How to File a Public Records Request in St. Petersburg, Florida

What Is the Florida Public Records Law?

The Florida Public Records Law, codified in Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, is the legal framework guaranteeing public access to government records in Florida. Complemented by Article I, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution, the law declares that it is the policy of the state that all state, county, and municipal records are open for personal inspection and copying by any person. Providing access to public records is a statutory duty of every agency.

A "public record" is broadly defined under Florida Statute § 119.011(12) as any document, paper, letter, map, book, tape, photograph, film, sound recording, data processing software, or other material — regardless of physical form — made or received by an agency in connection with the transaction of official business. This encompasses city emails, building permits, contracts, meeting minutes, financial records, inspection reports, and many other materials. Florida law also requires agencies to provide records in the format requested if the records already exist in that format.

Exemptions from disclosure are permitted only when specifically authorized by Florida law. Common exemptions include active criminal investigative records, personal identifying information for certain public employees and their families, attorney-client privileged communications, and certain personnel information. When a record is partially exempt, the custodian must redact only the exempt portion and release the rest. The burden of justifying any withholding rests on the agency — not the person making the request.

Read the full text of the Florida Public Records Law (Chapter 119, Florida Statutes (§§ 119.01 through 119.15))

How to File a Public Records Request with the City of St. Petersburg

How to Submit Your Request

The City of St. Petersburg does not require a specific form to make a public records request. Requests may be submitted by phone, email, mail, fax, or in person at the City Clerk's Office in City Hall. The City Clerk — currently Chan Srinivasa — is the designated custodian of records for the City. For readily available records that require no review for exempt information, individual City departments can fulfill requests directly. For all other records, submit your request to the City Clerk's Office at the contact details above. While requests may be made verbally by phone at (727) 893-7448, submitting in writing — by email to Chandrahasa.Srinivasa@StPete.org or by mail to P.O. Box 2842, St. Petersburg, FL 33731 — is strongly recommended. A written request creates a clear record of what was asked, when it was submitted, and provides a timestamped paper trail if follow-up becomes necessary. Requests may also be faxed to (727) 892-5102.

What to Include in Your Request

• A clear, specific description of the records you are requesting (document type, subject matter, relevant date range, and department involved)
• Your preferred format for receiving the records (electronic PDF via email, paper copies, etc.)
• Your name and contact information — email is recommended for faster delivery; note that under Florida law, your email address will itself become a public record
• Any relevant reference numbers, permit numbers, case numbers, or identifiers that may help staff locate the records
• Your maximum fee authorization, or a request to be notified before any charges are incurred
• If requesting electronically stored information, specify the preferred format (e.g., Excel, CSV, PDF) if applicable
• A statement that you are making the request pursuant to Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, and Article I, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution

Response Deadlines and What to Expect

Florida's Public Records Law does not set a fixed number of calendar days for a response. Under Florida Statute § 119.07(1)(c), the custodian of public records must acknowledge requests promptly and respond in good faith within a "reasonable time" — a standard that varies based on the nature, volume, and complexity of each request.

For straightforward requests involving documents that are readily accessible and require no review for exempt information, the City of St. Petersburg may fulfill the request directly at the department level, often within a few business days. More complex requests — those involving multiple departments, extensive email searches, legal review for potential exemptions, or retrieval from archives — may take several weeks or longer. The City Clerk's Office will communicate with you if additional time or clarification is needed.

Before providing copies, the City follows the fee schedule established under Florida Statute § 119.07(4): up to 15 cents per one-sided copy for standard-size documents (no larger than 14 inches by 8½ inches), and up to 5 cents additional for two-sided copies. Certified copies may be charged up to $1.00 per page. If your request requires extensive use of information technology resources or more than the first 30 minutes of clerical or supervisory assistance, a special service charge — calculated at actual labor cost plus a 33% overhead factor — may apply. The City is expected to notify you of anticipated costs before incurring them, giving you the opportunity to narrow your request or authorize the expense.

Electronic delivery of records is generally faster and avoids per-page copying charges. When records already exist in a digital format, request them by email.

What to Do If Your Request Is Denied or Delayed

Florida's Public Records Law is among the strongest in the nation, but denials and unreasonable delays do occur. Knowing your options puts you in a much stronger position when the process breaks down.

If your request is denied in whole or in part, the City must identify the specific statutory exemption it is relying on to withhold the records. Under Florida Statute § 119.07(1)(f), if you ask in writing, the custodian must state the exemption with particularity. Don't accept a vague response like "exempt under Chapter 119" — ask for the precise subsection and, if necessary, verify that the exemption actually covers the records at issue. Many agencies over-apply or misapply exemptions. If only part of a record is exempt, the rest must be released with redactions.

For unreasonable delays, context matters. A short delay on a large or complex multi-department request is understandable; weeks of silence on a simple request for a single document is not. Follow up in writing, ask for a status update and a cost estimate, and note the date of each communication.

Florida has no formal administrative appeal body for public records disputes. However, the Florida Attorney General's Office offers informal guidance and mediation assistance through its Government-in-the-Sunshine program — reaching out there can prompt faster agency compliance without litigation.

If informal efforts fail, your principal legal remedy is a civil action in Pinellas County Circuit Court. Under Florida Statute § 119.12, if a court finds that the City unlawfully refused to permit access, it shall award the requester reasonable attorney fees and costs — provided the requester first gave written notice to the City identifying the specific request at least 5 business days before filing suit. A knowing violation of Chapter 119 is also a first-degree misdemeanor under § 119.10, which can be reported to the State Attorney's Office.

Steps to Appeal

1. Follow up in writing with the City Clerk's Office, referencing your original request, asking for a status update and estimated completion date.
2. If records are withheld, ask the City Clerk in writing to state the specific statutory exemption under Florida Statute § 119.07(1)(f), and review whether the exemption actually applies to the records at issue.
3. Contact the Florida Attorney General's Government-in-the-Sunshine program for informal guidance and potential mediation — this is often the fastest non-litigation option and can prompt agency compliance.
4. Send a formal written pre-suit notice to the City Clerk identifying your specific request and the alleged unlawful refusal or delay; wait at least 5 business days as required before filing suit under Florida Statute § 119.12.
5. If the City still fails to respond appropriately, file a civil action in Pinellas County Circuit Court to enforce your rights under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes.
6. If the court finds the City unlawfully refused access, it shall award you reasonable attorney fees and costs against the City under Florida Statute § 119.12.
7. For willful or knowing violations, consider reporting the matter to the Pinellas County State Attorney's Office — a knowing violation of Florida's Public Records Law is a first-degree misdemeanor under Florida Statute § 119.10.

Types of Records You Can Request from St. Petersburg, Florida

The City of St. Petersburg maintains a broad range of public records across its many departments, from planning and development to public safety and finance. The following are among the most commonly requested types of records from the City.

• City Council meeting minutes, agendas, resolutions, and voting records
• Mayor's Office correspondence, executive directives, and public communications
• Building permits, zoning applications, land use approvals, and variance requests
• City contracts, vendor agreements, and procurement and bidding records
• Annual budgets, financial statements, and departmental expenditure reports
• Code enforcement complaints, inspection reports, and violation notices
• Police incident reports and records from the St. Petersburg Police Department
• Settlement agreements and litigation documents involving the City
• Infrastructure and capital improvement project plans and engineering studies
• Environmental assessments, stormwater permits, and flood zone records
• Employee salary data, organizational charts, and position classifications
• Grant applications, federal funding documents, and related correspondence
• City-owned property and real estate transaction records
• City audit reports and Inspector General or ethics investigation summaries
• Hurricane preparedness and emergency management plans and after-action reports

If you're unsure whether a specific document is a public record, file the request anyway. The burden is on the City of St. Petersburg to justify withholding — not on you to pre-determine what's available.

Tips for Effective Public Records Requests in St. Petersburg