Is it legal to ask for a candidate's address or ZIP code in an interview?
Asking where a candidate lives early in hiring is risky, because address and ZIP code can act as a proxy for race or national origin. Ask only about the practical requirements the job actually has.
A home address or ZIP code rarely tells you anything job-related, but it can correlate strongly with race, national origin and economic status. That is why screening on it can support a discrimination claim even without any intent.
If your real concern is commute, relocation or on-site presence, ask about that directly: whether the candidate can reliably get to the work location or is open to relocating, asked of everyone.
Risky phrasing
“What neighborhood or ZIP code do you live in?”
Compliant rewrite
This role is on-site at our downtown office. Are you able to commute there reliably, or open to relocating?
Check your own questions in seconds.
Paste a job's application or interview questions. FairHire quotes the exact risky phrase and rewrites it. It works across eight categories of legal risk.
Audit my questions freeFairHire is an informational tool, not legal advice. Have qualified counsel review your hiring questions before use.