Public Records Request - Connecticut

CONNECTICUT FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST

(Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 1-200, 1-206, 1-210, and 1-212)

PRACTITIONER NOTES

1. Connecticut's Freedom of Information Act grants every person access rights to public records. A request should identify the agency and records precisely; it need not explain why the requester wants the records.
2. Section 1-210(a) requires prompt access during regular office or business hours and prompt copies upon a written request under § 1-212(a). The Act does not impose a universal production deadline measured in days.
3. Under § 1-206(a), a denial must be in writing within four business days. The ten-business-day exception applies when the request is determined to be subject to the personnel-or-medical-file notice and objection process in § 1-214(b) and (c), not to security records generally. Failure to comply within the applicable period is deemed a denial.
4. The agency generally has discretion under § 1-212(a) to choose whether it provides a plain, facsimile, electronic, or certified copy, except that it must provide a certified copy when requested and may not send an electronic or facsimile copy to an applicant who lacks access to the necessary equipment.
5. Ordinary copy fees may not exceed $0.25 per page for the specified state offices and agencies and $0.50 per page for other public agencies. Computer-stored copies may involve the limited actual-cost components in § 1-212(b). There is no general employee-time search-and-retrieval charge for an ordinary records request.
6. An agency may require prepayment when the permitted fee is estimated at $10 or more. Section 1-212(d) requires fee waivers for an indigent requester and in several other specified situations, including when the agency judges that compliance benefits the general welfare. Tax-exempt status alone is not a listed waiver ground.
7. A Commission appeal generally must be filed within thirty days after denial. Preserve the request, delivery confirmation, acknowledgments, fee communications, productions, and written denials.
8. Section 1-210(b) is not the only source of nondisclosure law. Section 1-210(a) also recognizes exemptions created by other federal laws and Connecticut statutes.
9. This is a unilateral request, not a contract. Delete unused bracketed instructions and do not add warranties, indemnities, cure periods, arbitration clauses, or assignment restrictions.

REQUEST LETTER

Date: [DATE]

To:
[RECORDS CUSTODIAN / FOI CONTACT]
[PUBLIC AGENCY]
[DEPARTMENT OR DIVISION]
[ADDRESS / EMAIL / REQUEST PORTAL]

From:
[REQUESTER NAME]
[TITLE / ORGANIZATION, IF ANY]
[MAILING ADDRESS]
[EMAIL]
[TELEPHONE]

Re: Connecticut Freedom of Information Act Request — [SUBJECT]

Dear Records Custodian:

Under the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act, including Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 1-200(5), 1-210(a), and 1-212(a), I request inspection and/or copies of the public records described below.

1. Records Requested

1. [DESCRIBE THE FIRST RECORD OR DISCRETE RECORD SET.]
2. [DESCRIBE THE SECOND RECORD OR DISCRETE RECORD SET.]
3. [ADD ADDITIONAL ITEMIZED REQUESTS.]

Date range: [START DATE] through [END DATE]

Relevant office, employee, project, contract, incident, matter, or file number: [DETAILS]

Helpful custodians, email addresses, search terms, or record systems: [DETAILS]

This request includes responsive records maintained or kept on file by the agency, including recorded information prepared, owned, used, received, or retained in connection with the public's business. If clarification would identify the records more precisely or materially reduce the work required, please contact me at [EMAIL / TELEPHONE].

2. Inspection and Copies

I request:

• ☐ inspection during regular office or business hours;
• ☐ electronic copies, preferably in [PDF / NATIVE / CSV / OTHER] format;
• ☐ paper copies;
• ☐ certified copies; or
• ☐ another available delivery method: [METHOD].

Preferred delivery or inspection method: [EMAIL / SECURE LINK / APPOINTMENT / MAIL / PICKUP].

I understand that § 1-212(a) generally leaves the type of copy to the agency's discretion. If the preferred form is unavailable, please identify the form the agency can provide before incurring material cost.

3. Fees

I agree to pay properly assessed fees up to $[AMOUNT]. Please provide an itemized estimate and obtain my written authorization before exceeding that amount.

For ordinary pages, please apply the limits in § 1-212(a): no more than $0.25 per page for the state offices and agencies specified there and no more than $0.50 per page for other public agencies. For a computer-stored copy, please limit charges to the cost components permitted by § 1-212(b).

I understand that § 1-212(c) permits prepayment when the estimated lawful fee is $10 or more. If prepayment is requested, please state the calculation and payment method.

Optional statutory waiver request:

• ☐ I am an indigent individual and request the waiver required by § 1-212(d)(1).
• ☐ I ask the agency to determine that compliance benefits the general welfare under § 1-212(d)(3).
• ☐ Another waiver provision in § 1-212(d) applies: [IDENTIFY PROVISION AND FACTS].

Supporting information: [DETAILS / ATTACHMENT]

4. Prompt Access and Any Denial

Sections 1-210(a) and 1-212(a) require prompt access or copies. Please acknowledge receipt and provide the records promptly, or provide a reasonable production schedule if responsive records require review.

If access to any record is denied, § 1-206(a) requires the denial to be in writing within four business days, except for a request determined to be subject to § 1-214(b) and (c), for which the statute specifies ten business days.

For each record or portion withheld, please identify the specific exemption in § 1-210(b) or other federal or Connecticut law relied upon and explain the basis sufficiently for me to evaluate the withholding. Please provide any responsive nonexempt material that can be disclosed without revealing exempt information.

If no responsive records exist or this agency does not maintain them, please say so. If another office is the likely custodian, I would appreciate its contact information.

Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely,

__________________________________
[REQUESTER NAME]
[TITLE / ORGANIZATION, IF ANY]
[DATE]

POST-SUBMISSION NOTES

• Track the four-business-day denial period carefully. It is not a universal deadline for completing production, but failure to comply within the applicable period is deemed a denial under § 1-206(a).
• Personnel and medical files follow a special process. The ten-business-day language in § 1-206(a) is tied to requests subject to § 1-214(b) and (c).
• Appeal deadline: A notice of appeal to the Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission generally must be filed no later than thirty days after denial under § 1-206(b)(1).
• Current filing information: The Commission's online instructions list filing by mail at Freedom of Information Commission, 165 Capitol Avenue, Suite 1100, Hartford, CT 06106, or by email to [email protected]. Confirm the address and filing method before submission.
• Keep the record: Retain the exact request, proof of delivery, all agency correspondence, fee estimates, payments, and records produced.

CURRENT OFFICIAL SOURCES

• Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission — 2025 FOI Act, including 2025 amendments
• Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission — § 1-200 definitions
• Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission — § 1-206 denials and appeals
• Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission — § 1-210 access and exemptions
• Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission — § 1-212 copies and fees
• Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission — Highlights
• Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission — Online complaint filing instructions