Skip to Main Content

Legal Citation Style

This citation style guide is meant to help students looking to cite legal resources such as acts and case law. In-text and narrative examples given use APA formatting. This guide will be useful for criminology students in particular.

Overview

Legislation refers to statutes and codes for Canada. When citing for legal citations, users will find information on how to cite these sources under 'Legislation'. Remember - these tips and examples were created by a librarian, please check with your instructor, assignment instructions, and/or official style guides for specific details. For more information about finding legislation, please check out UFV Library's Canadian Law LibGuide (link below).

Acts - Reference List

General Format = Title, statute volume jurisdiction year, chapter, other indexing elements, (session or supplement), pinpoint.  

e.g. Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c C-46, s 279. 

Element 

Description 

2.1.4 Title 

Official short title, italicized, include year if in name, use capitalization that is already there 

e.g. Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c C-46, s 279. 

2.1.5 Statute Volume 

Revised statutes and re-enacted statutes use the abbreviation “RS”. 

e.g. Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c C-46, s 279. 

If in an annual volume use “S” for statutes. 

e.g. Youth Criminal Justice Act, SC 2002, c 1, s 41.

2.1.7 Jurisdiction 

Follow abbreviations in Appendix A-1 of McGill Guide.

e.g. Heritage Conservation Act, RSBC 1996, c 187.

2.1.9 Chapter 

Abbreviate to ‘c’ and write as appears in statute (include dashes and periods) 

e.g. Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c C-46, s 279. 

2.1.10 Pinpoint 

One section ‘s’ or multiple to ‘ss’ 

e.g. Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c C-46, s 279. 
URL

The McGill Guide does not require URLs for citing acts. APA 7th ed. (2020) states including URLs are optional but can be included to help the reader to find the case (p. 361). Check with your instructor on their preference.

e.g. Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c C-46, s 279. https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/

For more information on citing Statutes and official examples, please consult the McGill Guide Chapter 2 pages E-21 to E-28.

Links on where to find acts can be found below:

Citing Acts in-text using APA

In-text parenthetical citation: (Name of Act, Year) 

e.g. In Canada, there are laws that  "protect the privacy of individuals with respect to personal information about themselves held by a government institution and that provide individuals with a right of access to that information" (Privacy Act, 1985).

Narrative citation: Name of Act (Year) 

e.g. Some people may worry that the Privacy Act (1985) is not well equipped to protect our information online. 

Bills - Reference List

General Format = Number, title, session, legislature, jurisdiction, year, pinpoint (additional information).  

e.g. Bill C-257, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act (protecting against discrimination based on political belief), 44th Parl, 1st Sess, 2021, (introduction and first reading on March 3 2022).

Element 

Description 

Number 

C- for bills from House of Commons 

e.g. Bill C-257, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act (protecting against discrimination based on political belief), 44th Parl, 1st Sess, 2021, (introduction and first reading on March 3 2022).

S- for bills from the Senate 

e.g. Bill S-5, An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, to make related amendments to the Food and Drugs Act and to repeal the Perfluorooctane Sulfonate Virtual Elimination Act, 44th Parl, 1st Sess, 2021, (at second reading in the Senate).  

Title 

Use long title, italicize and follow capitalization 

e.g. Bill C-257, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act (protecting against discrimination based on political belief), 44th Parl, 1st Sess, 2021, (introduction and first reading on March 3 2022).

Jurisdiction 

Only needed for provincial bills.

e.g. Bill 14, Wildlife Amendment Act, 2022, 3rd Sess 42nd Leg, British Columbia, 2022, (first reading March 9 2022).

Pinpoint 

Abbreviate clauses to “cl” or “cls” if plural 

e.g. Bill C-257, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act (protecting against discrimination based on political belief), 44th Parl, 1st Sess, 2021, cl 3 (introduction and first reading on March 3 2022).

Additional Information 

Could be date of 1st reading or state of bill at time of citing

e.g. Bill C-257, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act (protecting against discrimination based on political belief), 44th Parl, 1st Sess, 2021, (introduction and first reading on March 3 2022).
URL

The McGill Guide does not require URLs for citing bills. APA 7th ed. (2020) states including URLs are optional (p. 363). Check with your instructor on their preference. 

e.g. Bill C-257, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act (protecting against discrimination based on political belief), 44th Parl, 1st Sess, 2021, (introduction and first reading on March 3 2022). https://www.parl.ca/LegisInfo/en/bill/44-1/c-257

For more information on citing Bills and official examples, please consult the McGill Guide Chapter 2 pages E-28 to E-29. 

Citing Bills in-text using APA

For legal citations, the APA 7th edition states "give enough information in the in-text citation to enable readers to locate the entry in the reference list" and that "most in-text citations consist of the title and year" (p. 357). If titles are long - they can be shortened for in-text citations. Check with your instructor if they have specific instructions.

In-text parenthetical citation: (Bill Title, Year) 

e.g. In British Columbia, politicians are looking to pass a law that will "..."  (Wildlife Amendment Act, 2022).

Narrative citation: Bill Title (Year) 

e.g. Updates to legislation are consistently needed to ensure relevance for citizens as in the case of An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act (2021) which ...

Regulations - Reference List

Jurisdiction Formatting
Canada - revised

Title, CRC, chapter, pinpoint (year).

e.g. Food and Drug Regulations, CRC, c 870, s B.02.010 (2022).
Canada - unrevised

Title, SOR/year-number, pinpoint.

e.g. Abbotsford Airport Zoning Regulations, SOR/83-253, s 4. 
British Columbia

Title, BC Reg number/year, pinpoint. 

e.g. Residential Tenancy Regulation, BC Reg 477/2003, s 22.
URL

The McGill Guide does not require URLs for citing resolutions. APA 7th ed. (2020) states including URLs are optional (p. 363). Check with your instructor on their preference. 

e.g. Residential Tenancy Regulation, BC Reg 477/2003, s 22. https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/crbc/crbc/477_2003

For more information on citing regulations for different jurisdictions and official examples, please see the McGill Guide Chapter 2 p. E-29.

Citing Regulations in-text using APA

For legal citations, the APA 7th edition states "give enough information in the in-text citation to enable readers to locate the entry in the reference list" and that "most in-text citations consist of the title and year" (p. 357). Check with your instructor if they have specific instructions.

In-text parenthetical citation: (Title, Year) 

e.g. ... (Food and Drug Regulations, 2022)

Narrative citation: Title (Year) 

e.g. The Residential Tenancy Regulation (2003) outlines ...

Bylaws - Reference List

General Format = Municipality, bylaw or revised by-law number, title (date), pinpoint.

e.g. City of Abbotsford, by-law No 1256-2003, Good Neighbor By-law, 2003 (2003), s 4.8.

Element Description
Municipality e.g. City of Abbotsford, by-law No 1256-2003, Good Neighbor By-law, 2003 (2003), s 4.8.
Bylaw or revised by-law

If by-law is revised indicate "revised by-law" in place of "by-law"

e.g. City of Abbotsford, by-law No 1256-2003, Good Neighbor By-law, 2003 (2003), s 4.8.
Number e.g. City of Abbotsford, by-law No 1256-2003, Good Neighbor By-law, 2003 (2003), s 4.8.
Title

Can give short title if available, if not use long title.

e.g. Township of Langley, by-law No 4440, Animal Control By-law 2005 (2005), s 28.
Date

e.g. Township of Langley, by-law No 4440, Animal Control By-law 2005 (2005), s 28.
Pinpoint e.g. City of Abbotsford, by-law No 1256-2003, Good Neighbor By-law, 2003 (2003), s 4.8.
URL

The McGill Guide does not require URLs for citing by-laws. APA 7th ed. (2020) states including URLs are optional (p. 363). Check with your instructor on their preference. 

e.g. Township of Langley, by-law No 4440, Animal Control By-law 2005 (2005), s 28. https://webfiles.tol.ca/Bylaws/Popular%20Bylaws/Animal%20Control%20Bylaw%20(No.%204440).pdf

For more information and official examples on citing by-laws see the McGill Guide p. E-33.

Citing By-laws in-text using APA

For legal citations, the APA 7th edition states "give enough information in the in-text citation to enable readers to locate the entry in the reference list" and that "most in-text citations consist of the title and year" (p. 357). Check with your instructor if they have specific instructions.

In-text parenthetical citation: (Title, Year) 

e.g. ... (Animal Control By-law, 2005)

Narrative citation: Title (Year) 

e.g. The City of Abbotsford's Good Neighbor By-law (2003) was introduced due to ...

The University of the Fraser Valley is situated on the traditional territory of the Stó:lō peoples. The Stó:lō have an intrinsic relationship with what they refer to as S’olh Temexw (Our Sacred Land), therefore we express our gratitude and respect for the honour of living and working in this territory.

© , University of the Fraser Valley, 33844 King Road, Abbotsford, B.C., Canada V2S 7M8