How many days does a city or county have to respond to a public-records request under state law?

There is no single national answer. Cities and counties are units of state and local government, so they are not governed by the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Instead, each is subject to its own state public-records law (sometimes called a sunshine, open-records, or freedom-of-information act). Those laws set their own response timelines, and the deadlines vary considerably from one state to another.

Why there’s no universal deadline

The federal FOIA, which applies only to federal executive-branch agencies, generally requires a response within 20 business days. That number is often what people have in mind when they ask about deadlines — but it does not bind a city clerk or county recorder.

State laws take a wide range of approaches. Depending on the jurisdiction, a public body may be required to:

• Respond within a fixed number of business or calendar days;
• Respond “promptly” or within a “reasonable” time, without a hard number; or
• Acknowledge the request quickly and then produce records on a separate schedule.

Because these timelines differ by state, the only reliable answer is to check the specific statute that governs the agency you are asking.

How to find your deadline

1. Identify the right law. Look up your state’s public-records or open-records act by name.
2. Read the response provision. It will specify the clock (business vs. calendar days), when the clock starts, and any permitted extensions.
3. Note exceptions. Many laws allow more time for voluminous requests, records stored off-site, or requests needing legal review.

What “respond” usually means

As under federal FOIA, “respond” rarely means “hand over everything by the deadline.” It typically means the agency must acknowledge the request and state its position — whether it will provide the records, needs more time, or is withholding material under an exemption. Actual production of large or complex records can take longer.

If a deadline is missed, most state laws give requesters a remedy, such as an appeal or a court action. For the underlying principles that apply across public-records regimes, see public records and FOIA. When in doubt, consult the text of your state’s statute or your jurisdiction’s records officer.