Apply library rules to put prebuilt federal, state, and city labor rules into effect at the locations that match each jurisdiction. Each applied library rule becomes a labor rule on the Applied rules tab of the Labor rules page. Learn more in Rule Library Overview.
Before you begin
The rule library tab must be enabled for the organization. Applying a library rule also requires access to every location selected.
Security
Applying a library rule requires permissions for the rule type of that library rule. Permissions are under Labor → Labor Rules.
Create permission applies a library rule that was never applied. The permission path follows the pattern Labor → Labor Rules → [Rule Type] Rules → Create [Rule Type] Rules.
Edit permission applies a library rule that is already applied, and replaces an existing rule on a location.
View permission shows the library rules of that rule type.
Apply a library rule to locations
Click steps to expand for additional information and images.
1) Open the Rule library tab
Go to Labor → Labor Rules.
Select the Rule library tab.
Use the search, filters, and quick-filter chips to find the rule.
2) Select the rule
Select the rule row to open the rule panel. The panel lists the applied locations, the matching locations, and a summary of the rule settings.
To review every setting first, select View rule.
3) Start the apply
Select Apply rule in the panel or in the full-screen view.
To apply more than one rule at once, select the checkbox for each rule in the grid, then select the apply action in the toolbar.
4) Choose the locations and select Apply
In the Apply dialog, select the locations that receive the rule. The dialog lists every location the signed-in user can access, with matching locations first, and opens filtered to the rule's state.
If a selected location already has a rule of the same type, the Replace existing rules? dialog opens. See Replace existing rules.
Apply a rule to all matching locations
Apply a rule to every location that matches its jurisdiction without choosing locations one by one.
Click steps to expand for additional information and images.
1) Open the rule
Select the Rule library tab, then select the rule row to open the panel.
2) Apply the rule
Select Apply rule, then choose the option to apply the rule to all matching locations.
3) Select Apply to [X] locations
The system applies the rule only to locations that the signed-in user can access.
Replace existing rules
A location can have only one rule of each rule type. When a selected location already has a rule of the same type, the Replace existing rules? dialog opens before the apply continues.
Select Replace rules to remove the existing rule from those locations and apply the library rule in its place.
Select Cancel to stop. No rule is applied to those locations.
The existing labor rule stays on the Applied rules tab and keeps its other locations. Learn more in Delete a Labor Rule.
Replacing rules changes location setup
Replacing a rule changes the labor rule in effect at those locations. Review the matching locations before selecting Replace rules.
Troubleshooting
Another change is in progress
If a message reports that another change to labor rules is in progress, wait a moment, then try the apply again.
The rule may not have been applied
If a message reports that the rule may not have been applied, open the Applied rules tab and check the rule and its locations before trying again. If the message names a labor rule and it is on the Applied rules tab, delete it before trying again. Otherwise, applying again can create a second labor rule.
Other reasons a rule does not appear for a location:
The shipping address on the location does not have a usable US state.
A more specific library rule of the same type already matches the location.
The signed-in user does not have access to the location or the permission for the rule type.
Learn more in Rule Library Overview.
FAQ
Why does a location not appear in the Apply dialog?
The dialog lists every location the signed-in user can access and opens filtered to the rule's state. Clear the filter to see other locations. A location does not appear only when the user does not have access to it. See Rule Library Overview.
What happens when a selected location already has a rule of the same type?
The Replace existing rules? dialog opens. Select Replace rules to apply the library rule in place of the existing rule, or Cancel to apply nothing to those locations. The existing labor rule stays on the Applied rules tab with its other locations. See Delete a Labor Rule.
Does applying the same library rule again create a second labor rule?
No. While the labor rule is still linked to the library rule, applying again adds locations to that same labor rule. If the labor rule was customized or deleted, applying the library rule again creates a new labor rule. See Rule Library Overview.
Does a new location receive library rules without applying them manually?
Yes, when AI Labor Rules and the Automatically apply rules to new locations switch are enabled. See Automatically Apply Rules to New Locations.