Right to Repair in United States (Federal) (2026): Law, Coverage, and Impact
Last updated: 4 May 2026
Right to Repair in United States (Federal): legislation status
Reviewed by the eCycling Central editorial team on May 2026
Current status: Limited federal action; state-by-state primary.
| Field | Value | |---|---| | Law | FTC Right to Repair statement + DMCA Section 1201 exemptions | | Status | Limited federal action; state-by-state primary | | In force from | N/A | | Coverage | TBD | | Lead agency | National consumer protection agency |
Key provisions
FTC has stated it will pursue manufacturers using illegal repair restrictions. DMCA copyright exemptions allow circumvention for repair purposes (renewed every 3 years). No federal RTR law yet.
How United States (Federal) compares globally
The strongest national/regional Right to Repair regimes as of May 2026:
- France - mandatory Repair Index labels, government-funded Repair Bonus
- EU (27 states) - 2024 RTR Directive: mandatory repair option for 5-10 years, parts pairing banned 2026
- Austria - Reparaturbonus pays €200/year per person for repairs
- Quebec, Canada - banned planned obsolescence (Bill 29, 2024)
- California (US) - SB 244 covers $50+ electronics for 7+ years
What it means for United States (Federal) consumers
Consumers in United States (Federal) have no enacted Right to Repair law. Repair access depends on manufacturer goodwill or general consumer-protection statutes.
Why Right to Repair matters
Per UN Global E-Waste Monitor 2024, only 22.3% of the 62 million tonnes of e-waste generated in 2022 was formally collected and recycled. The single biggest driver of premature disposal is unaffordable repair. Right to Repair laws reduce repair costs by:
- Forcing manufacturers to supply parts and tools at fair pricing
- Banning parts-pairing software locks
- Mandating multi-year parts availability
- Requiring open diagnostic tool access
In jurisdictions with mature RTR laws (France, EU bloc), independent repair sector employment has grown 15-30% since 2021.
Related resources
- Global Right to Repair Tracker
- Manufacturer take-back programmes
- E-waste statistics: global facts and figures
Sources
- National consumer protection agency official communications
- EU Right to Repair Directive 2024/1799 (where applicable)
- Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) Right to Repair Tracker
- iFixit Right to Repair pages
Frequently Asked Questions
Does United States (Federal) have a Right to Repair law?
Status: Limited federal action; state-by-state primary. FTC Right to Repair statement + DMCA Section 1201 exemptions.
What does United States (Federal)'s Right to Repair cover?
Active legislation not yet enacted.
Who enforces Right to Repair in United States (Federal)?
National consumer protection agency.