Getting Public Records
Right-to-Know Law 901 — five business days, 30 more, and 15 business days to appeal
In Pennsylvania, unless the law provides otherwise, a public record is accessible for inspection and duplication under the Right-to-Know Law, during the agency's regular business hours, in the medium requested if it exists that way.
An answer within five business days, or the request is deemed denied. On a written request, the agency makes a good faith effort to decide whether the record is public and whether it has it, and responds as promptly as possible, within five business days of the open records officer receiving the request. If it does not respond in that time, the request is deemed denied.
Where a request needs redaction or another listed reason for review, the officer sends written notice within five business days giving a reasonable date for a response. If that date is more than 30 days after the five business days, the request is deemed denied unless the requester agreed in writing to the extension.
A requester whose request is denied, or deemed denied, may appeal to the Office of Open Records, or the appeals officer the statute names, within 15 business days of the mailing date of the response or of the deemed denial.
Postage fees may not exceed the actual cost of mailing, and a record kept only electronically is charged at the lesser of paper or original media duplication unless the requester asks for the costlier form.
Sources for this section (5)
- Right-to-Know Law 901 — General rule for responding to requests
- Right-to-Know Law 1101 — Filing of appeal
- Right-to-Know Law 701 — Access to public records
- Right-to-Know Law 902 — Extension of time
- Right-to-Know Law 1307 — Fee limitations
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Pennsylvania attorney.