Publications

This final rule amends the regulations in part 20 of title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations by eliminating the requirement for users and dealers of specially denatured spirits (SDS) to file a bond.  

Published/Revised: April 12, 2002

The Homeland Security Act of 2002 transferred certain law enforcement and regulatory functions of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms from the Department of the Treasury to the Department of Justice and changed its name to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This rule delegates specific authorities to that Bureau and incorporates it into the structure of the Department of Justice.

Published/Revised: January 31, 2003

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is recodifying the regulations pertaining to the manufacture of tobacco products and cigarette papers and tubes. The purpose of this recodification is to reissue the regulations in part 270 of title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations (27 CFR part 270) as 27 CFR part 40. This change improves the organization of title 27.

Published/Revised: July 27, 2001

In rule document 01–19418, beginning on page 40596, in the issue of Friday, August 3, 2001, make the following correction: On page 40596, in the first column, under the heading SUMMARY:, in the ninth line, ‘‘11⁄16’’ should read ‘‘1⁄16’’.

Published/Revised: August 13, 2001

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is amending the regulations to prescribe minimum height and depth requirements for identification markings placed on firearms by licensed importers and licensed manufacturers.

Published/Revised: August 3, 2001

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is recodifying the regulations pertaining to stills. The purpose of this recodification is to reissue the regulations in part 170 of title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations (27 CFR part 170) as 27 CFR part 29. This change improves the organization of title 27 CFR.

Published/Revised: August 15, 2001

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is recodifying the regulations pertaining to the rules of practice in permit proceedings.

Published/Revised: August 15, 2001

This Treasury decision changes the titles "Regional Director (Compliance)" to "Director of Industry Operations" and "Chief, Firearms and Explosives Licensing Center" to "Chief, National Licensing Center." It also replaces the term "region" with "division" and the term "regional counsel" with "Assistant Chief Counsel and Division Counsel." Finally, the decision replaces the words "local ATF office (compliance)" with "local ATF office." The changes are to provide clarity and uniformity throughout Title 27 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

Published/Revised: March 12, 1999

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is recodifying the regulations pertaining to the exportation of tobacco products and cigarette papers and tubes, without payment of tax, or with drawback of tax. The purpose of this recodification is to reissue the regulations in part 290 of title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations (27 CFR part 290) as 27 CFR part 44. This change improves the organization of title 27.

Published/Revised: August 20, 2001

This final rule amends the regulations governing tobacco products in order to implement several provisions of the Imported Cigarette Compliance Act of 2000 included as part of the Tariff Suspension and Trade Act of 2000. Sections 4002 and 4003 of this new law require that tobacco products and cigarette papers and tubes manufactured in the United States and labeled or shipped for exportation (under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (IRC)) can only be re-imported by the original manufacturer or by an export warehouse proprietor authorized to do so by the original manufacturer  (except for a personal use exemption discussed below), provide that those articles labeled for exportation may not be sold or held for sale for domestic consumption in the United States unless they are removed from their export packaging and repackaged by the original manufacturer into new packaging that does not contain an export label, and require the destruction of tobacco products forfeited under section 5761(c) of the IRC. 

Published/Revised: August 29, 2001

We are amending the regulations to implement the provision of Public Law 105–277, Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999, relating to firearms disabilities for nonimmigrant aliens. These regulations implement the law by prohibiting, with certain exceptions, the transfer to and possession of firearms and ammunition by aliens in the United States in a nonimmigrant classification. 

Published/Revised: February 5, 2002

This document implements regulations relating to certain provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2001, Public Law 106–554. These provisions revised the definition of ‘‘manufacturer of cigarette papers and tubes’’ and removed the definition of ‘‘cigarette papers’’ in section 5702 of Title 26 of the United States Code. The provisions of these sections are retroactive to the effective date of section 9302 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, which was Jan. 1, 2000.

Published/Revised: September 28, 2001

The Department of Justice is proposing to amend the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to extend the term of import permits for firearms, ammunition, and defense articles from 1 year to 2 years. The additional time will allow importers sufficient time to complete the importation of the authorized commodity. In addition, it will eliminate the need for the importer to submit a new import application, ATF Form 6, where the importation was not completed within the 1-year period. Extending the term of import permits will result in a substantial cost and time savings for both the industry and ATF. This proposed change would be consistent with Executive Order 13563 of Jan. 18, 2011, which directs agencies to review existing significant rules to make regulatory programs more effective or less burdensome in achieving regulatory objectives.

Published/Revised: September 24, 2015

The Department of Justice is amending the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) by removing the 90-day State residency requirement for aliens lawfully present in the United States to purchase or acquire a firearm. The Department has determined that the Gun Control Act does not permit ATF to impose a regulatory requirement that aliens lawfully present in the United States are subject to a 90-day State residency requirement when such a requirement is not applicable to U.S. citizens. In addition, upon the effective date of this interim final rule the provisions of ATF Ruling 2004–1 will become obsolete.

Published/Revised: September 24, 2015

This rule amends the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to extend the standard term of import permits for firearms, ammunition, and defense articles from 1 year to 2 years.

Published/Revised: December 26, 2017

The Department of Justice is amending Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) regulations to remove those defense articles currently on the U.S. Munitions Import List that ATF by delegation has determined no longer warrant import control under the Arms Export Control Act.

Published/Revised: September 23, 2015

The Department of Justice is amending its regulations to extend the trial period during which the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) may exercise, for an additional one-year period following the effective date of this rule, the authority under the United States Code to seize and administratively forfeit property involved in controlled substance offenses. The Attorney General has determined that the trial period that ends on February 25, 2014, should be extended for another year to give ATF more time to refine its processes, fully hire and train all necessary staff, and further demonstrate the effectiveness of the delegation in the investigation of violent crimes involving firearms. This rule is effective March 4, 2014.

Published/Revised: September 25, 2015

The Department of Justice is amending its regulations to allow the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to exercise, for a one-year period following the effective date of this rule, the authority to seize and administratively forfeit property involved in controlled substance offenses. Many years of experience have demonstrated that forfeiting the assets of criminals is an essential tool in combating criminal activity and provides law enforcement with the capacity to dismantle criminal organizations that would continue to function after the conviction and incarceration of individual offenders. Moreover, administrative forfeiture permits the expedient and effective use of this crucial law enforcement tool. This rule is effective February 25, 2013.

Published/Revised: September 25, 2015

In 2002, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) published an interim final rule implementing the provision of the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999, relating to firearms disabilities for certain nonimmigrant aliens. That regulation implemented the law by prohibiting, with certain exceptions, the sale or disposition of firearms or ammunition to, and the possession, shipment, transportation, or receipt of firearms or ammunition by, nonimmigrant aliens. This final rule addresses only the nonimmigrant alien visa issue. The remaining issues raised by the 2002 interim final rule, and the public comments submitted with respect to those issues, will be addressed in a separate forthcoming rule.

Published/Revised: September 24, 2015

This final rule makes technical amendments and corrects typographical errors in ATF regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Many of the technical changes are being made to reflect changes in nomenclature resulting from the transfer of ATF to the Department of Justice from the Department of the Treasury pursuant to the Homeland Security Act of 2002. The changes are designed to provide clarity and enhance uniformity throughout these regulations.

Published/Revised: September 25, 2015

The Department of Justice is finalizing without change an amendment to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives regulations to remove those defense articles currently on the United States Munitions Import List that ATF by delegation has determined no longer warrant import control under the Arms Export Control Act.

Published/Revised: September 23, 2015

The Department of Justice is amending the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to clarify that the term "propellant actuated device" does not include hobby rocket motors or rocket-motor reload kits consisting of or containing ammonium perchlorate composite propellant (‘‘APCP’’), black powder, or other similar low explosives.

Published/Revised: May 12, 2016

The Department of Justice is amending the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to clarify that the requirements of part 555 do not apply to model rocket motors consisting of ammonium perchlorate composite propellant, black powder, or other similar low explosives, containing no more than 62.5 grams of total propellant weight, and designed as single-use motors or as reload kits capable of reloading no more than 62.5 grams of propellant into a reusable motor casing.

Published/Revised: May 12, 2016

State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 Alabama 

Published/Revised: January 15, 2026

State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 Alaska

Published/Revised: January 15, 2026