29 C.F.R. § 5.14
§ 5.14 Variations, tolerances, and exemptions from parts 1 and 3 of this subtitle and this part. (29 CFR Part 5)
Operative Text
The Secretary of Labor may make variations, tolerances, and exemptions from the regulatory requirements of this part and those of parts 1 and 3 of this subtitle whenever the Secretary finds that such action is necessary and proper in the public interest or to prevent injustice and undue hardship. Variations, tolerances, and exemptions may not be made from the statutory requirements of any of the statutes listed in § 5.1 unless the statute specifically provides such authority.
Under 29 CFR Part 5 § 5.14, the Secretary of Labor holds authority to grant variations, tolerances, or exemptions from the regulatory—but not statutory—requirements that govern federally funded construction and related work. Such relief can be granted when the Secretary determines it serves the public interest or prevents injustice or undue hardship. Importantly, this flexibility does not extend to the underlying statutes themselves unless those statutes explicitly authorize such departures.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and contractors working on federally assisted projects subject to 29 CFR Part 5 § 5.14 should be aware that certain regulatory obligations under Parts 1, 3, and 5 may be subject to administrative relief granted by the Secretary of Labor. Compliant operators typically document any approved variations or exemptions carefully and ensure that no relief is assumed unless formally granted. Because exemptions cannot override statutory mandates, operators generally verify whether a given requirement originates from regulation or statute before seeking any accommodation.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
For workers and tenants in federally assisted housing projects, 29 CFR Part 5 § 5.14 establishes that while some regulatory requirements may be relaxed by the Secretary of Labor, the core statutory protections tied to prevailing wage and related laws remain intact unless the statute itself allows otherwise. If you believe a variation or exemption has been improperly applied in a way that affects labor standards on your housing project, you may consider raising the issue with the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division or consulting a tenant-rights or worker-rights organization familiar with federal contracting rules. Understanding whether a requirement is regulatory or statutory in origin is often a key factor in how such concerns are evaluated.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 4, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.