How to File a Public Records Request in Iowa
The Iowa Open Records Law, codified at Iowa Code Chapter 22, has governed public access to government records since 1967. The law applies to all state and local government bodies — cities, counties, school districts, and other public entities — but not to the legislature. Every person has the right to examine, copy, and disseminate any public record unless it falls within the confidential-record exemptions listed in Iowa Code § 22.7 or another statute. Public records are broadly defined as all records, in any form, 'of or belonging to' a government body. Records custodians must respond to requests made in person, in writing, by telephone, or electronically. The burden of justifying any withholding rests with the government agency, not the requester. Iowa law does not require requesters to state a purpose for their request.
The Iowa Open Records Law
- Statutory Citation
- Iowa Code Chapter 22 (§§ 22.1 through 22.16)
- Response Deadline
- 10 business days
- Fee Provisions
- Under Iowa Code § 22.3, agencies may charge fees for the reasonable expenses of examination and copying, but the fee shall not exceed the actual cost of providing the service. Actual costs are limited to costs directly attributable to supervising the examination and making copies — agencies may not include employee benefits, depreciation, maintenance, electricity, or insurance. For requests taking less than 30 minutes to process, agencies may charge only the cost of making copies. There is no statutory fee waiver for media or public-interest requests; whether to waive fees is entirely at the agency's discretion.
- Key Exemptions
- Iowa Code § 22.7 lists over 70 categories of confidential records, including: personnel records and personal information about government employees (§ 22.7(11)); peace officers' investigative reports for ongoing investigations (§ 22.7(5)); medical and personal health records; student records; trade secrets; attorney-client communications and pending litigation materials; draft and preliminary documents before final adoption; security and emergency response plans; and communications not required by law that are provided by private parties. Exemptions are discretionary — the lawful custodian may choose to release records that are technically confidential.
- Appeal Process
- A requester denied access may pursue two paths under Iowa law. First, the Iowa Public Information Board (IPIB), created by Iowa Code Chapter 23, provides a free, informal process: anyone may file a formal complaint at ipib.iowa.gov within 60 days of the alleged violation. The IPIB can investigate, mediate, issue orders requiring compliance, and impose civil penalties. Second, a requester may file a district court action under Iowa Code § 22.8 in the county where the government body's principal place of business is located. A prevailing requester may recover attorney fees and costs under Iowa Code § 22.10.
- Ombudsman
- Iowa does not have a dedicated public records ombudsman, but the Iowa Public Information Board (IPIB) serves a similar function — providing free advisory opinions, informal assistance, and formal enforcement of Iowa Code Chapter 22. The IPIB can be reached at ipib@iowa.gov or (515) 725-1781.
City FOIA Guides in Iowa
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 Iowa?
If you're dealing with missing records or unresponsive agencies in Iowa, Project Paper Trail can help you follow the paper trail on development approvals.
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