How to Cite the Code of Federal Regulations

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Regulations issued by departments and agencies of the U.S. federal government are published in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The CFR is organized into 50 titles, indicated by the title number. Each entry in the title is identified by a unique section number. You'll need to cite the CFR if you reference a federal regulation in a research paper or project. Bluebook format is primarily used for legal citations. If you're using the MLA, APA, or Chicago style of citation, your format may vary.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Bluebook

PDF download Download Article
  1. There are 50 titles of the CFR, each of which represent broad areas that are subject to federal regulation. The title number lets your readers know which broad area the regulation addresses. [1]

    Example: Title 36 of the CFR addresses parks, forests, and other public property. For Bluebook style, you would simply type the number of the title.

  2. The Bluebook abbreviation for the CFR uses the first letters of each noun in the title. Place periods after each letter. Do not put spaces between the initials. [2]

    Example: 36 C.F.R.

    Advertisement
  3. Type a space after the last initial period, then type the section symbol (§). Type another space, and then provide the specific number for the section you want to cite. [3]

    Example: 36 C.F.R. § 2.15

  4. The date of the code is listed at the top of the page, for online versions, or on the spine of the volume, for print versions. Type a space, then type the year of the code in parentheses. [4]
    • Unless you are studying the evolution of a particular regulation and need to cite a historical version, use the most recent code edition available. This ensures you're citing the most up-to-date version of the regulation.
    • Bluebook style cites to the canonical version of the law, not the specific version that you consulted. However, providing the year allows your readers to access the exact wording of the regulation that you used. [5]

    Example: 36 C.F.R. § 2.15 (2017)

  5. The Bluebook uses sequential footnotes for in-text citations. Legal writing does not normally have a bibliography or reference list following the work. [6]
    • If your instructor or supervisor wants you to include a bibliography or reference list, the format for a CFR citation does not change. However, your instructor or supervisor may want you to include the title of the regulation, or other information, in the full reference.
    6. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Chicago

PDF download Download Article
  1. Chicago style treats regulations as though they don't have an author, so the first part of your reference entry is the title of the regulation. Type the title in title-case, surrounded by quotation marks. Put a period at the end of the title, inside the quotation marks. [7]

    Example: "Pets."

  2. Spell out the Code of Federal Regulations in italics, followed by a comma. Type the word "title," followed by the title number. Type a space, then put the year of the code edition in parentheses. Place a colon after the closing parentheses mark. [8]

    Example: "Pets." Code of Federal Regulations , title 36 (2017):

  3. After the colon, provide the page numbers from the print edition of the CFR. Do not use any abbreviations before the numbers, such as "p." Place a period after the last page number digit. [9]
    • If you accessed the CFR online, go to the Government Printing Office website at gpo.gov to get a PDF of the print version of the regulation. That way, you'll have a page number.

    Example: "Pets." Code of Federal Regulations , title 36 (2017): 25-26.

  4. If you accessed the CFR online, the last part of your reference entry will be the direct URL or "permalink" for the regulation. Use the PDF available from the GPO, so that you have an online copy of the official print edition of the code. Place a period at the end of the URL. [10]

    Example: "Pets." Code of Federal Regulations , title 36 (2017): 25-26. https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2017-title36-vol1/pdf/CFR-2017-title36-vol1-sec2-15.pdf.

  5. When using a footnote for in-text citation, include all the same information you included in your reference list entry. However, instead of placing periods between the elements, use commas. The only period in a footnote is at the end. [11]

    Example: "Pets," Code of Federal Regulations , title 36 (2017): 25-26, https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2017-title36-vol1/pdf/CFR-2017-title36-vol1-sec2-15.pdf.

    6. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

MLA

PDF download Download Article
  1. List all administrative units in order from largest to smallest. For all regulations in the CFR, the first unit listed will be "United States." Place commas between administrative units and a period at the end. Spell out all words in your Works Cited entry. [12]

    Example: United States, Department of Interior, National Park Service.

  2. After the government department, type the title of the regulation. Use title case, capitalizing all nouns, pronouns, verbs, and adverbs. Place a period at the end of the title, inside the closing quotation marks. [13]

    Example: United States, Department of Interior, National Park Service. "Pets."

  3. Type out the full name of the Code of Federal Regulations in italics, followed by a comma. In regular font, identify the Government Printing Office as the publisher, followed by a comma. Then type the year of the CFR edition. Type a comma after the year. [14]

    Example: United States, Department of Interior, National Park Service. "Pets." Code of Federal Regulations , Government Printing Office, 2017,

  4. Following the publication information, provide the page numbers on which the regulation appears. Use the abbreviations "p." (for a single page) or "pp." (for multiple pages). Place a period after the last page number. [15]

    Example: United States, Department of Interior, National Park Service. "Pets." Code of Federal Regulations , Government Printing Office, 2017, pp. 25-26.

  5. The MLA uses author-page number parenthetical citations within the text of your paper. For the author, list every administrative unit you listed in your Works Cited entry. Abbreviate commonly abbreviated words, such as "department." Include the page number where the portion of the regulation you are citing appears. [16]

    Example: It is illegal to leave your pet unattended in a public park (United States, Dept. of Interior, National Park Service, 25).

    6. Advertisement
Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

APA

PDF download Download Article
  1. Type the name of the regulation in sentence-case, capitalizing only the first word and any proper nouns. Place a comma after the name of the regulation. [17]
    • If the regulation is commonly known or identified by its name, use that name as the first part of your reference entry. If the regulation's name isn't commonly known, you can skip to the next part of the entry if you want.

    Example: Pets,

  2. Type a space after the comma following the name of the regulation. Type the title number of the regulation, then the abbreviation "C.F.R." Type a space, then type the section symbol (§), a space, and the number of the section. [18]

    Example: Pets, 36 C.F.R. § 2.15

  3. Type a space after the section number, then type the year of the CFR edition in parentheses. Place a period after the closing parentheses mark to close out your reference entry. [19]

    Example: Pets, 36 C.F.R. § 2.15 (2017).

  4. APA style uses name-year parenthetical citations when you paraphrase or quote the regulation in text. If you didn't include the name of the regulation in your citation, use the title and section number instead. Separate elements with a comma. [20]
    • Named example: (Pets, 2017).
    • Unnamed example: (36 C.F.R. § 2.15, 2017).
    5. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      • Many style guides, including the MLA style guide, allow the option to cite legal materials, such as federal regulations, in Bluebook legal style. Consult your instructor or supervisor to find out which method they prefer. [21]
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Cite Sources
      How to
      Cite Sources in MLA Format
      How to
      Cite Sources in Chicago Manual of Style Format
      How to
      Cite a Source in APA Format
      A Step-by-Step Guide to Citing the WHO in APA (+ other Styles)
      How to
      Quote and Cite a Play in an Essay Using MLA Format
      How to
      Properly to Cite Dialogue in MLA
      How to
      Cite a Quote
      How to
      Cite a Research Paper
      What Does Ibid Mean? How to Use It & Citation Examples
      How to
      Quote and Cite a Poem in an Essay Using MLA Format
      How to
      Cite the CDC in APA
      How to
      Quote a Book
      How to
      Add a Footnote to Microsoft Word: Step-by-Step Guide
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ http://guides.ll.georgetown.edu/bluebook/citing-other
      2. ↑ https://law.gwu.libguides.com/federalregulatory/citations
      3. ↑ https://law-hawaii.libguides.com/c.php?g=125486&p=821648
      4. ↑ https://libguides.niu.edu/c.php?g=700603&p=5051210
      5. ↑ https://style.mla.org/documenting-legal-works/
      6. ↑ http://guides.ll.georgetown.edu/bluebook/citing-other
      7. ↑ https://library.bowdoin.edu/research/chicago-gov.pdf
      8. ↑ https://libguides.nps.edu/citation/chicago-nb#legal-code
      9. ↑ https://library.bowdoin.edu/research/chicago-gov.pdf
      1. ↑ https://libguides.nps.edu/citation/chicago-nb#legal-code
      2. ↑ https://libguides.nps.edu/citation/chicago-nb#legal-code
      3. ↑ https://libguides.up.edu/mla/common/government-legal
      4. ↑ http://irsc.libguides.com/c.php?g=483085&p=3303421
      5. ↑ https://libguides.up.edu/mla/common/government-legal
      6. ↑ https://libguides.up.edu/mla/common/government-legal
      7. ↑ http://irsc.libguides.com/c.php?g=483085&p=3303421
      8. ↑ https://libguides.umgc.edu/c.php?g=1003870&p=7423433
      9. ↑ https://guides.zsr.wfu.edu/c.php?g=1014307&p=7346633
      10. ↑ https://guides.library.cornell.edu/citing_us_gov_docs/rulesRegulations
      11. ↑ https://blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2013/07/the-rules-for-federal-regulations-i-code-of-federal-regulations.html
      12. ↑ https://style.mla.org/documenting-legal-works/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you reference a federal regulation in a research paper or project, you’ll need to cite the code of Federal Regulations. For the Bluebook format, which is typically used for legal citations, start by Identifying the title number for the regulation. This will let your readers know which broad area the regulation addresses. Use the right abbreviation for the Code of Federal Regulations, which is made up of the first letters of each noun in the title. Place periods after each letter. Type a space after the last initial period, then type the section symbol. After adding another space, give the specific number for the section you want to cite. You’ll then need to cite the date of the code edition in parentheses. To learn how to cite the code of Federal Regulations in MLA format, keep reading!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 247,697 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement