StacksVerified U.S. regulatory reference

5 CFR §591.206

Verified against eCFR.gov as of June 20, 2026View official text on eCFR.gov ↗
  1. (a)OPM designates, within nonforeign areas, areas where agencies pay employees a COLA by virtue of living costs that are substantially higher than those in the Washington, DC, area. In establishing the boundaries of COLA areas, OPM considers—
    1. (1)The existence of a well-defined economic community,
    2. (2)The availability of consumer goods and services,
    3. (3)The concentration of Federal employees covered by this subpart, and
    4. (4)Unique circumstances related to a specific location.
  2. (b)If a department or agency wants OPM to consider establishing or revising the definition of a COLA area, the head of the department or agency or his or her designee must submit a request in writing to OPM.