How to use the administrative notice deadline calculator
Federal administrative law does not set one number of days for answering an agency notice. The Administrative Procedure Act guarantees the process, and each agency regulation fills in the clock. Enter the date you received the notice and the period the notice states to get the deadline.
Legal basis — Under the APA, a party entitled to a hearing must be timely informed of its time, place, nature, legal authority and the matters asserted (5 U.S.C. 554(b)), the hearing itself is governed by 5 U.S.C. 556, and before an agency withdraws, suspends or revokes a license the holder must get written notice and an opportunity to demonstrate compliance (5 U.S.C. 558(c)). Constitutionally, Goldberg v. Kelly, 397 U.S. 254 (1970), requires notice and a hearing before certain benefits are cut off, and Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319 (1976), supplies the balancing test for how much process is due. Concrete deadlines live in agency rules, such as the 15 working days to contest an OSHA citation under 29 U.S.C. 659(a). Figures current as of September 2026.
Because the governing period comes from the notice itself, the field is editable. If the notice states a period that differs from the preset, use the notice.
This calculator is for reference only and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney about your specific matter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Generally no. Most agency regulations follow the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 6(a) method: the triggering day is excluded, every day after it is counted, and if the last day is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday the period runs to the next business day. Some statutes count working days only, so read the rule cited in your notice.
No. The APA sets procedural rights but not a uniform reply period, so the number of days comes from the individual agency regulation or the statute behind the action. That is why this tool lets you type the period your notice states instead of assuming one.