Public Records Request - Ohio

OHIO PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST

1. Request Information

Date: [__/__/____]

To — Public Office or Person Responsible for Public Records

Public office: [________________________________]

Department or division: [________________________________]

Records custodian: [________________________________]

Address: [________________________________]

Email or records portal: [________________________________]

From — Requester (optional unless another law requires identification)

Name: [________________________________]

Organization, if any: [________________________________]

Address: [________________________________]

Email: [________________________________]

Telephone: [________________________________]

2. Request

Under Ohio Revised Code § 149.43, I request inspection of and, as selected below, copies of the following public records.

Record 1

Record or class of records: [________________________________]

Date or limited date range: [________________________________]

Office, employee, account, or custodian likely to hold it: [________________________________]

Subject matter, names, file numbers, or other identifying details: [________________________________]

Record 2

Record or class of records: [________________________________]

Date or limited date range: [________________________________]

Office, employee, account, or custodian likely to hold it: [________________________________]

Subject matter, names, file numbers, or other identifying details: [________________________________]

Record 3

Record or class of records: [________________________________]

Date or limited date range: [________________________________]

Office, employee, account, or custodian likely to hold it: [________________________________]

Subject matter, names, file numbers, or other identifying details: [________________________________]

Additional scope or exclusions

[________________________________]

This request is intended to fairly describe the public records or class of public records sought. If the office considers any part ambiguous or overly broad and cannot reasonably identify the requested records, please provide the opportunity required by Ohio Revised Code § 149.43(B)(5) to revise the request, including information about how the office ordinarily maintains and accesses the relevant records.

3. Form of Access

I request:

☐ Inspection during regular business hours

☐ Electronic copies by email

☐ Electronic copies through a download link or portal

☐ Copies on the same medium on which the office keeps the records

☐ Paper copies

☐ Copies by U.S. mail

☐ Other available delivery or transmission method: [________________________________]

Requested medium or file format: [________________________________]

Ohio Revised Code § 149.43(B) permits a requester to choose a paper copy, the same medium on which the public office keeps the record, or another medium on which the office determines the record can reasonably be duplicated. It also requires transmission by U.S. mail or another requested means of delivery or transmission.

4. Costs

☐ I authorize copy, supply, and delivery costs up to $[____].

☐ Please provide an estimate before making copies or incurring delivery costs.

☐ I request inspection first and will identify any copies after inspection.

Ohio Revised Code § 149.43(B)(1) permits a public office to charge the cost involved in providing a copy and to require advance payment, including the cost of postage and supplies when copies are mailed.

5. Identity, Purpose, and Written Form

Unless state or federal law specifically requires or authorizes otherwise, Ohio Revised Code § 149.43(B)(4) bars a public office from limiting or conditioning access by requiring disclosure of the requester's identity or intended use. The office may ask for identity, intended use, or a written request only after explaining that the information or written form is not mandatory and when it would benefit the requester by enhancing the office's ability to identify, locate, or deliver the records.

This request is written to document its scope and to obtain a written explanation if access is denied. It does not supply an intended use.

6. Timing

Ohio Revised Code § 149.43(B)(1) requires public records responsive to a request to be promptly prepared and made available for inspection at reasonable times during regular business hours. Requested copies must be made available within a reasonable period of time. The statute does not set a general fixed number of days for an ordinary request.

Please provide access promptly or state the anticipated production schedule if additional time is reasonably necessary.

7. Redaction and Denial

If a record contains information that is not a public record, please redact only that information and provide the remainder. Under Ohio Revised Code § 149.43(B)(1), a redaction must be plainly visible or the requester must be notified of it; a redaction is treated as a denial of a request to inspect or copy the redacted information.

If any part of this written request is denied, please provide the written explanation required by Ohio Revised Code § 149.43(B)(3), including the legal authority for the denial.

8. Signature

Signature: [________________________________]

Printed name, if provided: [________________________________]

Date: [__/__/____]

9. Delivery Record

Submitted on: [__/__/____]

☐ Electronic submission

☐ Hand delivery

☐ Certified mail

☐ U.S. mail other than certified mail

☐ Oral request

Submission address, email, portal, tracking number, or confirmation number:

[________________________________]

Official Source

• Ohio Laws — Ohio Revised Code § 149.43 (current version)

This template is a request-drafting aid. Confirm the public office's current records policy and submission method before filing.