How long does a Florida agency or government body have to respond to a records request?

A custodian of public records and the custodian's designee must acknowledge requests to inspect or copy records promptly and respond in good faith. A good faith response includes making reasonable efforts to determine from other officers or employees within the agency whether the record exists and, if so, where it can be accessed. (Fla. Stat. § 119.07(1)(c))

How do I appeal a denied or ignored records request in Florida?

The chapter sections read set out no administrative appeal to the agency head; the remedy is a civil action to enforce. When an action is filed, the court must set an immediate hearing with priority over other pending cases; if the court orders records opened, the agency must comply within 48 hours unless the court provides otherwise or an appellate court stays the order. (Fla. Stat. § 119.11)

Florida public records law: how to make a request

Public Records Act, Florida Statutes chapter 119. Rules below are quoted or closely paraphrased from the linked official pages, and each shows the date it was last checked (2026-10-17). Jurisdiction code: FL.

Build a request letter Official source

Statute and who may ask

Every person who has custody of a public record must permit the record to be inspected and copied by any person desiring to do so, at any reasonable time, under reasonable conditions, and under supervision by the custodian. A custodian may designate another employee to permit inspection and copying but must disclose the designee's identity to the requester. (Fla. Stat. § 119.07(1)(a)-(b))
Source: Fla. Stat. § 119.07 (2026 Florida Statutes, Florida Senate Online Sunshine) · last verified 2026-10-17
Any person has the right of access to public records for the purpose of making photographs of the record while it is in the custody of the custodian, under the custodian's supervision and reasonable rules. (Fla. Stat. § 119.07(3))
Source: Fla. Stat. § 119.07 (2026 Florida Statutes, Florida Senate Online Sunshine) · last verified 2026-10-17

Response deadline

A custodian of public records and the custodian's designee must acknowledge requests to inspect or copy records promptly and respond in good faith. A good faith response includes making reasonable efforts to determine from other officers or employees within the agency whether the record exists and, if so, where it can be accessed. (Fla. Stat. § 119.07(1)(c))
Source: Fla. Stat. § 119.07 (2026 Florida Statutes, Florida Senate Online Sunshine) · last verified 2026-10-17
The text of § 119.07 as read on the date of checking does not set a fixed number of days for a response.
Source: Fla. Stat. § 119.07 (2026 Florida Statutes, Florida Senate Online Sunshine) · last verified 2026-10-17
Even if the custodian asserts that a requested record is not a public record, it may not be disposed of for 30 days after the date a written request to inspect or copy it was served or otherwise made; if a civil action is filed within the 30 days, it may not be disposed of except by court order. (Fla. Stat. § 119.07(1)(h))
Source: Fla. Stat. § 119.07 (2026 Florida Statutes, Florida Senate Online Sunshine) · last verified 2026-10-17

Fee rules

The custodian furnishes a copy or certified copy upon payment of the fee prescribed by law. If no fee is prescribed by law: up to 15 cents per one-sided copy of not more than 14 by 8 1/2 inches; no more than an additional 5 cents for each two-sided copy; and for all other copies the actual cost of duplication. (Fla. Stat. § 119.07(4)(a))
Source: Fla. Stat. § 119.07 (2026 Florida Statutes, Florida Senate Online Sunshine) · last verified 2026-10-17
An agency may charge up to $1 per copy for a certified copy of a public record. (Fla. Stat. § 119.07(4)(c))
Source: Fla. Stat. § 119.07 (2026 Florida Statutes, Florida Senate Online Sunshine) · last verified 2026-10-17
If the nature or volume of the records requested requires extensive use of information technology resources or extensive clerical or supervisory assistance, or both, the agency may charge, in addition to the actual cost of duplication, a special service charge that must be reasonable and based on the cost actually incurred. (Fla. Stat. § 119.07(4)(d))
Source: Fla. Stat. § 119.07 (2026 Florida Statutes, Florida Senate Online Sunshine) · last verified 2026-10-17

Appeal path and remedies

The chapter sections read set out no administrative appeal to the agency head; the remedy is a civil action to enforce. When an action is filed, the court must set an immediate hearing with priority over other pending cases; if the court orders records opened, the agency must comply within 48 hours unless the court provides otherwise or an appellate court stays the order. (Fla. Stat. § 119.11)
Source: Fla. Stat. § 119.11 (2026 Florida Statutes, Florida Senate Online Sunshine) · last verified 2026-10-17
If a civil action is filed to enforce the chapter, the court shall award reasonable costs of enforcement, including attorney fees, against the agency if the agency unlawfully refused to permit a record to be inspected or copied and the complainant gave written notice identifying the request to the agency's custodian of public records at least 5 business days before filing. The notice is not required if the agency does not prominently post the custodian's contact information at its primary administrative building and on its website. (Fla. Stat. § 119.12(1)-(2))
Source: Fla. Stat. § 119.12 (2026 Florida Statutes, Florida Senate Online Sunshine) · last verified 2026-10-17
If the court finds the request or the lawsuit was made primarily for an improper purpose, such as to cause a violation or harass, it may not award fees to the complainant and shall award the agency's costs and fees against the complainant. The section does not create a right to money damages. (Fla. Stat. § 119.12(3)-(4))
Source: Fla. Stat. § 119.12 (2026 Florida Statutes, Florida Senate Online Sunshine) · last verified 2026-10-17
A public records mediation program exists within the Office of the Attorney General to mediate disputes about access to public records. The statute describes mediation as helping parties reach a voluntary agreement and says the program supplements the Attorney General's other powers. (Fla. Stat. § 16.60)
Source: Fla. Stat. § 16.60 (2026 Florida Statutes), public records mediation program in the Attorney General's office · last verified 2026-10-17

Request-letter wording notes

If the custodian claims an exemption, the custodian must state the basis of the exemption including the statutory citation, and, if you ask, must state in writing and with particularity the reasons for the conclusion that the record is exempt or confidential. The custodian must redact only the exempt part and produce the rest. (Fla. Stat. § 119.07(1)(d)-(f))
Source: Fla. Stat. § 119.07 (2026 Florida Statutes, Florida Senate Online Sunshine) · last verified 2026-10-17
Because attorney-fee recovery depends on written notice identifying the request to the custodian of public records at least 5 business days before suit, keep your request in writing and send it to the custodian named by the agency. (Fla. Stat. § 119.12(1)(b))
Source: Fla. Stat. § 119.12 (2026 Florida Statutes, Florida Senate Online Sunshine) · last verified 2026-10-17
If the agency expects a special service charge, ask for an estimate first; the statute says it must be reasonable and based on actual cost. (Fla. Stat. § 119.07(4)(d))
Source: Fla. Stat. § 119.07 (2026 Florida Statutes, Florida Senate Online Sunshine) · last verified 2026-10-17

Not yet researched or not verified

Whether a request must be in writing (the page read does not say; the chapter's other sections were not read)
Exemptions (e.g. §§ 119.071 and following) and agency-specific procedures
The Attorney General's Government-in-the-Sunshine Manual (the site returned an access error, so it was not read)

This is legal information from public sources, not legal advice. Laws and agency practices change; read the linked official source and consult a lawyer about your situation. Local agencies may have their own forms and contacts.