Skip to main content

Rulemaking and Federal Register

Rulemaking is the process we use to create regulations. It is designed to ensure the public is informed of proposed rules, has the opportunity to comment on them, and have access to the rulemaking record.

Give us your comment - visit Open for Public Comment

Rulemaking Process

  1. Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

    In this optional step, we publish initial analysis of the subject and ask for public comment.

  2. Proposed Rule.

    The proposed regulatory language is published in the Federal Register, including justification and analysis behind the rule as well as our response to any advance public comment. 

  3. Public Comment.

    After publication in the Federal Register, a public comment period begins. Depending on the complexity of the rule, comment periods could be for 30 to 60 days, or even as much as 180 days.

  4. Final Rule.

    After the comment period, we publish our response to issues raised by public comments and an updated analysis and justification for the rule, including and analysis of any new information from public comments.

In some cases, we may publish a second draft proposed rule. This and any subsequent drafts also appear in the Federal Register.

Once we have analyzed and satisfied public concerns on every draft, the rule can be found by clicking Rules & Notices and is published in the Code of Federal Regulations.

Ex Parte Communications in Connection with FHFA Rulemakings

FHFA encourages public and transparent participation in its process for rulemakings conducted in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.  FHFA's Policy on Communications with Outside Parties in Connection with FHFA Rulemakings provides guidance as to how the public should make written and oral communications, including at meetings, to FHFA during this process.

Key Legislation

Key legislation related to FHFA, the regulated entities and our predecessor agencies is detailed under Key Legislation on Government page.

Code of Federal Regulations

e-CFR is a regularly updated, unofficial editorial compilation of CFR material and Federal Register amendments produced by the National Archives and Records Administration's Office of the Federal Register and the Government Printing Office.

Title 12 - Banks and Banking includes CFR materials for Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Federal Housing Finance Agency - parts 1200-1299

Additionally, CFR materials for our predecessor agencies can be found:

  • Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight - parts 1700-1799