Title 5, Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-110
§5726 Storage Expenses; Household Goods and Personal Effects
Title 5 › PART III — EMPLOYEES › Subpart D — Pay and Allowances › CHAPTER 57 — TRAVEL, TRANSPORTATION, AND SUBSISTENCE › SUBCHAPTER II — TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES; NEW APPOINTEES, STUDENT TRAINEES, AND TRANSFERRED EMPLOYEES › § 5726
Summary
Employees sent to a permanent duty station outside the continental United States can have costs for storing and moving their household goods and personal effects paid for under government rules when they cannot take or use those items at the new station or when the agency says storing them is in the public interest or saves money. "Household goods and personal effects" means the personal property of the employee and dependents that the rules allow to be moved or stored; in emergencies this can include a motor vehicle. New hires and student trainees may be covered if the rules allow. If an employee is sent to an isolated duty station inside the continental United States that has no housing, the agency may pay for long-term storage or storage in government facilities, whichever is cheaper, plus related moving costs. The weight of stored items combined with items moved cannot exceed the employee’s normal shipment allowance, except for the 18,000 pounds limit (net weight) that applies to overseas assignments; long-term storage in the continental U.S. cannot go beyond 3 years.
Full Legal Text
Title 5, §5726
Government Organization and Employees, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)For the purpose of subsection (b) of this section, “household goods and personal effects” means such personal property of an employee and his dependents as authorized under regulations prescribed under section 5738 of this title to be transported or stored, including, in emergencies, motor vehicles authorized to be shipped at Government expense.
(b)Under regulations prescribed under section 5738 of this title, an employee, including a new appointee and a student trainee to the extent authorized by section 5722 and 5723 of this title, assigned to a permanent duty station outside the continental United States may be allowed storage expenses and related transportation and other expenses for his household goods and personal effects when—
(1)the duty station is one to which he cannot take or at which he is unable to use his household goods and personal effects; or
(2)the head of the agency concerned authorizes storage of the household goods and personal effects in the public interest or for reasons of economy.
The weight of the household goods and personal effects stored under this subsection, together with the weight of property transported under section 5724(a), may not exceed 18,000 pounds net weight, excluding a motor vehicle described by subsection (a) of this section.
(c)Under regulations prescribed under section 5738 of this title, when an employee, including a new appointee and a student trainee to the extent authorized by section 5723 of this title, is assigned to a permanent duty station at an isolated location in the continental United States to which he cannot take or at which he is unable to use his household goods and personal effects because of the absence of residence quarters at the location, nontemporary storage expenses or storage at Government expense in Government-owned facilities (including related transportation and other expenses), whichever is more economical, may be allowed the employee under regulations prescribed by the head of the agency concerned. The weight of property stored under this subsection, together with the weight of property transported under section 5723(a) and 5724(a) of this title, may not exceed the total maximum weight the employee would be entitled to have moved. The period of nontemporary storage under this subsection may not exceed 3 years.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
1966 Act DerivationU.S. CodeRevised Statutes andStatutes at Large 5 U.S.C. 73b–1(e).Sept. 6, 1960, Pub. L. 86–707, § 301(c)(2), (d) (as applicable to the Administrative Expenses Act of 1946, as amended), 74 Stat. 796. The word “employee” is substituted for “civilian officer or employee” in view of the definition of “employee” in section 5721 and 2105. In subsection (b), the words “including a new appointee and a student trainee to the extent authorized by section 5722 and 5723 of this title” are substituted for “including any new appointee in accordance with section 73b–3 of this title” for clarity and reflect the codification of former section 73b–3 in this title. Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report. 1967 Act Section of title 5Source (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 5726(c)5 App.: 73b–4c.July 21, 1966, Pub. L. 89–516, § 2 “Sec. 25”, 80 Stat. 324. The amendment of subsection (a) of 5 U.S.C. 5726 reflects the addition of a new subsection (c). Subsection (b) of 5 U.S.C. 5726 was derived from subsection (e) of section 1 of the Administrative Expenses Act of 1946, as amended (74 Stat. 796). In the codification of subsection (e), the words “7,000 pounds net weight” were substituted for “the maximum weight limitation provided by subsection (a)”. During the pendency of the codification bill, section 1(a)(2) of Public Law 89–516, amended subsection (a) of section 1 of the Administrative Expenses Act of 1946 to increase the maximum weight limitation from 7,000 to 11,000 pounds. Thus, the amendment of subsection (b) is necessary to reflect the current weight limitation applicable. In subsection (c), the word “employee” is substituted for “civilian officer or employee” to conform to the definitions in 5 U.S.C. 5721(2) and 2105. The words “including a new appointee and a student trainee to the extent authorized by section 5723 of this title” are substituted for “including any new appointee in accordance with section 7(b) of this Act, as amended” for clarity and to reflect the codification of section 7(b) in 5 U.S.C. 5723. The words “continental United States” are coextensive with and substituted for “continental United States, excluding Alaska” on authority of the definition of “continental United States” in 5 U.S.C. 5721(3). The words “head of the agency concerned” are substituted for “head of the Executive Department or agency concerned” to conform to the definition in 5 U.S.C. 5721(1). In the penultimate sentence, the words “section 5723(a) and 5724(a) of this title” are substituted for “section 1 or 7(b) of this Act” to reflect the codification of section 1 and 7(b) in 5 U.S.C. 5723(a) and 5724(a); and the word “officer” is omitted as included in “employee”. In the last sentence, the words “under this subsection” are inserted for clarity. Subsection (b) of section 25 of the Administrative Expenses Act of 1946 (added by section 2 of Public Law 89–516) is omitted as executed.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–201, § 1723(b)(3), substituted “as authorized under
Regulations
prescribed under section 5738 of this title” for “as the President may by regulation authorize”. Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 104–201, § 1723(b)(1), substituted “Under
Regulations
prescribed under section 5738 of this title” for “Under such
Regulations
as the President may prescribe”. 1983—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 98–151 substituted “18,000” for “11,000”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1996 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 104–201 effective 180 days after Sept. 23, 1996, see section 1725(a) of Pub. L. 104–201, set out as a note under section 5722 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1983 Amendment; Promulgation of
Regulations
Amendment by Pub. L. 98–151 and promulgation of
Regulations
for
Amendments
by Pub. L. 98–151 effective Nov. 14, 1983, see section 118(c) of Pub. L. 98–151, set out as a note under section 5724 of this title. Funding of
Amendments
by Pub. L. 98–151
Amendments
by Pub. L. 98–151 to be carried out by agencies by use of funds appropriated or otherwise available for administrative expenses of such agencies, and do not authorize appropriation of funds in amounts exceeding sums already authorized to be appropriated for such agencies, see section 118(b) of Pub. L. 98–151, set out as a note under section 5724 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
5 U.S.C. § 5726
Title 5, Government Organization and Employees
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110