How to File a Public Records Request in Celina, Texas
Celina is one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States, having expanded from roughly 16,000 residents in 2020 to more than 43,000 today — a pace that has brought rapid development, infrastructure investment, and significant municipal decision-making to this Collin County community north of Dallas. As government activity accelerates, so does the public's need to access the records behind it. In Texas, the right to inspect and copy government records is guaranteed by the Texas Public Information Act (PIA), codified at Texas Government Code Chapter 552. The City of Celina's City Secretary's Office serves as the official custodian of public records and manages all public information requests on behalf of the city. This guide walks you through exactly how to request public records from Celina, Texas — including who to contact, what forms to use, and what to do if your request is delayed or denied.
What Is the Texas Public Information Act?
The Texas Public Information Act (PIA), Texas Government Code Chapter 552, gives every person the right to inspect or copy records held by Texas governmental bodies. The law presumes that all government information is available to the public — agencies cannot ask why you want records, and the burden of justifying any withholding falls on the agency, not the requester.
The Act covers information collected, assembled, produced, or maintained in connection with transacting public business, regardless of physical form. This includes paper documents, electronic files, emails, text messages, and internet postings. Examples of public records from the City of Celina include building permits, city council meeting minutes, contracts, ordinances, resolutions, certificates of occupancy, zoning decisions, financial records, and official correspondence.
Major exemptions under Subchapter C include certain personnel records, pending litigation, competitive bids, trade secrets, attorney-client privileged communications, and law enforcement records whose release would hinder an active investigation. Records of the judiciary are outside the PIA's scope entirely. If the City of Celina wishes to withhold any requested information, it must seek a formal ruling from the Texas Attorney General's Office within 10 business days — it cannot simply refuse.
How to File a Public Records Request with the City of Celina
Contact Information
- Office
- Celina City Secretary, City Secretary's Office
- Address
- 142 N. Ohio St, Celina, TX 75009
- Phone
- (972) 382-2682
- [email protected]
- Website
- https://www.celina-tx.gov/1454/Requesting-Records-and-Information
- Hours
- Monday through Thursday, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM
How to Submit Your Request
The City of Celina uses JustFOIA, a dedicated online public records portal, as its preferred submission method. You can access the portal at celinatx.justfoia.com/publicportal to submit a new request, track an existing one, and receive responses — all available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Alternatively, you may submit a written request by email to [email protected], by mail to the City Secretary's Office at 142 N. Ohio St, Celina, TX 75009, or in person at City Hall during business hours. No specific form is required under Texas law — a clear written description of the records you are seeking is sufficient. The City Secretary's Office also maintains a web portal where commonly requested records such as meeting minutes, ordinances, resolutions, and permits are already available for immediate access without a formal request.
What to Include in Your Request
- A clear, specific description of the records you are requesting
- The date range or time period for the records, if applicable
- The format in which you prefer to receive the records (electronic or paper)
- Your name and contact information (mailing address, email, or phone)
- A statement that you are making the request under the Texas Public Information Act, Texas Government Code Chapter 552
- A fee threshold — state the maximum charge you are willing to pay without prior notice, or request a cost estimate if charges may exceed $40
Sample Request Letter
City Secretary
City of Celina
142 N. Ohio St
Celina, TX 75009
Email: [email protected]
Re: Public Information Request under Texas Government Code Chapter 552
Dear City Secretary,
Pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act, Texas Government Code Chapter 552, I am requesting access to and copies of the following records:
[Describe the specific records you are requesting, including the subject matter, relevant departments, and date range, e.g., "All contracts between the City of Celina and any private vendors for infrastructure construction services executed between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2024."]
I prefer to receive the responsive records electronically in PDF format, if available. If the estimated cost of fulfilling this request will exceed $40.00, please provide an itemized written cost estimate before proceeding.
If any portion of this request is denied, please cite the specific statutory exception under Chapter 552 that you believe applies to each withheld record or portion thereof, and advise me of the procedure to seek a ruling from the Office of the Texas Attorney General.
Thank you for your assistance.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Mailing Address]
[Your Email Address]
[Your Phone Number]
[Date]
Response Deadlines and What to Expect
Under the Texas Public Information Act, the City of Celina must promptly release responsive records. The 10-business-day rule is widely misunderstood: it is not a deadline to provide all records, but rather the deadline by which the city must either (1) release the requested information, (2) notify you that additional time is needed and provide a specific future date for delivery, or (3) seek a ruling from the Office of the Texas Attorney General if it believes any part of the records may be exempt from disclosure (Texas Government Code § 552.301).
If the city contests disclosure, it must submit the matter to the AG's Open Records Division within 10 business days. You will receive a copy of that referral and may submit written comments to the AG supporting disclosure. The AG then has 45 business days to issue a ruling. If the city fails to request an AG ruling within the 10-business-day deadline, the information is presumed public and must be released.
There is no residency requirement under the Texas PIA — any person may make a request regardless of where they live.
For estimated costs over $40, the city must send you an itemized written statement before proceeding. You must respond in writing within 10 business days of receiving that estimate, or the request is automatically considered withdrawn. If estimated charges exceed $100, a deposit or prepayment may be required.
What to Do If Your Request Is Denied or Delayed
Texas's public records law is stronger than many states' in one important respect: the City of Celina cannot simply deny your request. If it believes any records are exempt, it must ask the Texas Attorney General's Office for permission to withhold them. That means a blanket refusal without an AG referral is itself a violation of the law.
The most common reasons a governmental body may seek to withhold records include pending litigation, law enforcement investigative records, attorney-client communications, trade secrets, and certain personal information protected by statute. However, even when an exemption might apply, the city is required to segregate and release all non-exempt portions of any document.
If you receive notice that the city has sought an AG ruling, you have the right to submit written comments to the Open Records Division arguing for disclosure. Provide a clear, factual explanation of why the public interest favors release. The AG will issue a ruling within 45 business days.
If the AG rules that records may be withheld, or if the city simply fails to respond or comply, your next step is district court. Under Texas Government Code § 552.321, you may file suit against the governmental body in the district court of the county where the agency is located. Courts may award costs of litigation and reasonable attorney's fees to a requester who substantially prevails, provided the court considers whether the city's conduct had a reasonable basis in law (§ 552.323).
For fee-related complaints, you may file a written complaint with the OAG. For other alleged violations, complaints may be filed with the Collin County District Attorney.
Steps to Appeal
- Contact the City Secretary's Office informally to clarify the status of your request and confirm it was properly received.
- If the city has referred the request to the AG, submit written comments to the OAG's Open Records Division explaining why the records should be released (celinatx.justfoia.com or [email protected]).
- Wait for the AG's ruling — the Office of the Attorney General has 45 business days to issue a decision on whether the city may withhold the records.
- If the AG rules for disclosure and the city still fails to comply, or if the city failed to request an AG ruling within 10 business days, the information is presumed public — document this failure in writing.
- File a written overcharge complaint with the OAG if you believe you have been charged fees that exceed the rates set by the Texas Administrative Code (1 Tex. Admin. Code § 70.3).
- Report other violations to the Collin County District Attorney's Office, which has authority to investigate violations of the Texas Public Information Act.
- File suit in Collin County District Court under Texas Government Code § 552.321 for judicial enforcement; a prevailing requester may recover attorney's fees and litigation costs under § 552.323.
Types of Records You Can Request from Celina, Texas
The City of Celina maintains a wide range of public records generated in the course of its municipal operations. The following are among the most commonly requested record types under the Texas Public Information Act.
- City Council meeting agendas, minutes, and video recordings
- Ordinances, resolutions, and municipal code amendments
- Building permits and construction inspection reports
- Certificates of Occupancy and code compliance records
- Zoning applications, variances, and planning commission decisions
- City contracts and vendor agreements
- Budget documents, financial statements, and expenditure reports
- Police department incident reports and call-for-service logs
- Development agreements and subdivision plat records
- City employee salary and compensation records (excluding protected personal data)
- City communications, including official emails related to public business
- Grant applications and federal/state funding records
- Environmental and utility infrastructure documents
- Election records and campaign finance disclosures
- Parks, recreation, and facility use agreements
If you're unsure whether a specific document is a public record, file the request anyway. The burden is on the City of Celina to justify withholding — not on you to pre-determine what's available.
Tips for Effective Public Records Requests in Celina
Use the JustFOIA portal
Celina's JustFOIA portal at celinatx.justfoia.com/publicportal is the fastest and most trackable way to submit a request. You can monitor progress, receive electronic notifications, and download responsive records directly — with no postage or trips to City Hall required.
Check the web portal first
Before filing a formal request, visit Celina's public records web portal. Meeting minutes, ordinances, resolutions, permits, and certificates of occupancy are already available there at no cost — saving you time and potentially avoiding fees entirely.
Be specific but not too narrow
Describe the records you want in enough detail for staff to locate them accurately — include date ranges, department names, and subject matter. Vague requests invite clarification delays; overly narrow requests may miss responsive records. Strike a balance.
Request electronic delivery
Asking for records in electronic format (PDF or similar) often reduces or eliminates copying fees. Under Texas law, if the estimated cost will exceed $40, the city must send you a written estimate before proceeding — you can then modify the request to stay within budget.
Invoke the public benefit waiver
If your request serves a broad public interest — for example, you are a journalist, researcher, or community advocate — ask the city in writing to waive fees on the grounds that disclosure primarily benefits the general public. This waiver authority exists under Texas Government Code § 552.267.
Track your 10-day window
The clock starts when the city receives your written request. If 10 business days pass without a response, the records or a release date, and without notice of an AG referral, the city may be in violation of the law. Document receipt dates and follow up promptly.
Preserve all correspondence
Keep copies of your request, any cost estimates, AG referral notices, and all email communications. This paper trail is essential if you later need to file a complaint with the OAG or pursue the matter in district court.
When One Request Reveals a Bigger Problem
Filing a single records request is just the beginning. In fast-growing communities like Celina — where development decisions, infrastructure contracts, and land-use approvals happen at a rapid pace — a single document can raise questions that lead to a dozen more. Project Paper Trail helps residents connect the dots: tracking patterns across requests, surfacing documents that matter, and making it easier for communities to hold fast-moving governments accountable.
Project Paper Trail is an AI-powered platform that helps residents, journalists, and attorneys follow the paper trail on development approvals. We use public records, AI-driven document analysis, and relationship mapping to detect patterns of missing records, procedural shortcuts, and developer-government conflicts of interest. Every finding is sourced from public records. Every conclusion is traceable.
If you've noticed something wrong with a development near you — construction that started before approvals, drainage that doesn't look right, or records that should exist but don't — we can help you follow the paper trail.
Frequently Asked Questions About Public Records in Celina, Texas
How long does the City of Celina have to respond to a public records request?
Under Texas Government Code § 552.221 and § 552.301, the city must respond promptly. Within 10 business days of receiving your request, the City of Celina must either release the records, provide a specific future date for delivery, or notify you that it has referred the matter to the Texas Attorney General's Office for a ruling on whether any exemption applies.
Do I need to be a Texas resident to request records from Celina?
No. The Texas Public Information Act has no residency requirement. Any person — regardless of where they live — may submit a public information request to the City of Celina. You are not required to explain why you want the records.
Can the City of Celina charge me for public records?
Yes, but fees are regulated by the Texas Attorney General's cost rules. Standard paper copies cost $0.10 per page. For requests of 50 or fewer pages, no personnel charges apply. If estimated costs will exceed $40, the city must send you an itemized written estimate first. You may also ask to inspect records in person, typically at no charge.
What happens if the City of Celina denies my records request?
The city cannot simply deny a request. If it believes records are exempt, it must seek a ruling from the Texas Attorney General's Open Records Division within 10 business days. You may submit comments to the AG supporting disclosure. If the AG rules for release and the city still refuses, you may file suit in Collin County District Court under Texas Government Code § 552.321.
Does the Texas Public Information Act cover Celina Police Department records?
Generally, yes. The Celina Police Department is a governmental body subject to the Texas PIA. Basic incident report information is typically public. However, records that would hinder an active criminal investigation or prosecution may be withheld under Texas Government Code § 552.108. Crash reports have a separate request process through the state's online system.