Location Restrictions Guide

Learn how to control exactly where your products can and cannot ship using Ship Restrict's location features.

Types of Location Restrictions

Ship Restrict lets you control shipping at three levels:

States - Block or allow entire states
Cities - Target specific cities
ZIP Codes - Precise neighborhood-level control

You can use one or combine all three for maximum control.

State Restrictions

The simplest and most common type of restriction.

How to Block States

Go to WooCommerce → Ship Restrict
Create a new rule or edit a product
In the States dropdown, select states to restrict
Hold Ctrl (or Cmd on Mac) to select multiple states

Example: Block shipping to California and New York

Select both CA and NY from the list
Save your rule

Common State Restrictions

Alcohol: Many states restrict alcohol shipping

Commonly restricted: Utah, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Mississippi

Ammunition: State laws vary widely

Often restricted: California, New York, Massachusetts, Hawaii

CBD Products: Some states have unclear laws

Check current status: Idaho, South Dakota, Nebraska

City Restrictions

Target specific cities without blocking entire states.

Setting City Restrictions

Ship Restrict uses city-state pairs to avoid confusion (many cities share names).

Click Add Another City
Select the state first
Type the city name
Add more cities as needed

Important: Always include the state to avoid confusion:

✅ Springfield, IL
✅ Springfield, MO
❌ Just "Springfield" (which one?)

City Name Tips

Be consistent with spelling:

Customers might type "St. Louis" or "Saint Louis"
Add both versions to cover all cases

Common variations to include:

St. / Saint
Mt. / Mount
Ft. / Fort

Case doesn't matter:

"Los Angeles" = "los angeles" = "LOS ANGELES"

Example: Dry Counties

Some counties prohibit alcohol sales:

Create an "Alcohol" category
Add a restriction rule
Add each dry county as a city:
- Moore County, TN (home of Jack Daniel's!)
- Borden County, TX
- And others as needed

ZIP Code Restrictions

Perfect for precise delivery areas or exclusive territories.

Adding ZIP Codes

Enter ZIP codes separated by commas:

Single: 90210
Multiple: 90210, 90211, 90212
With spaces: 90210, 90211, 90212 (works fine)

Note: Enter only 5-digit ZIP codes, not ZIP+4

Common Uses for ZIP Codes

Local Delivery Zone

Your store ZIP: 60601
Delivery area: 60601, 60602, 60603, 60604, 60605
Use "Allow only" to limit delivery to these ZIPs

Exclusive Dealer Territory

Dealer covers: Downtown Manhattan
Block ZIPs: 10001, 10002, 10003, 10009
Other dealers handle their own ZIP codes

Service Area Restrictions

Fresh food delivery within 10 miles
List all ZIP codes in your delivery radius
Products only ship to those areas

Block vs Allow Logic

Ship Restrict offers two ways to use location restrictions:

"Block From" (Default)

Prevents shipping TO selected locations.

Example: Block California

Ships everywhere EXCEPT California
Good for compliance restrictions
Use when most places are OK, few are restricted

"Allow Only"

ONLY ships to selected locations.

Example: Allow only Texas

Ships ONLY to Texas
Good for local delivery
Use when you serve limited areas

Which Should You Use?

Use "Block From" when:

You ship nationally with few exceptions
Following state compliance laws
Most locations are acceptable

Use "Allow Only" when:

You're a local business
You have exclusive territories
You serve specific regions only

Combining Location Types

Use multiple location types together for precise control.

Example Combinations

Wine Shop

Block states: Utah, Pennsylvania (state laws)
Block cities: Dry counties in Texas
Allow ZIPs: Your local delivery area

Regional Distributor

Allow states: Your service region
Block cities: Areas with poor delivery access
Block ZIPs: Problematic neighborhoods

B2B with Territories

Allow states: Dealer's territory
Block cities: Competitor's exclusive areas
Allow ZIPs: Specific business districts

Tips for Managing Locations

Start Broad, Then Refine

Start with state-level restrictions
Add city restrictions for exceptions
Use ZIP codes for fine-tuning

Keep Lists Updated

Regular reviews:

Laws change - check quarterly
Service areas expand - update ZIPs
New restrictions arise - add promptly

Test Your Restrictions

Test addresses to try:

California: 123 Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90001

New York: 456 Broadway, New York, NY 10001

Texas: 789 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701

Florida: 321 Ocean Dr, Miami, FL 33139

Document Your Reasons

Keep notes on why locations are restricted:

"California - Prop 65 requirements"
"Chicago - Local dealer exclusive"
"90210 - High fraud area"

Common Scenarios

Scenario 1: Alcohol Retailer

Setup:

Block states that prohibit alcohol shipping
Block dry counties within allowed states
Message: "We cannot ship alcohol to your location due to local laws"

Scenario 2: Local Farm Delivery

Setup:

Use "Allow only" logic
Add ZIP codes within 25 miles
Message: "We deliver fresh produce within 25 miles of our farm"

Scenario 3: Hazardous Materials

Setup:

Block Hawaii and Alaska (air shipping required)
Block specific cities with restrictions
Message: "This item cannot be shipped by air"

Troubleshooting Location Issues

Restriction Not Working?

Check these common issues:

Is the customer entering city names differently?
Are you using 5-digit ZIPs (not ZIP+4)?
Did you select the right logic (Block vs Allow)?

City Names Not Matching?

Solutions:

Add common variations (St. vs Saint)
Check for typos
Ensure state is selected

ZIP Codes Not Blocking?

Verify:

Using commas between ZIPs
Only 5 digits (not 90210-1234)
No extra spaces or characters

Best Practices

For States

Review state laws quarterly
Block entire states when laws require
Keep documentation of why states are blocked

For Cities

Always use state-city pairs
Include name variations
Test with real addresses

For ZIP Codes

Keep lists organized
Update as service areas change
Use for precise territorial control

Questions? Our support team can help you set up location restrictions for your specific needs. Contact us at support@shiprestrict.com