Getting Public Records
Fla. Stat. 119.07 — any person, any reasonable time, and 15 cents a page
In Florida, all state, county and municipal records are open for personal inspection and copying by any person, and providing access to them is a duty of each agency. Public records include documents, papers, letters, maps, photographs, recordings, software and other material, in any form, made or received in connection with official business.
Every custodian of a public record permits it to be inspected and copied by any person, at any reasonable time, under reasonable conditions and supervision. Requests are acknowledged promptly and answered in good faith.
A claimed exemption is stated, with its statute, and the rest of the record is produced. A custodian who asserts an exemption redacts only the exempt part and produces the remainder, states the basis of the exemption including the statute, and on request states the reasons in writing and with particularity.
| The copy | The fee where no other is set by law |
|---|---|
| The copyA one sided copy up to 14 by 8 1/2 inches | The fee where no other is set by lawUp to 15 cents |
| The copyA certified copy | The fee where no other is set by lawUp to $1 |
In a suit to enforce the chapter, the court awards reasonable costs and attorney fees against an agency that unlawfully refused access, where the requester gave the custodian written notice of the request at least 5 business days before suing, with exceptions.
Sources for this section (4)
- Fla. Stat. 119.01 — General state policy on public records
- Fla. Stat. 119.07 — Inspection and copying of records
- Fla. Stat. 119.011 — Definitions for public records
- Fla. Stat. 119.12 — Attorney fees
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Florida attorney.