Code of Federal Regulations

The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) annual edition is the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the departments and agencies of the Federal Government.

The online CFR is a joint project authorized by the publisher, the National Archives and Records Administration's (NARA) Office of the Federal Register (OFR), and the Government Publishing Office (GPO) to provide the public with enhanced access to Government information.

Note: In the official paper bound version and the official PDF versions of 2007 edition of Title 49 volume 6 parts 400-599, the header incorrectly reads "(10-1-06 Edition)" and should have read "(10-1-07 Edition)".

Source: Code of Federal Regulations | GovInfo. (2024). In USA.gov. Retrieved February 19, 2025, from https://www.govinfo.gov/help/cfr

• GovInfo currently contains titles from 1997 to the present. Select volumes are available back to 1996. CFR volumes are added concurrent with the release of the paper editions. When revised CFR volumes are added, the prior editions remain on GovInfo as a historical set.
• Bulk data downloads of Code of Federal Regulations XML files are available to the general public via Data.gov  and GPO's Bulk Data Repository. Information on the legal status, authenticity, and schema of the Code of Federal Regulations XML renditions can be found in the User Guide Document - Code of Federal Register XML Rendition.
• To see more recently updated titles of the CFR, visit the electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR),  a regularly updated, unofficial editorial compilation of CFR material and Federal Register amendments. The eCFR is updated on a daily basis.
• To see a cumulative list of CFR sections that have been changed at any time since each CFR title was last updated, view the List of CFR Sections Affected (LSA)
• To find final and proposed rules that affect the CFR and have been published in the Federal Register within the past 24 hours, week, month, or within a specific date range, browse the CFR Parts Affected from the Federal Register

Source: Code of Federal Regulations | GovInfo. (2024). In USA.gov. Retrieved February 19, 2025, from https://www.govinfo.gov/help/cfr

The CFR is divided into 50 titles that represent broad areas subject to Federal regulation. Each title is divided into chapters, which usually bear the name of the issuing agency. Each chapter is further subdivided into parts that cover specific regulatory areas. Large parts may be subdivided into subparts. All parts are organized in sections, and most citations to the CFR refer to material at the section level.

Source: Code of Federal Regulations | GovInfo. (2024). In USA.gov. Retrieved February 19, 2025, from https://www.govinfo.gov/help/cfr

The CFR is a public record of regulations created by executive agencies that apply to the public. Like congressionally passed laws, these rules must be followed by affected parties. Federal agencies are given the authority to determine these rules by congressional or presidential delegation of powers. The CFR serves as a reference for current and past versions of federal rules, so that anyone can read and understand ongoing updates and changes to federal rules. 

Researchers can use the CFR to investigate topics such as:

• internal structure, governance, and operations of executive agencies
• areas overseen by a particular agency or department
• changes in federal rules over time
• current regulations governing a specific topic, such as drug development, healthcare price transparency, 
• requirements for existing federal programs regulated by executive agencies

The CFR is also used to prompt public comment on federal rules. The day before a rule is published in the federal register, it is made available for public inspection. From this date until a designated date (typically 30-60 days after publication in the federal register) the agency proposing the rule takes public comment on the proposed rule. For more information about the public inspection process and how to file a public comment, visit the Federal Register's Public Inspection page and Regulations.gov.

The Code of Federal Regulations contains a section explaining the format of CFR citations.

Title content is ordered in the following hierarchy:

1. Title
2. Chapter
3. Subchapter
4. Part
5. Section

Cite the CFR by including the title first, the abbreviation "CFR", and then the section and part with a period between them. Because title parts and sections are listed in numerical order, it is not necessary to list the chapter and subchapter of the title.

For example: 1 CFR 8.9 refers to the "Form of Citation" section located at Title 1, Chapter 1, Subchapter C, Part 8, Section 9. 

You may also see the symbol "§" also known as the section sign. If a source cites § 8.9 it is citing Part 8, Section 9 of a specific title.

Most style guides, including the legal citation Bluebook style, use the section symbol when referring to CFR sections. 

• Cornell guide to citing federal code in Bluebook

If you have a citation for a specific CFR section, you can search for it in the main search bar of the eCFR. You can also search by the name of a specific section. 

Find more guidance on searching the eCFR in the Reader Aids.