What Are Regulations?
Regulations are requirements imposed by a governmental body. These requirements can establish product, process or service characteristics — including applicable administrative provisions — with which compliance is mandatory.
In Practice
Unlike standards, which are typically voluntary, regulations carry the force of law. Projects must identify the regulations that apply — safety, environmental, data-protection, financial and industry-specific rules — and build compliance into scope, quality and risk management. Missing a relevant regulation can halt a project, trigger penalties or invalidate a deliverable.
PMBOK 8 Context
Regulations are part of the enterprise environmental factors and compliance considerations in the PMBOK Guide, 8th Edition, and they inform quality and procurement decisions. They differ from standards, which are usually optional guidelines.
FAQ
Regulation vs. standard? A regulation is mandatory and government-imposed; a standard is typically a voluntary, agreed guideline (though a regulation may make a standard mandatory).
Who is responsible for compliance? The project must ensure applicable regulations are identified and met, usually with input from legal and compliance experts.
Author: Tom, PMP-certified since 2004. Last updated: July 2026. Aligned with the PMBOK Guide, 8th Edition.