How to Cite a Regulation in Bluebook Format

Understanding Regulation Citations in Bluebook

Regulations are official rules issued by federal and state administrative agencies. These legal documents establish operational standards, safety guidelines, and procedural requirements. Bluebook format provides precise citation methods for regulations that help readers locate official regulatory text.

Basic Federal Regulation Citation Format

The standard Bluebook format for federal regulations is: Title C.F.R. § Section (Year).

Include the Code of Federal Regulations title number, the section symbol and section number, and the year of the regulation in parentheses.

Federal Regulation Example

Citation of an OSHA regulation:

29 C.F.R. § 1910.1200 (2024).

The “29” indicates Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations; § 1910.1200 is the specific section (Hazard Communication Standard).

Multiple Sections

When citing several consecutive sections:

42 U.S.C. § 1983 et seq. (2024).

The “et seq.” notation indicates the citation continues through subsequent sections.

State Regulation Citation

For state regulations, use the state abbreviation and regulatory code:

Cal. Code Regs. § 8001 (2024).

Include the state abbreviation, regulatory code title, section number, and year.

Administrative Code Citation

Some agencies use administrative codes instead of the C.F.R.:

Environmental Protection Agency regulations: 40 C.F.R. § 112.1 (2024).

Internal Revenue Service regulations: 26 C.F.R. § 1.162-1 (2024).

Proposed Regulations (Federal Register)

For proposed regulations not yet codified:

Proposed Hazardous Waste Management Standards, 89 Fed. Reg. 15,000 (Feb. 28, 2024).

Use the Federal Register citation for proposed rules before they are codified in the C.F.R.

In-Text Citations for Regulations

In Bluebook legal writing, regulations appear in footnotes:

29 C.F.R. § 1910.1200 (2024).

For subsequent citations, use a shortened form:

29 C.F.R. § 1910.1200.

Examples for Different Regulation Types

Environmental Protection Agency

40 C.F.R. § 261.3 (2024) (hazardous waste identification).

Internal Revenue Service

26 C.F.R. § 1.469-1 (2024) (passive activity limitations).

Securities and Exchange Commission

17 C.F.R. § 210.1-01 (2024) (financial statement requirements).

Food and Drug Administration

21 C.F.R. § 312.20 (2024) (FDA drug testing regulations).

Citing Specific Subsections

When citing subdivisions within a regulation:

42 C.F.R. § 405.1(a)(1) (2024).

Include parenthetical subdivisions to direct readers to the specific provision referenced.

Using GenText for Regulation Citations

GenText streamlines regulation citation in Bluebook format by organizing title numbers, section references, and publication years. The tool ensures proper C.F.R. abbreviations and correct formatting.

Common C.F.R. Title Abbreviations

Frequently cited C.F.R. titles:

• Title 5: Administrative Procedure
• Title 26: Internal Revenue Code
• Title 29: Labor
• Title 40: Environmental Protection
• Title 42: Public Health
• Title 49: Transportation

Finding Official Regulations

Locating authoritative regulatory sources:

• Government Printing Office (govinfo.gov)
• Code of Federal Regulations (ecfr.gov)
• Federal Register (federalregister.gov)
• Agency websites for official regulations
• State legislative council or secretary of state offices

Common Citation Mistakes

• Incorrect title number: Verify the correct C.F.R. title for the agency or subject matter.
• Missing section symbol: Always use the § symbol before the section number.
• Omitting the year: The year in parentheses is required for Bluebook regulation citations.
• Mixing citations formats: Don’t mix C.F.R. and Federal Register citations for the same regulation.

When to Cite Regulations

Regulations are essential sources for:

• Administrative and regulatory law
• Compliance and safety standards
• Tax and employment law
• Environmental and health law
• Procedural and operational requirements

By following Bluebook guidelines for regulation citations, you ensure accuracy in citing administrative law and enable readers to access official regulatory documents through the C.F.R. and state codes.