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Click on your state to view detailed FOIA guidance
Click on your state to view detailed FOIA guidance
Each state page includes: response deadlines, fee structures, special rights, exemptions, enforcement options, and success strategies
- Year Enacted
- 1970 (amended 2024)
- Response Deadline
- 10 business days
- Who Can Request
- Anyone
- Fees
- Yes
- Attorney Fees
- Not recoverable
- Enforcement
- Multiple mechanisms
Last verified: February 18, 2026
Use Ohio FOIA TemplateDefinition of Public Record
Records include all records kept by any public office as well as records of both non- profit and for-profit private schools.
Exemptions to Public Records
Exempt: Personal bank records; medical records; adoption records; probation and parole records; and certain law enforcement investigative records.
🔍 Search Common Exemptions
Exemption database for OH is being compiled. Check back soon!
Who Can Make a Request?
Anyone.
Response Timeframe
Timeframe not specified.
📅 Calculate Your Response Deadline
Information on Fees
In general, fees of the actual cost of materials, but not labor, may be charged. The Department of Motor Vehicles may charge additional fees for data requested for marketing or other commercial purposes.
Enforcement Mechanisms
Enforcement is primarily through lawsuits, and a request does not need to be rejected before a requester may sue. Courts may award attorneys fees in many cases, and must if the agency simply ignored the request or misses a promised response date. In addition, a court may award a $100 per business day in punitive fees.
Attorney Fees
Although it is not guaranteed, you can still win your attorney fees provided you win your appeal in court.
🚀 Ready to Request Records?
Choose how you want to proceed with your OH public records request:
💡 Both options provide comprehensive, well-formatted requests based on OH transparency law.