Citation Guides/Federal Regulations

How to Cite Federal Regulations in Bluebook Format

Master Bluebook citation format for the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) and Federal Register notices. Covers title numbers, part and section citations, and date requirements.

Citation Format

[Title] C.F.R. § [Section] ([Year]).

Citation Components

Title Number

The title of the Code of Federal Regulations. The C.F.R. is divided into 50 titles, organized by subject matter.

Example: 40

Code Abbreviation

The abbreviation for the Code of Federal Regulations: 'C.F.R.' Include periods after each letter.

Example: C.F.R.

Section or Part

The section symbol (§) followed by the specific section number. For parts, use 'pt.' instead. Regulations often use decimal numbering (e.g., § 60.1).

Example: § 60.1

Year

The year of the C.F.R. edition cited, in parentheses. The C.F.R. is updated annually on a rolling basis by title.

Example: (2024)

Examples

EPA regulation from the C.F.R.

40 C.F.R. § 60.1 (2024).

SEC regulation

17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5 (2024).

Federal Register final rule

Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources, 89 Fed. Reg. 16,408 (Mar. 7, 2024) (to be codified at 40 C.F.R. pt. 60).

Federal Register proposed rule

Climate Disclosure Rules, 87 Fed. Reg. 21,334 (proposed Apr. 11, 2022) (to be codified at 17 C.F.R. pts. 210, 229, 232, 249).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Omitting the periods in 'C.F.R.' -- each letter is followed by a period
Confusing C.F.R. citations with Federal Register citations -- the C.F.R. is the codified version; the Federal Register is for proposed and final rules before codification
Using the wrong year -- cite the most recent edition of the C.F.R. unless you need a historical version
Failing to include the 'to be codified at' parenthetical for Federal Register citations of rules not yet in the C.F.R.
Omitting the exact date for Federal Register citations -- include the full date (month, day, year)

Tips for Getting It Right

C.F.R. titles are updated on a staggered quarterly schedule -- check the most recent edition for your title
For Federal Register citations, include the exact date and the page number where the rule begins
When a rule is in the Federal Register but not yet codified, include the parenthetical '(to be codified at [C.F.R. location])'
The SEC's Rule 10b-5 is one of the most commonly cited regulations in law school -- its citation is 17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5
Use 'pt.' for part and '§' for section -- these are different levels of the C.F.R. organizational hierarchy