---
key: add-a-territory
title: Add a service territory
audience: staff
section: administration
routes: ["/settings/org/schedule-constraints/territories", "/settings/org/schedule-constraints/territories/new"]
permissions: ["schedule.territories.read"]
features: ["schedule.constraints"]
since: 0.0.1
updated: 0.0.1
status: published
summary: Name the areas your company serves so scheduling can match work to the people who cover that area.
keywords: [territory, service area, coverage area, zone, region, north side, who covers this area, scheduling rules]
related: [add-a-scheduling-skill, assign-skills-and-territories-to-a-resource, set-the-address-search-area]
---

In the sidebar, open **Settings**, then choose **Territories** under **Scheduling**. The page address is `/settings/org/schedule-constraints/territories`.

A territory is a named area you serve, such as "North shore" or "Downtown core". Territories decide who works where: once they exist, you say which people cover each one in [[assign-skills-and-territories-to-a-resource]]. Add one only if some people should not be sent to some areas; most small teams do not need this. An address no territory covers is open to anyone.

## Before you start

- Anyone whose role can read scheduling territories can open the list. Creating, editing, deactivating and reactivating territories are separate permissions; ask your admin if a button is missing.

## Steps

1. Press **Add territory**. The **Add territory** drawer opens.
2. Type a **Name**.
3. Add a **Descriptor** describing the coverage, for example the neighbourhoods or highways that bound it. It is optional.
4. Press **Create territory**. The territory is created with an **Initial status** of active.

To change a territory later, press **Edit** on its row, change the **Name** or **Descriptor** and press **Save changes**.

## What you see

- The list shows each territory's **Name**, **Descriptor**, **Status** and when it was **Updated**. Use **Search territories** to find one, or the filter button to show **Active only**, **Inactive only** or **All**.
- **Deactivate** retires a territory you no longer serve. Nova asks you to confirm; history is kept, and **Reactivate** brings it back.
- The column button can add **ZIP prefixes**, **Region codes** and **Branch IDs** columns. Nova matches a work address to a territory by those postal code prefixes, regions or branches, but the drawer on this page does not fill them in, so they usually read as a dash. A territory with none of them set does not match any address yet; ask Nova support to set its coverage.

## If something looks different

- **Add territory** is missing: your role can read territories but not create them.
- **Create territory** refuses with "Name is required.": type a name first.
- You want address suggestions limited to an area, not scheduling matches: that is [[set-the-address-search-area]].

[[route:/settings/org/schedule-constraints/territories|Open Territories]]