Zip Code Filtering
Route leads to buyers by zip code coverage in Lead Distro AI: an exact zip list, multi-zip territories, or a mileage radius around a center zip. Set service areas and fallback rules for leads outside covered zones in any lead distribution campaign.
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Overview
You can route leads to specific buyers based on zip codes. This lets each buyer only receive leads from the areas they service.
Step 1: Add Zip Code to Your Field Mapping
- Go to your Campaign and open the Field Mapping section.
- Make sure Zip Code is included as a mapped field.
- Click Edit on the zip code field to set the format (e.g., US 5-digit only).
- Click Save.
Setting the format to US 5-digit only normalizes zip codes and prevents mismatches from extra digits or formatting differences.
Step 2: Add Zip Code Filters to a Buyer
- Go to the Overview tab for your campaign.
- Find the buyer you want to configure and click Edit.
- Under Lead Filters, select Zip Code.
- Set the condition to In List.
- Paste in the list of zip codes this buyer should receive.
- Click Save Changes.
Now any leads that come in matching those zip codes will be distributed to that buyer.
Step 3: Duplicate for Additional Buyers
To quickly set up another buyer with a different zip code list, click Duplicate on the buyer you just configured. Then update the zip code list with the new buyer's service area and click Save Changes.
Route by radius (within X miles)
Instead of pasting an exact list of zip codes, you can route by distance. A buyer receives only the leads whose zip is within a set number of miles of a center zip. This matches how many buyers describe their coverage, for example "I work within 25 miles of my office."
- Find the buyer on your campaign's Overview tab and click Edit.
- Under Lead Filters, add a rule on the Zip Code field.
- Set the condition to Within Radius.
- Enter the radius in miles (for example, 25).
- Add one or more center zips, pressing Enter after each one. A lead passes if it is within that distance of any center.
- Click Save Changes.
Add more than one center zip when a buyer covers several pockets, like two office locations. The lead only has to be near one of them.
How It Works
- When a lead is ingested, the zip code field is checked against each buyer's filter.
- Only buyers whose zip code list includes the lead's zip code will be eligible to receive it.
- This works with all distribution methods — Round Robin, Weighted, Priority, and Ping-Post.
You can combine zip code filters with other lead filters (like state or custom fields) for more precise routing. Each buyer can have their own unique zip code list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use a zip list or a radius?
Use a zip list (In List) when coverage follows fixed boundaries you already know, like specific counties or MLS areas. Use Within Radius when a buyer thinks in distance, like "within 25 miles of me." Both live on the Zip Code field, and different buyers can use different methods. You can even put both on one buyer; they combine with AND logic, so the lead has to satisfy both.
What happens if a lead has no zip code, or a zip we don't recognize?
A radius rule needs a valid zip to measure distance, so a lead with a missing or unrecognized zip does NOT pass a buyer's radius filter. This is on purpose: if we can't confirm the lead is in the buyer's area, we don't send it there. Make sure your campaign's field mapping captures a clean zip (set the format to US 5-digit) so radius routing has something to measure.
Does Within Radius work for international zips?
Radius is US-only today, because it relies on US zip code locations to measure distance. For international coverage, use the In List zip filter with full postal codes instead. Radius support for other countries is on the roadmap.
Does radius routing cost extra, or use an outside service?
No. The distance is worked out from a US zip code database built into Lead Distro AI, so the check happens instantly and offline. There is no Google Maps or geocoding fee, no per-lead lookup charge, and nothing to enable. It stays free no matter how many leads you run.
How many zip codes can I put in a buyer's filter list?
Practical limit is around 10,000 zip codes per buyer filter — well beyond what most agencies need (the US has ~42,000 zip codes total). If you need broader coverage, switch to a state filter plus an exclude zip list to carve out gaps, rather than enumerating every included zip. Paste lists are auto-deduplicated and normalized to the format set in your field mapping.
Can a buyer cover multiple states with a single zip filter?
Yes. The zip filter doesn't care about state boundaries — paste any mix of zips from any states. Use this when a buyer's service area follows market geography (a metro area that crosses state lines) rather than state lines. For state-aligned coverage, combine a state filter (which is faster to maintain) with optional zip exclusions for sub-state gaps.
How do zip filters combine with state filters and custom field filters?
Filters compose with AND logic. A lead must pass every active filter for the buyer to be eligible. Example: buyer with
state IN [TX, OK] AND zip IN [75001, 75002, ...] AND case_type == auto_accident only receives leads matching all three. Build complex AND/OR groups in the buyer filter UI for branching logic (e.g., zip set A AND case_type X, OR zip set B AND case_type Y).What happens to a lead whose zip code doesn't match any buyer?
The lead is marked
UNMATCHED and held in the dashboard for review. You can manually route it to a buyer, archive it, or set up a fallback automation that sends UNMATCHED leads to a default buyer (e.g., a buyer with no zip filter at all that accepts any leftover). UNMATCHED leads don't generate revenue but also don't generate cost — they're suspended until you take action.Does the zip filter support partial matching (e.g., first 3 digits)?
Not directly — the filter expects full zip codes (5-digit US or full international format). For prefix-based routing (e.g., 'all zips starting with 750'), expand the prefix into the full set of zips in your filter list, or use a custom field with a transform that extracts the prefix and route on that. The Phone Formatter and Date Formatter transforms have a pattern for this; ask support for help if you need it.
Can I use zip code filtering with international leads?
Yes, but the format must match your field mapping setup. Set the zip field's format to International (any-format) rather than US 5-digit, then paste UK postcodes, Canadian postal codes, AU postcodes, etc. State filters work alongside if your lead carries a province or region field, but state-by-zip lookup is US-only.
How fast is the zip filter check?
Sub-millisecond per buyer. Filters run in memory at the time of distribution — even buyers with 10,000-zip lists add no perceptible latency. Routing latency end-to-end (ingest API → distributed to buyer's webhook) stays under 500ms for typical campaign configs, regardless of how many buyers or how many zip-filter entries are evaluated.
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If you have any questions, send us an email at support@leaddistro.ai