Rule Format Examples

Permanent Rules

Tab/Accordion Items

A proposed permanent rule is published in the NC Register at the beginning of the public comment period. The rule shall contain an introductory statement immediately preceding each rule. The statement shall contain the rule citation and the action proposed to be taken. Rules required to be reviewed under the Periodic Review Process are noticed in the Register as "readoptions."

Note: The authority for rules is the only part of the history note that is published in the Register. However, OAH encourages agencies to use the correctly formatted rules from the Notice of Text for submission for RRC review so the following examples include the full history notes. 

  • Adoptions - all text shall be underlined. Example
  • Amendments - any text to be deleted shall be struck through and new text shall be underlined. Example
  • Repeals - text of the rule shall not be included. Example
  • Repeal of consecutive rules - rules that are consecutive numerically in the same section and have identical effective and repealed dates shall be combined. All authority cites and any other dates shall be combined. The text of the rules shall not be included. Example
  • Readoption with substantive changes - any text to be deleted shall be struck through and new text shall be underlined. Example
  • Readoption as a repeal - text of the rule shall not be included. Example
  • Readoption as a repeal of consecutive rules - rules that are consecutive numerically in the same section and have identical effective and repealed dates shall be combined. All authority cites and any other dates shall be combined. The text of the rules shall not be included. Example
  • Readoption with no changes - the text of a rule proposed for readoption with no change or without substantive change is not published in the NC Register. The rule citation shall be listed on the Notice of Text form and OAH will include the rule citation and name of the rule in the published notice. 

Following the public comment period, a rule filed for RRC review shall meet the requirements for publication in NC Administrative Code. The rule shall contain an introductory statement immediately preceding each rule. The statement shall contain the rule citation; the action taken; and the volume, issue, and page numbers of the notice of text publication. Rules required to be reviewed under the Periodic Review process are referred to as "readoptions."

  • Permanent Adoption with no changes from publication - all text shall be underlined. Example
  • Permanent Adoption with changes from publication - any text to be deleted shall be struck through and new text shall be underlined. The unchanged text shall not be underlined. Example
  • Permanent Amendment with no change from publication - text shall be as it was published. Example
  • Permanent Amendment with changes from publication. Changes shall be identified as follows:
    • text that is being added shall be underlined and highlighted. Example
    • existing text that is being deleted shall be struck through and highlighted. Example
    • existing text that was proposed to be deleted but is now being restored shall be highlighted. Example
    • text that was proposed to be added but is now being deleted shall be enclosed in brackets, struck through, and highlighted. Example
  • Permanent Repeal - text of the rule shall not be included. Example
  • Permanent Repeal of Consecutive Rules - rules that are consecutive numerically in the same section and have identical effective and repealed dates shall be combined. All authority cites and any other dates shall be combined. The text of the rules shall not be included. Example
  • A rule noticed to be amended that is now being repealed - text of the rule shall not be included. Example
  • Permanent Readoption of rules published as necessary without substantive changes:
    • with no changes from publication - text shall be the current version of the rule in the NCAC with no underline or strike through. Example
    • with changes from publication - text that is being added shall be underlined and text that is being deleted shall be struck through. Example
  • Permanent Readoption of rules published as necessary with substantive changes:
    • with no change from publication - text shall be as it was published. Example
    • with changes from publication - text that is being added shall be underlined and highlighted and text that is being deleted shall be struck through and highlighted. Example
    • existing text that was proposed to be deleted but is now being restored shall be highlighted. Example
    • text that was proposed to be added but is now being deleted shall be enclosed in brackets, struck through, and highlighted. Example
  • Permanent Repeal through Readoption - text of the rule shall not be included. Example
  • Permanent Repeal of Consecutive Rules through Readoption - rules that are consecutive numerically in the same section and have identical effective and repealed dates shall be combined. All authority cites and any other dates shall be combined. The text of the rules shall not be included. Example
  • Permanent Adoption, Amendment, and Repeal of rules not Published in the Register - Permanent rules that are not published in the Register should be formatted the same as permanent rules that are published in the Register, however the introductory statements are different. The statement shall contain the rule citation; the action taken; and the statute that gives the agency authority for the rule.
    • Examples:
      • 21 NCAC 58A .1701 is amended pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.5(a)(3) as follows:
      • 17 NCAC 04C .0104 is adopted without notice pursuant to G.S. 150B-1(d)(4) as follows:

Temporary Rules

Tab/Accordion Items

A proposed temporary rule is published on the OAH website at the beginning of the public comment period. The rule shall contain an introductory statement immediately preceding each rule. The statement shall contain the rule citation and the action proposed to be taken.

  • Adoptions - all text shall be underlined. Example
  • Amendments - any text to be deleted shall be struck through and new text shall be underlined. Example
  • Repeals - text of the rule shall not be included. Example
  • Repeal of Consecutive Rules - rules that are consecutive numerically in the same section and have identical effective and repealed dates shall be combined. All authority cites and any other dates shall be combined. The text of the rules shall not be included. Example

The rule shall contain an introductory statement immediately preceding each rule. The statement shall contain the rule citation and the action taken.

  • Temporary Adoption with no changes from publication - all text shall be underlined. Example
  • Temporary Adoption with changes from publication - any text to be deleted shall be struck through and new text shall be underlined. The unchanged text shall not be underlined. Example
  • Temporary Amendment with no changes from publication - text shall be as it was published. Example
  • Temporary Amendment with changes from publication. Changes shall be identified as follows:
    • text that is being added shall be underlined and highlighted. Example
    • existing text that is being deleted shall be struck through and highlighted. Example
    • existing text that was proposed to be deleted but is now being restored shall be highlighted. Example
    • text that was proposed to be added but is now being deleted shall be enclosed in brackets, struck through, and highlighted. Example
  • Temporary Repeal - text of the rule shall not be included. Example
  • Temporary Repeal of Consecutive rules - rules that are consecutive numerically in the same section and have identical effective and repealed dates shall be combined. All authority cites and any other dates shall be combined. The text of the rules shall not be included. Example

Emergency Rules

Tab/Accordion Items

The rule shall contain an introductory statement immediately preceding each rule. The statement shall contain the rule citation and the action taken.

  • Adoptions - all text shall be underlined. Example
  • Amendments - any text to be deleted shall be struck through and new text shall be underlined. Example