The 2011–12 season was run by the Department of Professional Football of the Russian Football Union (Russian: Департамент профессионального футбола Российского футбольного союза (ДПФ РФС), Departament professional'nogo futbola Rossijskogo futbol'nogo soyuza [DPF RFS]).

The bottom finishers of each zone lost professional status and were relegated to the Russian Amateur Football League.

The teams typically could avoid relegation as long as they still have necessary financing to stay in the FNL2.

Bottom 4 first-stage Silver Group teams would be relegated to Division B for 2024.

The 3rd-placed Gold Group team will play in promotion play-offs (two games, home-and-away) against the team that finishes first in the Gold Group in the first part of the season, the winner of those play-offs will also be promoted to the Russian First League.

Beginning in 2024, Division B switched to the spring-to-autumn cycle, the 2024 season is played from March to November.