Colorado FOIA procedures

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Each state varies slightly in the procedures used to gain access to public documents. This article serves to describe specifically the steps used in Colorado. To read the history and details of Colorado’s sunshine laws please see Colorado Open Records Act

How to request public records in Colorado

The act is silent as to whom to submit public records requests within each department. It merely indicates that requests should be submitted to a custodian, but does not require public agencies to assign a specific custodian. The act does imply that all employees of a public agency are considered records custodians.

Purpose and use

Public agencies are not permitted to ask an individual making a request the purpose of their request. However, the use of criminal records for commercial purposes is prohibited.

Who may request?

See also: List of who can make public record requests by state

Anyone may request public records in Colorado.

Fees

See also: How much do public records cost?

Colorado law permits charging fees for both duplication and search costs. Fees may be waved if the records are being used for public service.

Response time

See also: Request response times by state

The act allows public agencies three days to respond to public records requests.

See also

• Colorado Open Records Act
• Colorado Sunshine Law for open meetings

External links

References

	v • d • e State of Colorado Denver (capital)
Transparency Topics	Open Records Act | Sunshine Law | Government corruption reports | Transparency Legislation | Open Records procedures | Transparency Advocates |
Divisions	State | List of Counties | List of Cities | List of School Districts | Evaluation of State website | Evaluation of county websites | Evaluation of city websites | Evaluation of school district websites |
State spending	State budget | State salaries | Stimulus allocations | Taxpayer-funded lobbying |
Government	Colorado State Constitution | Executive | House of Representatives | Senate | Local officials | Public school system |
Judiciary	Colorado Supreme Court | Court Election (2008) | Court of Appeals | District Courts | Judicial Nominating Commission | County Courts | Judicial activist organizations |
Ballot Measures	2008 Ballot measures | Historical listing of ballot measures | Initiative procedures | Campaign finance requirements | Direct democracy laws | Recall process |