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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
- Statute
- W.Va. Code §29B-1-1 et seq.
- Year Enacted
- 1970 (amended 2024)
- Response Deadline
- 5 business days
- Who Can Request
- Anyone
- Fees
- Yes
- Attorney Fees
- Recoverable if you win
- Enforcement
- Multiple mechanisms
Last verified: February 18, 2026
Use West Virginia FOIA TemplateDefinition of Public Record
West Virginia law defines records as “any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public’s business, prepared, owned and retained by a public body”.
Exemptions to Public Records
Exempt: Trade secrets; information violating personal privacy; some exam data; some archaeological sites; and law enforcement records for internal use.
🔍 Search Common Exemptions
Exemption database for WV is being compiled. Check back soon!
Who Can Make a Request?
Anyone
Response Timeframe
5 days.
📅 Calculate Your Response Deadline
Information on Fees
The public body may establish fees reasonably calculated to reimburse it for its actual cost in making reproductions of records. A public body may not charge a search or retrieval fee or otherwise seek reimbursement based on a man-hour basis as part of costs associated with making reproduction of records. §29B-1-3.
Enforcement Mechanisms
The Supervisor of Public Records is the primary enforcer of the public records law within the state. Appeals should be sent to his office. From there, the SPR can order the custodian to comply; further refusal to do so may result in referral to the Attorney General or the appropriate district attorney.
Attorney Fees
Yes, you can win them.
🚀 Ready to Request Records?
Choose how you want to proceed with your WV public records request:
💡 Both options provide comprehensive, well-formatted requests based on WV transparency law.