diff --git a/.cspell/ok-unknown-words.txt b/.cspell/ok-unknown-words.txt
index bb050eb1d..f0a70983a 100644
--- a/.cspell/ok-unknown-words.txt
+++ b/.cspell/ok-unknown-words.txt
@@ -219,6 +219,7 @@ INTERP
 intrafile
 ISMIP
 isodatetime
+ivar
 jaon
 jhan
 jhanbigmem
diff --git a/CODE_STYLE.md b/CODE_STYLE.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..56b3c0982
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CODE_STYLE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+# FRE Code Style Guide
+
+Follow these Style Guidelines when contributing to the `fre-cli` repository.
+
+## General Documentation Tips
+
+Here are some things to keep in mind when writing documentation:
+ - Keep sentences short
+ - Avoid the use of pronouns such as this, that, and it
+ - Use the imperative mood for procedures
+    - E.g. Instead of "You should install Conda" say “Install Conda”
+ - Write in active voice rather than passive
+ - Write objectively (minimize humor, jargon, idioms, etc)
+
+Useful Resources:
+ - https://docs.openstack.org/doc-contrib-guide/writing-style/general-writing-guidelines.html
+
+## Inline Python Documentation Requirements
+
+Document classes and functions with docstrings. These doctrings should contain field lists documenting arguments and
+returns.  Field lists are sequences of fields marked up: `:fieldname: Field content`.  You do not need to document
+click interface functions with field lists.
+
+Document classes, variables and functions with type hinting.  It is encouraged to document click interface functions
+with type hinting.  Type hinting is when you annotate functions and variables with the expected Python type.
+Annotations are described in [PEP 3107](https://peps.python.org/pep-3107/). 
+
+Useful Resources
+ - https://docs.python.org/3/library/typing.html
+ - https://mypy.readthedocs.io/en/stable/cheat_sheet_py3.html
+ - https://www.sphinx-doc.org/en/master/usage/restructuredtext/basics.html#field-lists
+ - https://sphinx-rtd-tutorial.readthedocs.io/en/latest/docstrings.html
+
+This example shows how to properly document a class and two functions with docstrings containing field lists and type
+hinting:
+
+```python
+from typing import Any, List, ClassVar
+
+class MyClass(object):
+    """
+    Description for class
+
+    :cvar str var3: description
+    :ivar str var1: description, initial value: par1
+    :ivar str var2: description, initial value: par2
+    """
+
+    var3: ClassVar[str] = "I am a class variable" # class variable
+
+    def __init__(self, par1: int, par2: int):
+        self.var1 = par1 # instance variables
+        self.var2 = par2
+
+def func_with_return_and_optional_param(a: int, c: List[int] = [1,2]) -> Any:
+    """
+    summary
+
+    :param a: description
+    :type a: int
+    :param c: description, defaults to [1,2]
+    :type c: list, optional
+    :raises AssertionError: description
+    :return: description
+    :rtype: type
+
+    .. note:: This is a note
+    .. warning:: This is a warning
+    """
+
+    #this is an example of type hinting a variable
+    child: bool
+    if a < 18:
+        child = True
+    else:
+        child = False
+
+    if a > 10:
+        raise AssertionError("a is more than 10")
+    return c
+
+def simple_func(foo: str):
+    """
+    summary
+
+    :param foo: description
+    :type foo: str
+    """
+
+    print(foo)
+```