This paper presents structure optimization of a feedforward neural netowrk controller using the genetic algorithm. It is important to design the neural network with minimum structure for fast response and learning. To minimize the structure of the feedforward neural network, a genralization of multilayer neural netowrks, the genetic algorithm uses binary coding for the structure and floating-point coding for weights. Local search with an on-line learnign algorithm enhances the search performance and reduce the time for global search of the genetic algorithm. The relative fitness defined as the multiplication of the error and node functions prevents from premature convergence. The feedforward neural controller of smaller size outperformed conventional multilayer perceptron network controller.