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Getting Public Records

Iowa Code § 22.2 — every person may examine and copy a public record

  • Every person may examine and copy a public record, and publish it.
  • Examining a record in the custodian's possession is free unless a law provides otherwise, and copying includes taking photographs.
  • A government body may not avoid the law by contracting its work to a private body.
  • Iowa Code § 22.2
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A good faith delay to decide whether a confidential record should be released may not exceed 20 calendar days, and ordinarily should not exceed ten business days.

Any aggrieved person may sue to enforce the law. A court that finds a violation assesses damages of $100 to $500 against those who took part, $1,000 to $2,500 if they knew, and orders costs and attorney fees to the person who proves it.

Sources for this section (3)
  1. Iowa Code § 22.2 — Right to examine public records — exceptions
  2. Iowa Code § 22.8 — Injunction to restrain examination
  3. Iowa Code § 22.10 — Civil enforcement

Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Iowa attorney.

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