How to File a Public Records Request in California
The California Public Records Act (CPRA) guarantees every person the right to inspect and obtain copies of public records held by state and local government agencies. Enshrined in the California Constitution through Proposition 59 (2004) and further reinforced by Proposition 42 (2014), the right of access to government records is treated as a fundamental interest of citizenship. The CPRA defines "public record" broadly as any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public's business, regardless of physical form. Agencies must respond to requests within 10 days, with a possible 14-day extension for unusual circumstances. The burden of justifying any withholding falls on the agency, and exemptions are construed narrowly. The Act applies to all state and local agencies, including cities, counties, school districts, and special districts, but does not cover the Legislature or the courts.
The California Public Records Act
- Statutory Citation
- California Government Code, Division 10, Title 1 (§§ 7920.000–7931.000)
- Response Deadline
- 10 calendar days
- Fee Provisions
- Agencies may not charge for inspection of records. When copies are requested, agencies may charge the direct cost of duplication or a statutory fee. Most agencies charge between $0.10 and $0.25 per page for paper copies. Electronic records that already exist in electronic format are generally provided without charge. Agencies may charge for the cost of producing records in other media (e.g., video or audio recordings). Staff time may be charged when requests require extraction of data, programming, or production of records not regularly compiled.
- Key Exemptions
- The CPRA contains approximately 76 exemptions from disclosure. Major categories include: personnel, medical, and similar files whose disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy (§ 7927.700); attorney-client privileged communications and attorney work product (§ 7927.705); records related to pending litigation (§ 7927.200); law enforcement investigatory records (§§ 7923.600–7923.630); and a broad "catch-all" balancing test allowing withholding when the public interest in nondisclosure clearly outweighs the public interest in disclosure (§ 7922.000).
- Appeal Process
- California has no mandatory administrative appeal process for CPRA denials. A requester's primary remedy is to file a Petition for Writ of Mandate in the superior court of the county where the records are maintained (Government Code § 7923.000). The court will order disclosure unless the agency demonstrates a valid exemption. If the requester prevails, the court shall award court costs and reasonable attorney's fees (§ 7923.115(a)). An agency may recover fees only if the court finds the requester's case was "clearly frivolous" (§ 7923.115(b)).
- Ombudsman
- California does not currently have a public records ombudsman. AB 469 (2023), which would have established a CPRA Ombudsperson, was vetoed by the Governor. AB 541 (2025) proposes a similar office but has not yet been enacted. Requesters who are denied records must currently seek enforcement through the courts.
City FOIA Guides in California
Select a city below for a detailed guide on how to file a public records request with that municipality.
Need Help with Public Records in California?
If you're dealing with missing records or unresponsive agencies in California, Project Paper Trail can help you follow the paper trail on development approvals.
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