How to File a Public Records Request in Atlanta, Georgia

What Is the Georgia Open Records Act?

The Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. §§ 50-18-70 through 50-18-78) is the state’s principal transparency law, guaranteeing any person — resident or not — the right to inspect and copy records held by public agencies. The Georgia General Assembly has declared that “the strong public policy of this state is in favor of open government” and mandates that the Act “shall be broadly construed to allow the inspection of governmental records.” The City of Atlanta, as a municipal corporation, is fully subject to the Act.

Public records include a wide array of materials: meeting minutes, city contracts, emails, building permits, police reports, budget documents, maps, photographs, computer-generated data, and any similar material prepared or received in the course of government operations.

Exemptions exist but must be interpreted narrowly. Common exempt categories include records in active criminal investigations (excluding initial arrest reports), personnel records containing private personal data, medical records, attorney-client privileged communications, and records federally required to be kept confidential. When an agency withholds records, it must cite the exact statutory exemption under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(d). Failure to do so may waive the exemption. Requesters need not state a purpose for their request, and there are no restrictions on how obtained records may be used.

Read the full text of the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. §§ 50-18-70 through 50-18-78)

How to File a Public Records Request with the City of Atlanta

How to Submit Your Request

Atlanta processes open records requests through designated custodians within each city department. The best starting point is the City’s Open Records Portal at foia.atlantaga.gov, which routes requests to the appropriate custodian. Alternatively, the City maintains a searchable directory of Open Records Officers at web.atlantaga.gov/orr/ to help you identify the right department contact. If you are unsure which department holds the records you need, contact the Chief Transparency Officer (Kristen Denius) for routing assistance by email or phone. Requests can also be submitted by email to the relevant department custodian, by mail to City Hall, or in person during office hours. Written requests are strongly recommended — under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-73, only written requests may be enforced in court.

What to Include in Your Request

• Your full name and preferred contact information (mailing address, email, or phone)
• A clear description of the specific records you are seeking
• The date range or time period covering the records, if applicable
• The department or office you believe holds the records
• Your preferred format for receiving records (electronic or paper copies)
• A stated fee threshold above which you want to be notified before production begins
• A fee waiver request if the records serve a public interest purpose (though waivers are discretionary)

Response Deadlines and What to Expect

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(b)(1)(A), the City of Atlanta must respond to a written open records request within three business days of receipt. Unlike some other states, Georgia does not distinguish between in-state residents and out-of-state requesters — the three-business-day deadline applies equally to all. The response period begins running only from the time a written request is received by the designated Open Records Officer for the relevant department.

A “response” within three business days does not always mean the records will be fully produced in that window. If records exist but cannot be produced immediately, the City must — within three business days — provide you with a written description of the responsive records and a timeline for when they will be available. The City must then produce the records or grant access as soon as practicable thereafter.

If any records are withheld, the City must cite the exact code section, subsection, and paragraph of the exemption under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(d). Failure to provide the specific statutory basis may constitute a waiver of the exemption.

Fees may be assessed for search, retrieval, redaction, and copying under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(c). The City must notify you of anticipated costs exceeding $25 before proceeding. Search time is billed at the hourly rate of the lowest-paid qualified employee, with no charge for the first 15 minutes. Paper copies may not exceed $0.10 per page. If the estimated total exceeds $500, prepayment may be required.

What to Do If Your Request Is Denied or Delayed

A denial or delay from the City of Atlanta is not the end of the road — the Georgia Open Records Act gives requesters meaningful tools to push back.

If the City fails to respond within three business days, or withholds records without citing a specific statutory exemption, those failures are potential violations of O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(d), any denial must include the precise code section, subsection, and paragraph justifying non-disclosure. An agency that fails to cite the correct exemption may be deemed to have waived it.

Common reasons Atlanta departments deny requests include: records related to ongoing criminal or employee misconduct investigations; personnel records containing private data (home addresses, financial information); attorney-client privileged communications; records the City claims are protected by federal law; and pending real estate acquisition documents. Note that initial police arrest reports and incident reports are not exempt, even when a broader investigation is active.

If you believe a denial is improper, your most direct next step is to contact the Chief Transparency Officer (Kristen Denius), whose role specifically includes investigating non-compliance and serving as a resource for requesters who need assistance. The Georgia Attorney General’s Office also provides guidance on open records compliance at law.georgia.gov.

If informal resolution fails, you may file a civil action in the Superior Court of Fulton County to compel production under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-73(a). Courts in Georgia have consistently upheld the strong public policy in favor of open government. If the court finds that the City acted without substantial justification in withholding records, it must — absent special circumstances — award the requester reasonable attorney’s fees and litigation costs under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-73(b).

Steps to Appeal

1. Review the denial letter to confirm the City cited a specific statutory exemption by exact code section and subsection, as required by O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(d); if no specific citation was provided, note this deficiency in writing.
2. Contact the designated department Open Records Officer to clarify the basis for the denial and ask whether any non-exempt portions of the records can be produced (partial production is required when exempt material can be segregated).
3. Escalate to the Chief Transparency Officer (Kristen Denius, (404) 546-4100, ChiefTransparencyOfficer@AtlantaGA.gov), whose office is charged with investigating non-compliance with the Georgia Open Records Act citywide.
4. Contact the Georgia Attorney General’s Office at law.georgia.gov for guidance; the AG may bring independent enforcement actions under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-73(a).
5. Send a formal demand letter to the department and the City Attorney, citing the specific violation, the three-business-day deadline under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(b)(1)(A), and your intent to seek judicial enforcement.
6. File a civil action in the Superior Court of Fulton County under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-73(a) to compel production of the records.
7. If the court finds the City acted without substantial justification, request an award of attorney’s fees and litigation costs under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-73(b); note that the court must award fees unless special circumstances exist.

Types of Records You Can Request from Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta’s city government generates a broad range of records that are presumptively public under the Georgia Open Records Act. Below are common record types residents, journalists, and researchers request from the City.

• City contracts, vendor agreements, and procurement documents
• Police incident reports and initial arrest reports (including use-of-force reports)
• Building permits, zoning applications, and code enforcement records
• City Council meeting minutes, agendas, and supporting documents
• Mayor’s Office correspondence and communications with city agencies
• City employee salary records and payroll data
• Budget documents, expenditure reports, and financial audits
• 911 call logs and dispatch records
• Environmental permits and inspection records
• Atlanta Department of Transportation project files and traffic studies
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport operational and contract records
• City-issued licenses and business permit applications
• Settlement agreements and litigation records involving the City
• Real property acquisition records (after transaction completion)
• Body camera footage and police disciplinary records (subject to applicable exemptions)

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

Tips for Effective Public Records Requests in Atlanta