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a generator | 40 CFR 262.40 | from the due date of the report | [
"regulator"
] | the periods of retention are extended automatically during the course of any unresolved enforcement action regarding the regulated activity or as requested by the Administrator | a-copy-of-each-biennial-report-and-exception-report | a copy of each Biennial Report and Exception Report | EPA (RCRA) | a period of at least three years | https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-I/part-262/subpart-D/section-262.40 | ( b ) A generator must keep a copy of each Biennial Report and Exception Report for a period of at least three years from the due date of the report. | https://referencesource.org/record-retention-periods-federal/a-copy-of-each-biennial-report-and-exception-report/ | [
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a generator | 40 CFR 262.40 | null | [
"regulator"
] | the periods of retention are extended automatically during the course of any unresolved enforcement action regarding the regulated activity or as requested by the Administrator | a-copy-of-each-manifest-signed-in-accordance-with-262-23-a | a copy of each manifest signed in accordance with § 262.23(a) | EPA (RCRA) | for three years or until he receives a signed copy from the designated facility which received the waste | https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-I/part-262/subpart-D/section-262.40 | ( a ) A generator must keep a copy of each manifest signed in accordance with <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/section-262.23#p-262.23(a)> § 262.23(a) for three years or until he receives a signed copy from the designated facility which received the waste. This signed copy must be retained as a record for at leas... | https://referencesource.org/record-retention-periods-federal/a-copy-of-each-manifest-signed-in-accordance-with-262-23-a/ | [
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the respondent employer | 29 CFR 1602.14 | where a charge of discrimination has been filed, or an action brought by the Commission or the Attorney General | [
"regulator"
] | the date of final disposition means the date of expiration of the statutory period within which the aggrieved person may bring an action in a U.S. District Court or, where an action is brought, the date on which such litigation is terminated | all-personnel-records-relevant-to-the-charge-or-action | all personnel records relevant to the charge or action | EEOC | until final disposition of the charge or the action | https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/subtitle-B/chapter-XIV/part-1602/subpart-C/section-1602.14 | Where a charge of discrimination has been filed, or an action brought by the Commission or the Attorney General, against an employer under title VII, the ADA, or GINA, the respondent employer shall preserve all personnel records relevant to the charge or action until final disposition of the charge or the action. | https://referencesource.org/record-retention-periods-federal/all-personnel-records-relevant-to-the-charge-or-action/ | [
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each employer | 29 CFR 1910.1020 | null | [
"regulator"
] | null | analyses-using-exposure-or-medical-records | analyses using exposure or medical records | OSHA | at least thirty (30) years | https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/subtitle-B/chapter-XVII/part-1910/subpart-Z/section-1910.1020 | ( iii ) Analyses using exposure or medical records. Each analysis using exposure or medial records shall be preserved and maintained for at least thirty (30) years. | https://referencesource.org/record-retention-periods-federal/analyses-using-exposure-or-medical-records/ | [
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the employer | 29 CFR 1602.14 | from the date of the making of the record or the personnel action involved, whichever occurs later | [
"regulator"
] | where a charge of discrimination has been filed, or an action brought by the Commission or the Attorney General, all personnel records relevant to the charge or action must be preserved until final disposition of the charge or the action | any-personnel-or-employment-record-made-or-kept-by-an-employer | any personnel or employment record made or kept by an employer | EEOC | a period of one year | https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/subtitle-B/chapter-XIV/part-1602/subpart-C/section-1602.14 | Any personnel or employment record made or kept by an employer (including but not necessarily limited to requests for reasonable accommodation, application forms submitted by applicants and other records having to do with hiring, promotion, demotion, transfer, lay-off or termination, rates of pay or other terms of comp... | https://referencesource.org/record-retention-periods-federal/any-personnel-or-employment-record-made-or-kept-by-an-employer/ | [
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null | 21 CFR 211.180 | the expiration date of the batch | [
"regulator"
] | in the case of certain OTC drug products lacking expiration dating because they meet the criteria for exemption under § 211.137, 3 years after distribution of the batch | any-production-control-or-distribution-record-that-is-required-to-be-maintained- | any production, control, or distribution record that is required to be maintained in compliance with this part and is specifically associated with a batch of a drug product | FDA (drug GMP) | at least 1 year after the expiration date of the batch | https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-211/subpart-J/section-211.180 | ( a ) Any production, control, or distribution record that is required to be maintained in compliance with this part and is specifically associated with a batch of a drug product shall be retained for at least 1 year after the expiration date of the batch or, in the case of certain OTC drug products lacking expiration ... | https://referencesource.org/record-retention-periods-federal/any-production-control-or-distribution-record-that-is-required-to-be-maintained-/ | [
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each employer | 29 CFR 1910.1020 | null | [
"regulator"
] | only if the sampling results, the collection methodology (sampling plan), a description of the analytical and mathematical methods used, and a summary of other relevant background data are retained for at least thirty (30) years | background-data-to-environmental-workplace-monitoring-or-measuring-such-as-labor | background data to environmental (workplace) monitoring or measuring, such as laboratory reports and worksheets | OSHA | one (1) year | https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/subtitle-B/chapter-XVII/part-1910/subpart-Z/section-1910.1020 | Background data to environmental (workplace) monitoring or measuring, such as laboratory reports and worksheets, need only be retained for one (1) year as long as the sampling results, the collection methodology (sampling plan), a description of the analytical and mathematical methods used, and a summary of other backg... | https://referencesource.org/record-retention-periods-federal/background-data-to-environmental-workplace-monitoring-or-measuring-such-as-labor/ | [
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each employer required to maintain records under this part | 29 CFR Part 516 | from the date of last entry | [
"regulator"
] | null | basic-employment-and-earnings-records | basic employment and earnings records | DOL Wage and Hour (FLSA) | at least 2 years | https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/part-516 | ( a ) Supplementary basic records: Each employer required to maintain records under this part shall preserve for a period of at least 2 years. ( 1 ) Basic employment and earnings records. From the date of last entry, all basic time and earning cards or sheets on which are entered the daily starting and stopping time of... | https://referencesource.org/record-retention-periods-federal/basic-employment-and-earnings-records/ | [
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each employer | 29 CFR Part 516 | from their last effective date | [
"regulator"
] | null | certificates-agreements-plans-notices-etc | certificates, agreements, plans, notices, etc. | DOL Wage and Hour (FLSA) | at least 3 years | https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/part-516 | Each employer shall preserve for at least 3 years: ( a ) Payroll records. From the last date of entry, all payroll or other records containing the employee information and data required under any of the applicable sections of this part, and ( b ) Certificates, agreements, plans, notices, etc. From their last effective ... | https://referencesource.org/record-retention-periods-federal/certificates-agreements-plans-notices-etc/ | [
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each motor carrier | 49 CFR 391.51 | null | [
"regulator"
] | certain records — annual motor vehicle records, annual review notes, medical examiner's certificates, medical variances, and National Registry verification notes — may be removed from the file three years after the date of execution | driver-s-qualification-file | driver's qualification file | FMCSA | for as long as a driver is employed by that motor carrier and for three years thereafter | https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-391/subpart-F/section-391.51 | ( c ) Except as provided in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/section-391.51#p-391.51(d)> paragraph (d) of this section, each driver's qualification file shall be retained for as long as a driver is employed by that motor carrier and for three years thereafter. | https://referencesource.org/record-retention-periods-federal/driver-s-qualification-file/ | [
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each employer | 29 CFR 1910.1020 | null | [
"regulator"
] | background data to environmental monitoring need only be retained for one (1) year where summary data are kept 30 years; material safety data sheets need not be retained where a record of substance identity, where and when used, is kept 30 years | employee-exposure-records | employee exposure records | OSHA | at least thirty (30) years | https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/subtitle-B/chapter-XVII/part-1910/subpart-Z/section-1910.1020 | Each employee exposure record shall be preserved and maintained for at least thirty (30) years, except that: | https://referencesource.org/record-retention-periods-federal/employee-exposure-records/ | [
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each employer | 29 CFR 1910.1020 | null | [
"regulator"
] | health insurance claims records maintained separately, certain first aid records, and medical records of employees who have worked for less than (1) year (if provided to the employee at termination) need not be retained; chest X-ray films shall be preserved in their original state | employee-medical-records | employee medical records | OSHA | at least the duration of employment plus thirty (30) years | https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/subtitle-B/chapter-XVII/part-1910/subpart-Z/section-1910.1020 | ( 1 ) Unless a specific occupational safety and health standard provides a different period of time, each employer shall assure the preservation and retention of records as follows: ( i ) Employee medical records. The medical record for each employee shall be preserved and maintained for at least the duration of employ... | https://referencesource.org/record-retention-periods-federal/employee-medical-records/ | [
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each employer required to maintain records under this part | 29 CFR Part 516 | from the last date of entry | [
"regulator"
] | not including individual sales slips, cash register tapes or the like | order-shipping-and-billing-records | order, shipping, and billing records | DOL Wage and Hour (FLSA) | at least 2 years | https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/part-516 | ( a ) Supplementary basic records: Each employer required to maintain records under this part shall preserve for a period of at least 2 years. ( 1 ) Basic employment and earnings records. From the date of last entry, all basic time and earning cards or sheets on which are entered the daily starting and stopping time of... | https://referencesource.org/record-retention-periods-federal/order-shipping-and-billing-records/ | [
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null | 29 CFR 1904.33 | following the end of the calendar year that these records cover | [
"regulator"
] | during the storage period stored OSHA 300 Logs must be updated to include newly discovered recordable injuries or illnesses and classification changes; the annual summary and OSHA 301 Incident Reports need not be updated | osha-300-log-the-privacy-case-list-if-one-exists-the-annual-summary-and-the-osha | OSHA 300 Log, the privacy case list (if one exists), the annual summary, and the OSHA 301 Incident Report forms | OSHA | five (5) years | https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/subtitle-B/chapter-XVII/part-1904/subpart-D/section-1904.33 | You must save the OSHA 300 Log, the privacy case list (if one exists), the annual summary, and the OSHA 301 Incident Report forms for five (5) years following the end of the calendar year that these records cover. | https://referencesource.org/record-retention-periods-federal/osha-300-log-the-privacy-case-list-if-one-exists-the-annual-summary-and-the-osha/ | [
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each employer | 29 CFR Part 516 | from the last date of entry | [
"regulator"
] | null | payroll-records | payroll records | DOL Wage and Hour (FLSA) | at least 3 years | https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/part-516 | Each employer shall preserve for at least 3 years: ( a ) Payroll records. From the last date of entry, all payroll or other records containing the employee information and data required under any of the applicable sections of this part | https://referencesource.org/record-retention-periods-federal/payroll-records/ | [
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a covered entity or business associate | 45 CFR 164.316 | from the date of its creation or the date when it last was in effect, whichever is later | [
"regulator"
] | documentation must be reviewed periodically and updated as needed in response to environmental or operational changes affecting the security of the electronic protected health information | policies-and-procedures-implemented-to-comply-with-this-subpart-and-written-reco | policies and procedures implemented to comply with this subpart, and written records of required actions, activities, or assessments | HHS (HIPAA) | 6 years | https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-C/part-164/subpart-C/section-164.316 | ( i ) Maintain the policies and procedures implemented to comply with this subpart in written (which may be electronic) form; and ( ii ) If an action, activity or assessment is required by this subpart to be documented, maintain a written (which may be electronic) record of the action, activity, or assessment. ( 2 ) Im... | https://referencesource.org/record-retention-periods-federal/policies-and-procedures-implemented-to-comply-with-this-subpart-and-written-reco/ | [
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null | 21 CFR 211.180 | the expiration date | [
"regulator"
] | in the case of certain OTC drug products lacking expiration dating because they meet the criteria for exemption under § 211.137, 3 years after distribution of the last lot of drug product incorporating the component or using the container, closure, or labeling | records-for-all-components-drug-product-containers-closures-and-labeling | records for all components, drug product containers, closures, and labeling | FDA (drug GMP) | at least 1 year after the expiration date | https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-211/subpart-J/section-211.180 | ( b ) Records shall be maintained for all components, drug product containers, closures, and labeling for at least 1 year after the expiration date or, in the case of certain OTC drug products lacking expiration dating because they meet the criteria for exemption under <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-211... | https://referencesource.org/record-retention-periods-federal/records-for-all-components-drug-product-containers-closures-and-labeling/ | [
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each employer required to maintain records under this part | 29 CFR Part 516 | null | [
"regulator"
] | null | records-of-additions-to-or-deductions-from-wages-paid | records of additions to or deductions from wages paid | DOL Wage and Hour (FLSA) | at least 2 years | https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/part-516 | ( a ) Supplementary basic records: Each employer required to maintain records under this part shall preserve for a period of at least 2 years. ( 1 ) Basic employment and earnings records. From the date of last entry, all basic time and earning cards or sheets on which are entered the daily starting and stopping time of... | https://referencesource.org/record-retention-periods-federal/records-of-additions-to-or-deductions-from-wages-paid/ | [
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each employer | 29 CFR Part 516 | null | [
"regulator"
] | null | sales-and-purchase-records | sales and purchase records | DOL Wage and Hour (FLSA) | at least 3 years | https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/part-516 | Each employer shall preserve for at least 3 years: ( a ) Payroll records. From the last date of entry, all payroll or other records containing the employee information and data required under any of the applicable sections of this part, and ( b ) Certificates, agreements, plans, notices, etc. From their last effective ... | https://referencesource.org/record-retention-periods-federal/sales-and-purchase-records/ | [
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each motor carrier | 49 CFR 391.51 | the date of execution | [
"regulator"
] | null | the-motor-vehicle-record-received-from-each-driver-s-licensing-authority-to-the- | the motor vehicle record received from each driver's licensing authority to the annual driver record inquiry, the note relating to the annual review of the driver's driving record, the medical examiner's certificate, any medical variance issued by FMCSA, and the note relating to verification of medical examiner listing... | FMCSA | may be removed from a driver's qualification file three years after the date of execution | https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-391/subpart-F/section-391.51 | ( d ) The following records may be removed from a driver's qualification file three years after the date of execution: | https://referencesource.org/record-retention-periods-federal/the-motor-vehicle-record-received-from-each-driver-s-licensing-authority-to-the-/ | [
"citation",
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the employer, in the case of involuntary termination of an employee | 29 CFR 1602.14 | from the date of termination | [
"regulator"
] | null | the-personnel-records-of-the-individual-terminated | the personnel records of the individual terminated | EEOC | a period of one year | https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/subtitle-B/chapter-XIV/part-1602/subpart-C/section-1602.14 | In the case of involuntary termination of an employee, the personnel records of the individual terminated shall be kept for a period of one year from the date of termination. | https://referencesource.org/record-retention-periods-federal/the-personnel-records-of-the-individual-terminated/ | [
"citation",
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employers | 29 CFR 825.500 | null | [
"regulator"
] | records relating to certifications, recertifications or medical histories of employees or employees' family members, created for purposes of FMLA, shall be maintained as confidential medical records in separate files/records from the usual personnel files | the-records-specified-by-these-regulations | the records specified by these regulations | DOL Wage and Hour (FMLA) | no less than three years | https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/subtitle-B/chapter-V/subchapter-C/part-825/subpart-E/section-825.500 | However, employers must keep the records specified by these regulations for no less than three years and make them available for inspection, copying, and transcription by representatives of the Department of Labor upon request. | https://referencesource.org/record-retention-periods-federal/the-records-specified-by-these-regulations/ | [
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a generator | 40 CFR 262.40 | from the date the waste was accepted by the initial transporter | [
"regulator"
] | the periods of retention are extended automatically during the course of any unresolved enforcement action regarding the regulated activity or as requested by the Administrator | the-signed-copy-of-each-manifest-received-from-the-designated-facility | the signed copy of each manifest received from the designated facility | EPA (RCRA) | at least three years | https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-I/part-262/subpart-D/section-262.40 | This signed copy must be retained as a record for at least three years from the date the waste was accepted by the initial transporter. | https://referencesource.org/record-retention-periods-federal/the-signed-copy-of-each-manifest-received-from-the-designated-facility/ | [
"citation",
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each employer required to maintain records under this part | 29 CFR Part 516 | from their last effective date | [
"regulator"
] | null | wage-rate-tables | wage rate tables | DOL Wage and Hour (FLSA) | at least 2 years | https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/part-516 | ( a ) Supplementary basic records: Each employer required to maintain records under this part shall preserve for a period of at least 2 years. ( 1 ) Basic employment and earnings records. From the date of last entry, all basic time and earning cards or sheets on which are entered the daily starting and stopping time of... | https://referencesource.org/record-retention-periods-federal/wage-rate-tables/ | [
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How long federal regulations require records to be kept: retention periods, what starts the clock, and who they bind
Canonical, always-current version: https://referencesource.org/record-retention-periods-federal/ Machine-readable: https://referencesource.org/record-retention-periods-federal/data.json — this mirror is a point-in-time copy.
- Last verified: 2026-08-11
- Stale after: 2027-08-11 (past this date, prefer the canonical copy — it re-verifies on a cadence this snapshot does not)
- Records: 24
The retention period each federal regulation attaches to a record type, with the trigger that starts the clock — which is where the confusion lives. OSHA employee exposure records: at least 30 years (29 CFR 1910.1020); OSHA medical records: duration of employment plus 30 years, from the same section; the OSHA 300 injury log: 5 years following the end of the covered calendar year (29 CFR 1904.33); FLSA payroll records: 3 years, but the records wage computations are based on: 2 years (29 CFR 516); HIPAA compliance documentation: 6 years from creation or last effective date, whichever is later (45 CFR 164.316); FMLA records: no less than 3 years (29 CFR 825.500); EEOC personnel records: 1 year, extended if a charge is filed (29 CFR 1602.14); driver qualification files: employment plus 3 years (49 CFR 391.51); hazardous waste manifests: 3 years from shipment acceptance (40 CFR 262.40); drug GMP batch records: 1 year past expiration date (21 CFR 211.180). Answers 'how long do I have to keep payroll records?', 'when can I destroy old employee medical records?', 'how long must a motor carrier keep a driver qualification file after the driver leaves?'
Provenance — what every record carries
Every record carries source (the URL the value was read from) and
source_quote (a verbatim quote from that page stating it). A value you
cannot check against its page is indistinguishable from an invented one;
these can all be checked. Each record is also individually addressable on
the canonical site at its url.
Licence position
All sources are eCFR (US government work, public domain). We take facts plus short attributed quotes linking back.
Facts are not copyrightable; what this dataset takes from each source is a fact plus a short attributed quote linking back to the page that states it.
Sources
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-I/part-262/subpart-D/section-262.40
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/subtitle-B/chapter-XIV/part-1602/subpart-C/section-1602.14
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/subtitle-B/chapter-XVII/part-1910/subpart-Z/section-1910.1020
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-211/subpart-J/section-211.180
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/part-516
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-391/subpart-F/section-391.51
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/subtitle-B/chapter-XVII/part-1904/subpart-D/section-1904.33
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-C/part-164/subpart-C/section-164.316
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/subtitle-B/chapter-V/subchapter-C/part-825/subpart-E/section-825.500
Fields
See any record in data/records.jsonl — field names are self-describing,
and the canonical page for each record renders them with labels:
https://referencesource.org/record-retention-periods-federal/
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