California Public Records Law

California's Public Records Act (CPRA) is a set of laws enacted in 1968 and codified under Division 10 of Title 1 of the California Government Code. The CPRA allows residents and citizens to inspect and copy public records maintained by the state and local government agencies. Hence, anyone may request records such as meeting minutes, budgets, emails, and other documents created and maintained by public agencies.

Birth Records
Court Records
Criminal Records
Death Records
Divorce Records
Inmate Records
Marriage Records
Traffic Violation Records

Where Do I Submit a Public Record Request in California?

A public record request must be submitted to the public official or employee who has custody of the records you want. The state does not have a single centralized unit handling all public records. For example, if you intend to obtain public records from the office of the state secretary, you may submit your request online via a PRA Request Form or email at PRAPublicRequest@sos.ca.gov.

How Do I Request Public Records in California?

You may request public records in California by taking the following steps:

  • Identify the agency maintaining the record
  • Submit a request to the agency by mail, email, fax, online, or in person (depending on the methods allowed by the agency)
  • Include necessary information such as your name, contact information, and a clear description of the records on your request
  • Pay the required searching and copying fees
  • Wait for response

You may also be able to find public records on third-party websites. These websites collate public records in searchable online databases.

What Records are Public in California?

Various types of public records are available to the public in California. The commonest ones are:

  • Vital Records: These include birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, and divorce records
  • Property Records: Examples are deeds, mortgages, liens, property tax records, and land records.
  • Judicial Record: Examples include case files from criminal, civil, small claims, family, probate, juvenile, and traffic divisions of the superior courts in the state. Some records of the appellate courts and the state supreme court are also public.
  • Law Enforcement Records: These include arrest records, incident reports, and crime statistics
  • Government Financial Records: Examples include budgets, expenditures, contracts, procurement, and audit reports.

Who Can Request Public Records in California?

Any person may request to copy or inspect public records in California. Per Chapter 7920.520 of the California Government Code, "person" is defined to include any natural person, firm, associated, partnership, corporation, or limited liability company. In addition, any local or state agencies and their officers are entitled to submit requests for public records.

What Is the Response Time for Public Records Requests in California?

The response time for a public records request is typically within 10 days of receipt by the agency maintaining the record. However, under certain circumstances, the agency is allowed up to an additional 14 days to respond. Such circumstances include when there is a need to search for and collect the requested information from field facilities or other agencies and in situations where there is a large amount of records to sort through.

What Is the Fee Charged for Providing Copies of Public Records?

According to the CPRA, government agencies are allowed to charge fees for producing copies of public records. This fee typically includes the direct cost of duplication and varies from one agency to the other. However, the typical fees charged range between $0.10 and $0.50 per page, while the first page of the document may be charged at a separate fee, usually up to $1. There is no fee for inspecting public records.

What Records Are Exempted Under the California Public Law?

Certain records and record types are exempt from public disclosure to protect security, privacy, and other necessary interests. Some of these exemptions include:

  • Medical records, personnel files, and personal financial data
  • Attorney-client communications and attorney work products
  • Trade secrets and proprietary business data submitted in confidence
  • Preliminary drafts, notes, or interagency memoranda
  • Records about pending litigation to which the public agency is a party
  • Records related to financial institutions
  • Details about security systems, critical infrastructure, and emergency response plans
  • Records involving minors, such as juvenile court proceedings or delinquency cases
  • RAP sheets and records sealed by court order
  • Records that may compromise the security of government buildings, infrastructure, or IT systems
  • Voter records