How to File a Public Records Request in Denver, Colorado

What Is the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA)?

The Colorado Open Records Act (CORA), codified at C.R.S. §§ 24-72-200.1 through 24-72-206, is the state law that guarantees public access to government records at every level — state, county, and municipal. First enacted in 1968, CORA declares it is the public policy of Colorado that "all public records shall be open for inspection by any person at reasonable times." The law applies to any "writings" made, maintained, or kept by a government body in connection with official functions, including documents, emails, photographs, maps, recordings, and digitally stored data.

Public records available under CORA include building permits, city council minutes, government contracts, employee salary information, inspection reports, correspondence related to official business, budget documents, and more. Agencies are not required to create new records in response to a request — only to provide existing records.

CORA contains specific exemptions for personnel files (though salary and job title information remain public), attorney-client privileged communications, trade secrets, deliberative process materials, and records whose disclosure is prohibited by state or federal statute or court order. Criminal justice records are governed by a separate law, the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act (CCJRA). When a denial is challenged, the burden falls on the government custodian to justify withholding — not on the requester to prove the record should be released.

Read the full text of the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) (Colorado Revised Statutes, Title 24, Article 72, Part 2 (§§ 24-72-200.1 through 24-72-206))

How to File a Public Records Request with the City of Denver

How to Submit Your Request

Denver operates a decentralized records request system — there is no single office that handles all CORA requests. You must submit your request directly to the city agency that is the custodian of the records you seek. For city contracts and agreements, the Office of the Clerk and Recorder is the designated custodian. For other records (police reports, zoning documents, financial records, etc.), contact the relevant department directly. Many Denver agencies accept CORA requests by email or through online forms on their individual pages at denvergov.org. All requests must be made in writing. Visit denvergov.org/Open-Records-CORA for the city's central CORA guidelines and links to individual agency request processes. If you are unsure which agency holds your records, call 311 (Denver's help line) for guidance.

What to Include in Your Request

• Your full name, mailing address, and telephone number
• An email address where the agency can reach you for clarification or delivery
• A detailed description of the records you are seeking, with specific search terms and date ranges
• A statement that the request is made pursuant to the Colorado Open Records Act, C.R.S. § 24-72-201, et seq.
• Your preferred format for receiving records (electronic or paper copies)
• A note indicating any fee threshold or maximum you are willing to pay
• Any deadline by which you need the records, to help the agency prioritize

Response Deadlines and What to Expect

Under CORA, Denver city agencies must make records available for inspection within three working days of receiving your written request, as specified in C.R.S. § 24-72-203(3)(b). The three-day clock begins the first working day after the request is received. Requests received late in the day (after business hours) or on a day the office is closed are considered received the next working day.

If extenuating circumstances exist — such as the volume of records requested, the need for extensive redaction, or the records being stored off-site — the agency may extend the response time by up to seven additional working days, for a total of ten working days. The custodian should notify you within the initial three-day period if an extension is needed and explain the reason.

Importantly, "response" under CORA means making records available, not merely acknowledging receipt. However, for complex requests requiring significant research, the agency will typically provide a cost estimate and timeline before beginning work.

Regarding fees, Denver agencies may charge up to $0.25 per page for copies when more than 25 pages are produced, and up to $41.37 per hour for staff research and retrieval time after the first free hour, pursuant to C.R.S. § 24-72-205(5)(a) and (6). Agencies typically provide a cost estimate and may require prepayment before processing large requests. Electronic records sent by email generally do not incur transmission fees. If the cost estimate exceeds your budget, you can negotiate to narrow the scope of your request.

What to Do If Your Request Is Denied or Delayed

If a Denver agency denies your CORA request or fails to respond within the statutory timeline, you have several options for recourse. First, understand that a denial must be in writing and must cite the specific statutory exemption justifying the withholding of records — you are entitled to this explanation under CORA.

Common reasons for denial include: the records are protected by attorney-client privilege, the request involves personnel file materials exempt under C.R.S. § 24-72-204(3)(a)(II), the records contain trade secrets, the disclosure would be contrary to a state or federal statute, or the records fall under the deliberative process privilege. Criminal justice records may also be denied under the separate Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act.

Unlike many states, Colorado does not provide an administrative appeals process — there is no ombudsman or attorney general review for CORA disputes. Your path to challenging a denial ultimately runs through the courts. However, the statute does require a structured pre-litigation process designed to resolve disputes without a lawsuit.

Before filing suit, you must provide the custodian with at least 14 days' written notice of your intent to seek a court order. During that 14-day window, the custodian is required by law to meet with you (in person or by phone) to attempt to resolve the dispute. This mandatory conversation can be productive — many denials result from miscommunication or overly broad initial requests, and custodians may be willing to release some records or negotiate a narrower scope.

If the dispute remains unresolved, you may petition the district court for an order directing the custodian to show cause why the records should not be released. Courts review the custodian's decision de novo (fresh), and the burden is on the agency to justify withholding.

Steps to Appeal

1. Contact the records custodian directly by phone or email to discuss the denial and seek clarification on which specific exemptions were applied.
2. Request a written denial that cites the specific CORA exemption(s) justifying the withholding — you are entitled to this under the statute.
3. Consider narrowing or modifying your request to address the agency's stated concerns, which may result in at least partial disclosure.
4. If the denial stands, send a formal written notice to the custodian stating your intent to file a lawsuit, as required by C.R.S. § 24-72-204(5). You must wait at least 14 days before filing.
5. During the 14-day notice period, the custodian is required to meet with you to attempt to resolve the dispute — prepare your arguments and any supporting legal authority.
6. If no resolution is reached, file a petition in Denver District Court for an order directing the custodian to show cause why inspection should not be permitted.
7. If the court finds the denial was improper, it must award court costs and reasonable attorney fees to you as the prevailing applicant under C.R.S. § 24-72-204(5)(b). Fees are awarded to the agency only if the court finds your lawsuit was 'frivolous, vexatious, or groundless.'

Types of Records You Can Request from Denver, Colorado

As a consolidated city-county with a wide range of governmental functions, Denver maintains an extensive array of public records across dozens of departments and agencies. Here are examples of commonly requested records:

• City Council meeting minutes, agendas, and voting records
• City contracts, agreements, and procurement documents (maintained by the Clerk and Recorder)
• Building permits, zoning applications, and land use records
• Restaurant and business inspection reports
• Property tax records and assessment data
• City employee salary and compensation information
• Budget documents and financial audit reports
• Police incident reports (subject to CCJRA provisions)
• Code enforcement complaints and violations
• Parks and recreation permits and facility use agreements
• Campaign finance filings and lobbyist disclosures
• Environmental compliance and air quality records
• Transportation and public works project documents
• Emails and correspondence of city officials related to official business
• Marriage certificates and recorded property documents

If you're unsure whether a specific document is a public record, file the request anyway. The burden is on the City of Denver to justify withholding — not on you to pre-determine what's available.

Tips for Effective Public Records Requests in Denver