Citizen participation in the formulation of social regulations, as a manifestation of the right to self-determination and the principle of people's sovereignty, is considered one of the fundamental pillars of public law and democratic governance. Despite the stipulation of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran that the administration of the country's affairs is based on public votes and the provision of institutions such as Islamic city and village councils, public participation in the local regulation process is still limited, unsystematic, and largely formal. This research, using an analytical-comparative approach, has examined the status and mechanisms of citizen participation in the formulation of social regulations. The main question of the article is how the process of public participation in social regulation in Iran can be strengthened in a way that goes beyond the stage of demonstration and becomes an effective and legitimate participation. The research findings indicate that institutional centralization, the lack of participatory needs assessment, the weakness of binding mechanisms for obtaining citizens' opinions, and the lack of transparency in the stages of regulation formulation are among the most important obstacles to the realization of genuine participation. Comparative experiences also indicate that institutionalized citizen participation, through the publication of draft regulations, public hearings, regulatory impact assessments, and institutionalization such as legislative needs assessment commissions, plays an effective role in increasing the efficiency and social acceptance of regulations. The research conclusion showed that institutionalizing public participation in social regulation requires institutional reforms, strengthening transparency,