Regulations.gov MCP

regulationsgov-mcp

Free, open-source MCP server for the Regulations.gov API. Federal rulemaking dockets, proposed rules, final rules, public comments, and comment period tracking.

Overview, demo video and hosted setup: https://1102tools.com/mcp/regulations-gov

Hosted: no key. Local: a free api.data.gov key. See Local or hosted.

Regression tests, including live checks against the Regulations.gov API. The October 2026 releases were also checked with realistic rulemaking questions (open comment periods, comment deadlines, FAR case histories, posted comments). See testing.md.

Local or hosted

Local (desktop)	Claude (hosted)	ChatGPT (hosted)
Local setup	Install	Install

• Local runs it on your computer, inside the Claude or ChatGPT desktop app or another AI app. You get your own full rate limits, and it relies only on the government service. It needs a free api.data.gov key. It doesn't update itself, so ask your AI to update it. You don't have to set it up by hand: give your AI this page's link and ask it to set it up or walk you through it.
• Hosted is always up to date, needs no setup or keys, and works in Claude or ChatGPT anywhere.

Compare local and hosted · Matching prompts

What it does

Exposes the Regulations.gov API plus a credential-readiness check as 9 MCP tools:

Core

• search_documents - Search proposed rules, final rules, notices with flexible filters
• get_document_detail - Full document details with optional attachments
• search_comments - Search public comments (by docket, document, or keyword)
• get_comment_detail - Full comment text and submitter info
• search_dockets - Search rulemaking and nonrulemaking dockets
• get_docket_detail - Docket metadata, abstract, and RIN

Workflow

• open_comment_periods - Currently open comment periods across procurement agencies
• far_case_history - Summary of a FAR/DFARS rulemaking case with its documents, paged

Setup

• get_access_status - Check whether an API key is configured, without revealing it

API key (required)

This server calls api.regulations.gov, which requires an api.data.gov key: 1,000 requests per hour, yours alone. Without REGULATIONS_GOV_API_KEY the server still starts and lists its tools, but data tools return setup instructions instead of calling Regulations.gov.

Get a free key (takes 30 seconds):

1. Go to open.gsa.gov/api/regulationsgov/#getting-started (or directly at api.data.gov/signup)
2. Enter your name and email: no approval, no wait
3. Copy the key from the confirmation page
4. Paste it into your client config as REGULATIONS_GOV_API_KEY (see below)

The same api.data.gov key works for every api.data.gov-backed API (Regulations.gov, GSA Per Diem, NASA, FEC, FCC, etc.), so if you already have one for another 1102tools MCP you can reuse it.

Installation

uvx --refresh-package regulationsgov-mcp --from regulationsgov-mcp regulationsgov-mcp

Configuration

Use the configuration below as the server definition and adapt its placement to your compatible MCP client. For practical requests using this source, see the prompt library.

With your key:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "regulationsgov": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["--refresh-package", "regulationsgov-mcp", "--from", "regulationsgov-mcp", "regulationsgov-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "REGULATIONS_GOV_API_KEY": "paste-your-api-data-gov-key-here"
      }
    }
  }
}

The --refresh-package flag tells uv to check PyPI for a newer release each time your client launches the server, so fixes arrive automatically; without it, uv keeps serving whatever version it first cached. It adds a moment of network time at startup, so raise your platform's MCP startup timeout if it enforces a short one.

Restart the client and the tools appear.

Example prompts

• "What FAR cases have open comment periods right now?"
• "Show me the full docket history for FAR-2023-0008."
• "Find all proposed rules from DARS posted in the last 6 months."
• "How many public comments were submitted on FAR Case 2023-008?"
• "Search for rulemaking dockets related to cybersecurity at DoD."
• "Find all SBA rules about size standards from the last year."

Important: case-sensitive filter values

Regulations.gov filter values are CASE-SENSITIVE. Use exact casing:

• Document types: Proposed Rule, Rule, Notice (not lowercase)
• Docket types: Rulemaking, Nonrulemaking
• Lowercase values silently return 0 results with no error

Companion tools

• federal-register-mcp: what was published in the Federal Register
• regulationsgov-mcp: the docket structure, public comments, and comment period status
• ecfr-mcp: what the regulation currently says after amendments

Together these three cover the full regulatory pipeline from proposal through public comment to codified rule.

License

MIT