How to File a Public Records Request in Georgia
The Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. §§ 50-18-70 through 50-18-78) establishes a strong presumption that public records shall be open for inspection and copying without delay. The Act broadly applies to every state agency, county, municipal corporation, school district, and many nonprofits that receive substantial public funding. Any person — regardless of residency — may submit a request; no purpose need be stated. Agencies must respond within three business days of receiving a written request by either producing records, providing a timeline for production, or citing the specific statutory exemption justifying a denial. The Act is to be broadly construed in favor of openness, with all exemptions interpreted narrowly. The burden falls on the agency — not the requester — to justify withholding any record.
The Georgia Open Records Act
- Statutory Citation
- O.C.G.A. §§ 50-18-70 through 50-18-78
- Response Deadline
- 3 business days
- Fee Provisions
- Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(c), agencies may charge reasonable fees for search, retrieval, redaction, and copying. Search and retrieval costs are capped at the hourly wage of the lowest-paid employee qualified to perform the work, with no charge for the first 15 minutes of staff time. Copying fees may not exceed $0.10 per page for paper records. The actual cost of the electronic media is charged for digital productions. If estimated costs exceed $500, agencies may require prepayment before beginning the search.
- Key Exemptions
- Exemptions under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72 include records required by federal law to be kept confidential; medical and veterinary records whose disclosure would invade personal privacy; law enforcement and prosecution records in active investigations (except initial arrest and incident reports); attorney-client privileged communications; real estate appraisals for pending government acquisitions; certain personnel records including home addresses and financial data of public employees; and records relating to open employee misconduct investigations.
- Appeal Process
- If a request is denied, the agency must cite the exact statutory exemption under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(d); failure to do so may waive the exemption. Requesters may seek enforcement by filing a civil action in the superior court of the county where the records are held under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-73(a). The Attorney General may also bring enforcement actions. If the court finds either party acted without substantial justification, it shall award reasonable attorney's fees and litigation costs to the prevailing party under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-73(b), unless special circumstances exist.
- Ombudsman
- Georgia does not have a dedicated public records ombudsman. The Office of the Attorney General provides guidance on open records compliance at law.georgia.gov and may initiate enforcement actions under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-73(a).
City FOIA Guides in Georgia
Select a city below for a detailed guide on how to file a public records request with that municipality.
Need Help with Public Records in Georgia?
If you're dealing with missing records or unresponsive agencies in Georgia, Project Paper Trail can help you follow the paper trail on development approvals.
Report a Concern