Public Records
IC 5-14-3-9 — a mailed or emailed request counts as denied after seven days without an answer
Any person may inspect and copy the public records of any public agency during its regular business hours, except for records the law exempts. The request identifies the record with reasonable particularity, and may be required in writing; no request may be denied because the person will not say why it is wanted.
Who handles this in Indiana: legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Indiana directory.
| The request was made | It is denied when |
|---|---|
| The request was madeIn person or by telephone | It is denied whenThe responsible person refuses, or 24 hours pass after an employee refuses, whichever comes first |
| The request was madeBy mail, fax or an electronic portal | It is denied whenSeven days pass after the agency receives it |
A written denial cites the specific exemption and names the person responsible. A person denied may sue in the county; the agency bears the burden of justifying the denial, and a plaintiff who substantially prevails is awarded attorney's fees, after first seeking an informal inquiry or advisory opinion from the public access counselor.
Inspection is free. A local agency's copies cost the greater of ten cents a page, twenty-five cents in color, or the actual cost, certification up to $5 a document, and a copy of a law enforcement recording not more than $150. A request for a law enforcement recording is made in writing with the date, approximate time, location and the name of someone involved other than an officer.
Sources for this section (3)
- IC 5-14-3-3 — Right to inspect and copy public agency records or recordings; electronic data storage; use of information for commercial purposes; contracts
- IC 5-14-3-8 — Fees; copies
- IC 5-14-3-9 — Denial of disclosure; action to compel disclosure; intervenors; burden of proof; attorney's fees and costs
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Indiana attorney.