an accurate list of ZIP codes for your target city is the foundation of everything that follows.

But here’s the catch: not all ZIP code lists are created equal. Many online sources are outdated, incomplete, or flat-out wrong—and ZIP codes change more often than you might think, with new ones added or adjusted regularly to keep up with shifting population and delivery demands.

✅ The good news? The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) offers the most up-to-date, official ZIP code lookup tool—and it’s completely free.

✅ Even better? Zors makes it easy to turn that list into a clean, professional territory map with just a few clicks.

In this article, we’ll show you:

How to use the USPS ZIP Code Lookup Tool
Why it’s more reliable than other methods
How to use your ZIP code list inside Zors to create smart, accurate territories in seconds

Let’s dig in.👇

The USPS ZIP Code Lookup: Your Gold Standard

The U.S. Postal Service maintains the official list of every active ZIP code nationwide. By using their free lookup tool, you tap directly into the source for the most current data.

Why USPS Wins

Direct from the Source: <span style="color: rgb(0, 29, 53)">the United States Postal Service (USPS) creates and manages ZIP codes</span>
Real‑time Updates: Zip codes are added, retired, or adjusted as addresses change.
City & State Filtering: Search by “City & State” to get every ZIP code serving your area.
Free & Reliable: No subscriptions, no API costs—just accurate data.

Step‑by‑Step: Finding ZIP Codes

Open the USPS Lookup Tool
Go to https://tools.usps.com/zip-code-lookup.htm and select “Find by City & State.”
Click "Find By City & State"
Enter Your Location
- City: Virginia Beach
- State: Virginia

Hit “Search”
You’ll see a list like:

VIRGINIA BEACH VA 23450
This ZIP Code™ used for a specific PO BOX

VIRGINIA BEACH VA 23451

VIRGINIA BEACH VA 23452

VIRGINIA BEACH VA 23453

VIRGINIA BEACH VA 23454

VIRGINIA BEACH VA 23455

VIRGINIA BEACH VA 23456

VIRGINIA BEACH VA 23457

VIRGINIA BEACH VA 23458
This ZIP Code™ used for a specific PO BOX

VIRGINIA BEACH VA 23459

💡 Tip: Double‑check for any “unique” ZIPs (e.g., PO Boxes) you may or may not want included

Common Pitfalls with Other Methods

Chatbots and Search Engines: Search results often pull from static blog posts, cached content, or third-party lists that haven’t been updated in months—or even years. Models don't connect directly to USPS.
Web Scrapers & APIs: Often miss recent changes—some ZIP codes might be retired or newly created.
Third‑Party Databases: Licensing delays mean data can be weeks or months old.
Manual Lists on Blogs: Static articles rarely get updated, so relying on them is risky.

🎁 Bonus Tip: Use USPS to Confirm City or County for a Specific Address

Need to verify whether a particular address falls within your target city or county? The USPS ZIP Code Lookup tool can help with that too.

Instead of searching by city, use the "Find by Address" tab. Just enter a full street address, and once the result appears, click the downward expanding arrow icon (▼) to see additional info like:

City name recognized by USPS
County name
Delivery point details

🧭 Why this matters:
When territory boundaries depend on municipal or county lines—or when certain areas use one city name for mailing but are governed by another—this extra detail helps you stay precise and map accurate territories with the rights franchisees want.

✅ Perfect for checking edge cases, verifying franchisee locations, or resolving city/county overlaps.

How Zors Transforms ZIP Code Territories

Once you’ve collected your USPS‑verified ZIP codes, Zors lets you build and manage your territory in two intuitive ways:

List‑Based Creation
- Paste your USPS ZIP code list directly into Zors.
- Watch your territory instantly outline itself on the map.
Manual Map Selection
- Click or draw on the map to select geographic areas.
- Zors backfills the underlying ZIP codes—no manual lookups needed!

✨ Why Zors?

Speed: From list to map in seconds.
Flexibility: Combine list‑based and manual methods for complex shapes.
Accuracy: Zors' territory boundaries align with real ZIP code lines—no guesswork.

Unlock the Full Power of Zors

Ready to ditch the data‑entry drudgery and map territories with confidence? Zors’ territory mapping toolkit helps you:

Visualize coverage in real time
Export clean, compliance‑ready maps

👉 Learn more: Zors Territory Mapping Features

🚀 Next Step: Head over to the USPS ZIP Code Lookup, gather your city’s ZIP codes, and jump into Zors to see how quickly you can define your next franchise territory—accurately and effortlessly!