How to File a Public Records Request in Augusta, Georgia

What Is the Georgia Open Records Act?

The Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. §§ 50-18-70 through 50-18-78) establishes a broad public right to inspect and copy records created or maintained by government agencies across Georgia. It covers every state agency, county, municipality, school district, and many nonprofits receiving substantial public funding — including the Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government.

Under the Act, a "public record" includes all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, computer-based or generated information, or similar material prepared and maintained in the course of operating a public office. This covers emails, contracts, permits, meeting minutes, audit reports, incident reports, and more. Records held by private entities performing government services on Augusta's behalf may also qualify.

Exemptions exist but are interpreted narrowly: the agency bears the burden of citing the specific statutory provision justifying any withholding. Common exemptions include active law enforcement investigation files, attorney-client communications, certain personnel records, and records required by federal law to be kept confidential. Any person — regardless of residency — may file a request, and no reason or purpose needs to be stated.

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 Augusta

How to Submit Your Request

Augusta's preferred submission method is its online Open Records Center portal, powered by NextRequest, at cityofaugustaga.nextrequest.com. Create a free account, describe the records you need, and submit — the system will route your request to the correct department and notify you of progress. No specific form is required. If you prefer not to use the portal, you may submit a written request by email to openrecords@augustaga.gov or by mail or in-person delivery to the Open Records Officer at 535 Telfair Street, Suite 910, Augusta, GA 30901. Note that court records from the Superior, State, Juvenile, and Probate Courts are not available through the main portal and must be requested through their respective clerks. Be as specific as possible — dates, names, subject matter, and department will speed up your request.

What to Include in Your Request

• Your full name and return address or email address
• A specific description of the records you are requesting, including relevant dates, departments, or subject matter
• Your preferred format for receiving records (electronic PDF, paper copies, etc.)
• A fee threshold above which you wish to be notified before Augusta proceeds (e.g., 'Please notify me if costs will exceed $25')
• A statement that you are making the request pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq.
• A phone number or email where staff can reach you with follow-up questions
• Any case numbers, permit numbers, or project identifiers that may help locate the records

Response Deadlines and What to Expect

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(b)(1)(A), Augusta must respond to a written open records request within three business days of receiving it. Critically, this deadline applies to the response itself — not necessarily to full production of the records. Within three business days, Augusta must either: (1) make the records available for inspection or copying; (2) provide a written description of the records and a timeline for when they will be produced; or (3) deny the request in writing, citing the specific statutory exemption under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72 that justifies withholding.

For complex or voluminous requests, Augusta may require additional time to gather and review records, but it must communicate a reasonable production schedule within that initial three-business-day window. If Augusta estimates that search, retrieval, redaction, or copying costs will exceed $25.00, it must provide an itemized cost estimate — including total estimated charges, hours, hourly rate, and per-page copying costs — within three business days. Any cost estimate exceeding $500.00 must be reviewed and approved by the Open Records Officer. Augusta may require prepayment before beginning work on high-cost requests.

Paper copying costs may not exceed $0.10 per page under state law. For electronic records, the actual cost of the media is charged. The first 15 minutes of staff search and retrieval time are free; thereafter, Augusta may charge at the hourly rate of the lowest-paid employee capable of doing the work.

What to Do If Your Request Is Denied or Delayed

If Augusta denies your open records request, the agency is legally required to cite the specific statutory exemption under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72 that justifies the denial. A vague or non-specific denial is itself a potential violation of the Act. Failure to provide a valid statutory basis may waive the exemption entirely.

Common reasons for denial include: records falling under active law enforcement investigation exemptions; attorney-client privileged communications; personnel records containing home addresses or financial information of public employees; records required by federal law to be confidential; and records related to pending real estate acquisitions.

If you believe your request was improperly denied or if Augusta has simply failed to respond within three business days, you have several practical and legal options. Start informally — contact the Open Records Officer directly at (706) 821-4899 or openrecords@augustaga.gov. Many delays and ambiguities can be resolved with a phone call. If that doesn't resolve the issue, escalate through formal channels.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-73(a), you may file a civil action in the Superior Court of Richmond County to compel disclosure. If the court finds that either party acted without substantial justification, it shall award reasonable attorney's fees and litigation costs to the prevailing party under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-73(b). The Georgia Attorney General's Office also has authority to bring enforcement actions and may provide informal guidance through its open government resources at law.georgia.gov.

Steps to Appeal

1. Contact the Open Records Officer directly at (706) 821-4899 or openrecords@augustaga.gov to clarify the denial or follow up on an overdue response.
2. Request a written explanation of the specific statutory exemption cited, pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(d), if one has not been provided.
3. Narrow or refine your request — if a portion was exempted, ask Augusta to produce all non-exempt, segregable records from the same document.
4. Contact the Georgia Attorney General's Office at law.georgia.gov, which provides guidance on open records compliance and may initiate enforcement actions under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-73(a).
5. File a civil action in the Superior Court of Richmond County under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-73(a) to compel disclosure of wrongfully withheld records.
6. Seek attorney's fees and litigation costs — if the court finds Augusta acted without substantial justification, it shall award fees and costs to the prevailing requester under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-73(b).
7. Consult a Georgia First Amendment or media law attorney if the records are of significant public interest; many attorneys offer initial consultations for open records matters.

Types of Records You Can Request from Augusta, Georgia

Augusta-Richmond County's consolidated government produces and maintains a broad range of public records across its departments, boards, and authorities. The following are common record types requesters seek from Augusta.

• Augusta Commission meeting agendas, minutes, and video recordings
• City contracts, vendor agreements, and procurement records
• Building permits, zoning applications, and inspection reports
• Code enforcement complaints and violation records
• Augusta-Richmond County budget documents and financial audits
• Police incident reports and initial arrest reports
• Fire department incident and inspection reports
• Public works project plans, bids, and cost records
• Environmental permits and Augusta Utilities records
• Planning and zoning project records and variances
• Government employee salary and compensation records
• Board and commission appointment records and applications
• Property tax records and assessment documents
• Traffic engineering studies and road improvement records
• Housing and Community Development (HCD) program records and audits

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

Tips for Effective Public Records Requests in Augusta