How to File a Public Records Request in Oregon
Oregon's Public Records Law, codified at ORS 192.311 through 192.478, guarantees every person — regardless of citizenship or residency — the right to inspect and copy records held by any public body in the state. The law applies to all state agencies, city and county governments, school districts, and special districts. Public bodies must acknowledge written requests within five business days and complete their response, or provide a reasonable estimated completion date, within an additional ten business days under ORS 192.324 and 192.329. The law is explicitly a law of disclosure, not confidentiality: the burden falls on the public body to justify withholding, not on the requester to prove entitlement. Fees may be charged for the actual cost of copying and staff time, with attorney review time excluded. A Public Records Advocate, created by the 2017 legislative reforms, provides facilitated dispute resolution services.
The Oregon Public Records Law
- Statutory Citation
- Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) §§ 192.311 through 192.478
- Response Deadline
- 5 business days
- Fee Provisions
- Under ORS 192.324(4), public bodies may charge fees reflecting the actual cost of making records available, including staff time for locating, reviewing, and copying records. Attorney review time for determining whether exemptions apply may not be included in the fee. The public body must provide written notice before charging more than $25, and must obtain the requester's confirmation before proceeding. Fee waivers or reductions are available when disclosure is in the public interest and disclosure is not primarily for commercial purposes.
- Key Exemptions
- Oregon law recognizes two categories of exemptions. Conditionally exempt records under ORS 192.345 — including trade secrets, some investigatory materials, and certain personnel information — may be withheld only after balancing public interest in disclosure against confidentiality interests. Unconditionally exempt records under ORS 192.355 include personal medical files, residential addresses of public employees, Social Security numbers, and records whose disclosure is prohibited by federal law. When a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the public body must separate and release the non-exempt portions under ORS 192.338.
- Appeal Process
- A person denied access to records of a city or local public body may petition the county district attorney to review the denial under ORS 192.415. For state agency records, petitions go to the Attorney General under ORS 192.411. The district attorney or Attorney General must act within seven business days. If the requester is still unsatisfied, or if the public body fails to comply with an order, the requester may file a petition in circuit court under ORS 192.431. A prevailing requester is entitled to costs and reasonable attorney fees at trial and on appeal. The Office of the Public Records Advocate (ORS 192.461–192.475) may also facilitate voluntary dispute resolution for city records with consent of both parties.
- Ombudsman
- The Oregon Legislature created the Office of the Public Records Advocate in 2017 (ORS 192.461). The Advocate provides facilitated dispute resolution services for public records disputes involving state agencies; for city-level disputes, the Advocate may assist with the mutual consent of both the requester and the city under ORS 192.464.
City FOIA Guides in Oregon
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 Oregon?
If you're dealing with missing records or unresponsive agencies in Oregon, Project Paper Trail can help you follow the paper trail on development approvals.
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