Public Records Laws, State by State

The federal FOIA covers only federal agencies. Everything local — police files, county contracts, school records, permits — falls under 51 different state public-records laws, each with its own name, response clock, and exemptions. The state guides explain each act in plain English with the request routes that work.

All 51 jurisdiction guides linked below are maintained individually. Content reviewed July 30, 2026 by the SearchSystems editorial team.

How the States Differ

The names alone are a tour: New York's FOIL, New Jersey's OPRA, Utah's GRAMA, Colorado's CORA, Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law. Response deadlines run from three business days to 'reasonable time,' and fee rules range from free inspection to per-page charges that can gut a big request.

A handful of states — Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia among them — restrict requests to their own citizens on paper. In practice, agencies often answer anyway, and requesters route around it with an in-state agent when they don't.

Pick Your State

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to say why I want the records?

In almost every state, no — purpose can't be demanded, though commercial-use rules sometimes apply.

What if the agency ignores me?

Each act has an enforcement path: an ombudsman, an appeals board, or court. The state guide names it.

Can I request records from another state?

Usually yes; in citizens-only states, use an in-state contact or an agency that answers regardless.

Related National Directories

Records-law requests unlock everything else here — start with court records, criminal records, and property records.