Georgia public records law: how to make a request
Georgia Open Records Act, O.C.G.A. §§ 50-18-70 through 50-18-77. 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: GA.
Build a request letter Official source
Statute and who may ask
All public records shall be open for personal inspection and copying, except those specifically exempted by court order or by law. The Act declares a strong public policy and presumption in favor of open government and says it shall be broadly construed, with exceptions interpreted narrowly. (O.C.G.A. §§ 50-18-70(a), 50-18-71(a), as reprinted in the Attorney General's guide)
Source: Georgia Attorney General: Georgia's Sunshine Laws, A Citizen's Guide to Open Government (PDF; reprints O.C.G.A. §§ 50-18-70 to 50-18-77; an older edition, it names a former Attorney General) · last verified 2026-10-17"Public record" means documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, computer-based information, data and similar material prepared and maintained or received by an agency, or by a private person or entity in the performance of a service or function for or on behalf of an agency. "Agency" follows the Open Meetings Act definition and also includes certain associations of counties, municipalities or school districts. (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70(b))
Source: Georgia Attorney General: Georgia's Sunshine Laws, A Citizen's Guide to Open Government (PDF; reprints O.C.G.A. §§ 50-18-70 to 50-18-77; an older edition, it names a former Attorney General) · last verified 2026-10-17A request may be made to the custodian of a public record orally or in writing. An agency may require written requests to go to one of: the agency's head, the senior official at a satellite office, a designated records clerk, or a designated open records officer, and must give notice of its designated open records officers on request and, if it has a website, display the designation there. An agency must accept written requests by email or fax if it uses them in its normal course of business. (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(b)(1)(B), (b)(2))
Source: Georgia Attorney General: Georgia's Sunshine Laws, A Citizen's Guide to Open Government (PDF; reprints O.C.G.A. §§ 50-18-70 to 50-18-77; an older edition, it names a former Attorney General) · last verified 2026-10-17The Attorney General's office advises that it is better practice to make a request in writing, to document its scope and timing, and that actions to enforce the Act can only be based on written requests. The statute provides that the enforcement provisions (sections 50-18-73 and 50-18-74) are available only when a written request is made consistent with the section, and not when the request is oral. (Attorney General; O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(b)(3))
Source: Georgia Attorney General: How to Make an Open Records Request · last verified 2026-10-17No public officer or agency is required to prepare new reports, summaries or compilations not in existence at the time of the request. Requests for electronic messages (email, text) should contain information reasonably calculated to let the agency locate them, such as the name, title or office of the person and, to the extent possible, the databases to be searched. (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(g), (j))
Source: Georgia Attorney General: Georgia's Sunshine Laws, A Citizen's Guide to Open Government (PDF; reprints O.C.G.A. §§ 50-18-70 to 50-18-77; an older edition, it names a former Attorney General) · last verified 2026-10-17Agencies must produce electronic copies or, if the requester prefers, printouts of electronic records or database fields kept with the programs the agency already has, and may not refuse because exporting or redacting requires entering search or filter commands that existing programs can run. A requester may ask for the format in which the data is kept or a standard export format if the agency's programs support it. (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(f))
Source: Georgia Attorney General: Georgia's Sunshine Laws, A Citizen's Guide to Open Government (PDF; reprints O.C.G.A. §§ 50-18-70 to 50-18-77; an older edition, it names a former Attorney General) · last verified 2026-10-17
Response deadline
Agencies shall produce for inspection all records responsive to a request within a reasonable amount of time not to exceed three business days of receipt, though records that did not exist at the time of the request need not be produced. If some but not all records are available within three business days, the agency must make those available within that period. (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(b)(1)(A))
Source: Georgia Attorney General: Georgia's Sunshine Laws, A Citizen's Guide to Open Government (PDF; reprints O.C.G.A. §§ 50-18-70 to 50-18-77; an older edition, it names a former Attorney General) · last verified 2026-10-17If responsive records exist but are unavailable within three business days, the agency must, within that period, give the requester a description of the records and a timeline for when they will be available for inspection or copying, and provide the records or access to them as soon as practicable. (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(b)(1)(A))
Source: Georgia Attorney General: Georgia's Sunshine Laws, A Citizen's Guide to Open Government (PDF; reprints O.C.G.A. §§ 50-18-70 to 50-18-77; an older edition, it names a former Attorney General) · last verified 2026-10-17If an agency requires written requests to go to the persons listed in the statute, the three-day period for responding to a written request does not begin until the request is made in writing to one of those individuals. (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(b)(2))
Source: Georgia Attorney General: Georgia's Sunshine Laws, A Citizen's Guide to Open Government (PDF; reprints O.C.G.A. §§ 50-18-70 to 50-18-77; an older edition, it names a former Attorney General) · last verified 2026-10-17When an agency withholds all or part of a record, it must notify the requester of the specific legal authority exempting the record, by Code section, subsection and paragraph, within a reasonable time not to exceed three business days, or, if retrieval was delayed, no later than three business days after the records have been retrieved. (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(d))
Source: Georgia Attorney General: Georgia's Sunshine Laws, A Citizen's Guide to Open Government (PDF; reprints O.C.G.A. §§ 50-18-70 to 50-18-77; an older edition, it names a former Attorney General) · last verified 2026-10-17The Attorney General's FAQ page also says an agency must produce records within three business days absent exceptional circumstances, and if it cannot it must tell the requester in writing when the records will be produced, the cost, and any exemption authority. (The FAQ page cites O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72(h); the statute reprint places these rules in section 50-18-71(b) and (d), so the FAQ's section cite may be out of date.)
Source: Georgia Attorney General: Open Government Frequently Asked Questions · last verified 2026-10-17
Fee rules
An agency may impose a reasonable charge for search, retrieval, redaction and production or copying costs, and must use the most economical means reasonably calculated to identify and produce responsive documents. Unless another law sets a specific fee, the charge for search, retrieval or redaction may not exceed the prorated hourly salary of the lowest paid full-time employee who, in the custodian's reasonable discretion, has the skill and training to do the work; no charge is made for the first quarter hour. (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(c)(1))
Source: Georgia Attorney General: Georgia's Sunshine Laws, A Citizen's Guide to Open Government (PDF; reprints O.C.G.A. §§ 50-18-70 to 50-18-77; an older edition, it names a former Attorney General) · last verified 2026-10-17In addition, an agency may charge for copying not to exceed 10 cents per page for letter or legal size documents, or the actual cost of producing the copy for other documents. For electronic records, the agency may charge the actual cost of the media on which the records are produced. (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(c)(2))
Source: Georgia Attorney General: Georgia's Sunshine Laws, A Citizen's Guide to Open Government (PDF; reprints O.C.G.A. §§ 50-18-70 to 50-18-77; an older edition, it names a former Attorney General) · last verified 2026-10-17If an agency will seek costs above $25.00, it must notify the requester within a reasonable time not to exceed three business days and give an estimate, and may defer search and retrieval until the requester agrees to pay, unless the request already states a willingness to pay more. If the estimate exceeds $500.00 the agency may insist on prepayment before it begins. An agency may require prepayment for future requests from a person who has not paid lawfully incurred costs of a prior request. (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(d))
Source: Georgia Attorney General: Georgia's Sunshine Laws, A Citizen's Guide to Open Government (PDF; reprints O.C.G.A. §§ 50-18-70 to 50-18-77; an older edition, it names a former Attorney General) · last verified 2026-10-17The Attorney General's opinion, in its FAQ, is that prepayment may not be required except in the circumstances in the Act (an estimate over $500, or unpaid costs of a previous request), and that the agency should estimate redaction costs in advance and give the requester the chance to accept, modify or withdraw the request.
Source: Georgia Attorney General: Open Government Frequently Asked Questions · last verified 2026-10-17Source discrepancy: the Attorney General's FAQ page says a uniform copying charge may not exceed 25 cents a page, while the statute text reprinted in the Attorney General's guide and the Governor's office page both say 10 cents per page for letter or legal size. This site shows the statute figure (10 cents) and flags the difference; confirm with the agency and the current statute.
Source: Georgia Attorney General: Open Government Frequently Asked Questions · last verified 2026-10-17
Appeal path and remedies
Georgia has no administrative appeal to a state commission. The superior courts have jurisdiction to enforce compliance, and an action may be brought by any person, firm, corporation or other entity against persons or agencies having custody of the records. The Attorney General may also bring actions in his or her discretion and seek civil or criminal penalties. (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-73(a))
Source: Georgia Attorney General: Georgia's Sunshine Laws, A Citizen's Guide to Open Government (PDF; reprints O.C.G.A. §§ 50-18-70 to 50-18-77; an older edition, it names a former Attorney General) · last verified 2026-10-17If the court finds that either party acted without substantial justification in not complying or in bringing the suit, it shall, unless special circumstances exist, assess reasonable attorney's fees and litigation costs in favor of the complaining party. (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-73(b))
Source: Georgia Attorney General: Georgia's Sunshine Laws, A Citizen's Guide to Open Government (PDF; reprints O.C.G.A. §§ 50-18-70 to 50-18-77; an older edition, it names a former Attorney General) · last verified 2026-10-17A person or entity who knowingly and willfully fails or refuses to provide access to non-exempt records, or to do so within the time limits, or who frustrates access, is guilty of a misdemeanor with a fine up to $1,000 for the first violation; alternatively a civil penalty up to $1,000 may be imposed on a person who negligently violates the Act, and up to $2,500 per additional violation within 12 months. (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-74(a))
Source: Georgia Attorney General: Georgia's Sunshine Laws, A Citizen's Guide to Open Government (PDF; reprints O.C.G.A. §§ 50-18-70 to 50-18-77; an older edition, it names a former Attorney General) · last verified 2026-10-17The Attorney General's Open Government Mediation Program is an informal way to resolve disputes without litigation about local governments' responses to open records requests or closed meetings. A complaint is submitted online; if it is a candidate for mediation an attorney is assigned. The information submitted becomes an open record and may be shared with the government entity. The program page says the office may be unable to answer inquiries while mediation is pending.
Source: Georgia Attorney General: Open Government Mediation Program · last verified 2026-10-17
Request-letter wording notes
Make the request in writing, to the agency's open records officer or custodian (check the agency's website for its designation) and by email or fax if the agency uses them. Written form matters because the enforcement provisions apply only to written requests. (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(b); Attorney General)
Source: Georgia Attorney General: How to Make an Open Records Request · last verified 2026-10-17Describe the records so the agency can find them. For emails or texts, name the person or office and, if possible, the systems to search. Do not ask the agency to create new reports or summaries. (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(g), (j))
Source: Georgia Attorney General: Georgia's Sunshine Laws, A Citizen's Guide to Open Government (PDF; reprints O.C.G.A. §§ 50-18-70 to 50-18-77; an older edition, it names a former Attorney General) · last verified 2026-10-17State a willingness to pay up to a stated amount if you want to avoid delay: an agency expecting costs over $25 may defer work until you agree, unless the request already states a willingness to pay more. (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(d))
Source: Georgia Attorney General: Georgia's Sunshine Laws, A Citizen's Guide to Open Government (PDF; reprints O.C.G.A. §§ 50-18-70 to 50-18-77; an older edition, it names a former Attorney General) · last verified 2026-10-17Ask for electronic copies, or the format in which the data is kept; ask that any withheld portion be identified with the specific legal authority by Code section, subsection and paragraph, within three business days. (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(d), (f))
Source: Georgia Attorney General: Georgia's Sunshine Laws, A Citizen's Guide to Open Government (PDF; reprints O.C.G.A. §§ 50-18-70 to 50-18-77; an older edition, it names a former Attorney General) · last verified 2026-10-17The Attorney General's office offers a request form you can fill out and submit to an agency.
Source: Georgia Attorney General: How to Make an Open Records Request · last verified 2026-10-17
Not yet researched or not verified
- Current statute text from the Georgia General Assembly's own site (the statute was read as reprinted in an older Attorney General guide, so recent amendments may be missing; the Governor's office page and the AG's FAQ were used to cross-check)
- The exemptions in O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72 (not summarized)
- Whether the Attorney General's FAQ figure of 25 cents per page (versus 10 cents in the statute reprint) reflects a later or earlier version of the law
- Rules for specific offices (for example court records, law enforcement records, vital records and Georgia Department of Public Health requests)
- The Attorney General's printable request form (linked on the AG page but not opened)
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.