Getting Public Records
Gov. Code 7922.535 — a determination in 10 days, and 14 more in unusual circumstances
In California, public records are open to inspection during a state or local agency's office hours, and every person has a right to inspect any public record except as the law provides otherwise. Any reasonably segregable portion of a record is made available after the exempt portions are deleted.
A request for copies that reasonably describes an identifiable record is answered by making the records promptly available on payment of the direct cost of duplication, or a statutory fee if there is one, with an exact copy on request unless that is impracticable. A requester inspecting records on the premises may copy them with their own equipment, without a fee, where it does not damage the record or reach the agency's computer systems.
The agency answers within 10 days, and can extend that by no more than 14. Within 10 days of receiving a request, the agency determines whether it seeks disclosable records, promptly tells the requester and why, and gives an estimated date and time the records will be available. In unusual circumstances the section lists, such as records held in field offices or a voluminous request, the head of the agency may extend the time by written notice, for no more than 14 days.
Any person may go to court to enforce the right to inspect or copy public records. A requester who prevails is awarded court costs and reasonable attorney's fees, paid by the agency; if the court finds the case clearly frivolous, the agency is awarded its costs and fees.
The many exemptions from disclosure are not set out here.
Sources for this section (5)
- Gov. Code 7922.525 — Inspecting public records
- Gov. Code 7922.535 — The agency's determination within 10 days
- Gov. Code 7922.530 — Copies of public records and the fee for them
- Gov. Code 7923.000 — Enforcing the right to inspect or copy public records in court
- Gov. Code 7923.115 — Court costs and attorney's fees in a public records case
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed California attorney.