Official Residency in City of De Pere
"I Live in De Pere" - Understanding City Residency
While we welcome and deeply appreciate everyone who considers themselves part of "De Pere," there are occasional misunderstandings about who is officially a City of De Pere resident. While this distinction doesn’t affect community pride or a person's sense of "home," it does matter when it comes to expectations for City services and resident discounts. Those who pay property taxes to the City of De Pere directly fund our municipal services and, in return, receive certain benefits—such as garbage and leaf collection, discounted rates for select recreation programs, access to our rubbish and waste drop-off site, and other city-provided services.
To check whether you are an official City of De Pere resident, view the City of De Pere boundary map (click here).
Where confusion comes in ...
There are several factors that seem to contribute to misunderstandings about what it means to "live in De Pere." Residents of neighboring municipalities—such as Ledgeview and Lawrence —pay taxes and receive services from their respective local governments. However, many of these residents also have a "De Pere" mailing address, which can create confusion for some people about their official residency status.
So, why does a mailing address say "De Pere" if someone lives elsewhere? Good question! The United States Postal Service (USPS) is the one who assigns mailing addresses—based on how mail is routed, not on municipal boundaries. In other words, ZIP codes are created for postal delivery efficiency, and the city names assigned to them are for postal operations rather than local government purposes. The 54115 ZIP code, which includes "De Pere" in mailing addresses, covers a much larger area than the official City limits, extending into parts of Ashwaubenon, Ledgeview, Lawrence, Glenmore, Rockland, Wrightstown, and more (view map below). Because of this, someone can have a "De Pere" mailing address while actually residing in a different municipality with its own government, services, and tax structure.
Another factor that can contribute to confusion is school district boundaries. Many families who live outside the City limits still send their children to schools within the City of De Pere and pay school district taxes. However, school taxes are separate from City property taxes and do not fund City services.
Home, wherever you are ...
In the end, we understand how mailing addresses and school districts may cause confusion, but it's important to know that municipal services are funded by the property taxes paid directly to a city, town, or village. Those who pay property taxes to the City of De Pere contribute to and receive certain City-provided services, while those in neighboring communities receive services from their respective municipalities.
We also understand that De Pere is more than just a City limit—it’s a community that many people feel connected to, regardless of where they live. We sincerely appreciate and welcome everyone who considers De Pere "home" and this page is simply provided as a courtesy to help clear up misunderstandings. Please enjoy the City of De Pere and all the great things we have to offer.
Green Outline: "De Pere Zip Code"
Black Outline: City of De Pere official city boundaries
