Illinois public records law: how to make a request
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 ILCS 140. 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: IL.
Build a request letter Official source
Statute and who may ask
Each public body must make all public records available to any person for inspection or copying, except as provided in the Act's exemptions (Sections 7 and 8.5). A public body must promptly provide a copy of a record required to be disclosed and certify the copy if requested, subject to the fee provisions of Section 6. (5 ILCS 140/3(a)-(b))
Source: Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/3 (Illinois General Assembly, ilga.gov) · last verified 2026-10-17Requests for inspection or copies shall be made in writing and directed to the public body. They may be submitted by personal delivery, mail, telefax or other means available to the public body. Electronic requests must appear in their entirety within the body of the electronic submission: a public body is not required to open attached files or hyperlinks, and must notify the requester within 5 business days if a request needs them to. (5 ILCS 140/3(c))
Source: Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/3 (Illinois General Assembly, ilga.gov) · last verified 2026-10-17A public body may honor oral requests. It may not require a standard form or require the requester to state the purpose of a request, except to determine whether the records are requested for a commercial purpose or whether to grant a fee waiver. All requests received must immediately be forwarded to the public body's Freedom of Information officer or designee. (5 ILCS 140/3(c))
Source: Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/3 (Illinois General Assembly, ilga.gov) · last verified 2026-10-17Within 5 business days of receiving a request, a public body that reasonably believes a request was not submitted by a person may require the requester to verify that he or she is a person; the response deadline is tolled until verified, and the body may deny the request if the requester does not verify within 30 days. It may not require personal or identifying information for this. (5 ILCS 140/3(j))
Source: Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/3 (Illinois General Assembly, ilga.gov) · last verified 2026-10-17Requests for all records in a category must be complied with unless compliance would be unduly burdensome, there is no way to narrow the request, and the burden outweighs the public interest; before invoking this the public body must offer the requester a chance to confer to narrow the request. Repeated requests for the same unchanged records may be treated as unduly burdensome. (5 ILCS 140/3(g))
Source: Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/3 (Illinois General Assembly, ilga.gov) · last verified 2026-10-17
Response deadline
A public body must either comply with or deny a request within 5 business days after receiving it, unless the time is properly extended. Denial must be in writing as provided in Section 9. Failure to comply, extend the time, or deny within 5 business days is considered a denial. (5 ILCS 140/3(d))
Source: Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/3 (Illinois General Assembly, ilga.gov) · last verified 2026-10-17The time may be extended by not more than 5 business days from the original due date for one of seven listed reasons (records stored at other locations; collection of a substantial number of specified records; a categorical request needing an extensive search; records not located in a routine search; examination by personnel to decide exemptions or deletions; compliance would unduly burden the body's operations; or a need to consult another public body). Requester and public body may also agree in writing on a longer extension. (5 ILCS 140/3(e))
Source: Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/3 (Illinois General Assembly, ilga.gov) · last verified 2026-10-17When it needs extra time, the public body must within 5 business days after receipt notify the requester of the reasons and the date by which the response will be forthcoming. Failure to respond within the extended time is considered a denial. (5 ILCS 140/3(f))
Source: Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/3 (Illinois General Assembly, ilga.gov) · last verified 2026-10-17A public body that fails to respond within the required periods but later provides copies may not charge a fee for those copies, and may not treat the request as unduly burdensome. (5 ILCS 140/3(d), (f))
Source: Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/3 (Illinois General Assembly, ilga.gov) · last verified 2026-10-17These time periods do not apply to requests for a commercial purpose, requests by a recurrent requester, or voluminous requests, which are governed by Sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.6. (5 ILCS 140/3(i))
Source: Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/3 (Illinois General Assembly, ilga.gov) · last verified 2026-10-17A person who makes a request is deemed to have exhausted administrative remedies if the public body fails to act within the Section 3 time periods. (5 ILCS 140/9(c))
Source: Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/9, denial notice (Illinois General Assembly, ilga.gov) · last verified 2026-10-17
Fee rules
If the request is not for a commercial purpose or a voluminous request, a public body may not charge for search and review of the records or other personnel costs of reproducing them. Fees are limited to reasonably calculated actual cost, under a standard scale made public by the body. (5 ILCS 140/6(a)-(b))
Source: Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/6, fees (Illinois General Assembly, ilga.gov) · last verified 2026-10-17No fee may be charged for the first 50 pages of black-and-white, letter- or legal-size copies. Black-and-white letter or legal copies may not cost more than 15 cents per page. Color copies or other sizes may be charged at no more than actual cost. Certifying a record may not cost more than $1. (5 ILCS 140/6(b))
Source: Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/6, fees (Illinois General Assembly, ilga.gov) · last verified 2026-10-17For electronic records, the public body must furnish the electronic format specified if feasible, and may charge only the actual cost of the recording medium. For voluminous requests for electronic records, the Act sets caps of $20, $40 or $100 depending on data size (section 6(a-5)); for commercial requests, up to $10 per hour of personnel time after the first 8 hours (section 6(f)).
Source: Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/6, fees (Illinois General Assembly, ilga.gov) · last verified 2026-10-17Documents must be furnished without charge or at a reduced charge, as determined by the public body, if the requester states the specific purpose and indicates that a waiver or reduction is in the public interest, which means the principal purpose is to access and disseminate information about the health, safety and welfare or legal rights of the general public and not personal or commercial benefit. News media requests are not treated as "commercial benefit" for this purpose when that principal purpose applies. (5 ILCS 140/6(c))
Source: Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/6, fees (Illinois General Assembly, ilga.gov) · last verified 2026-10-17Imposing a fee that is not consistent with Section 6(a) and (b) is a denial of access for the purposes of judicial review. (5 ILCS 140/6(d))
Source: Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/6, fees (Illinois General Assembly, ilga.gov) · last verified 2026-10-17
Appeal path and remedies
A person whose request is denied may file a request for review with the Public Access Counselor (PAC) in the Attorney General's office not later than 60 days after the date of the final denial. The request must be in writing, signed by the requester, and include a copy of the original request and any responses from the public body. The General Assembly and its committees and agencies are excluded from PAC review. (5 ILCS 140/9.5(a))
Source: Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/9.5, Public Access Counselor (Illinois General Assembly, ilga.gov) · last verified 2026-10-17The Attorney General's guidance says the 60-day period is counted in calendar days, runs from the denial, and the review request may be sent by email or U.S. mail to the PAC at the Office of the Attorney General, 500 S. 2nd Street, Springfield, Illinois 62701, [email protected]. It need not follow a particular format. If the public body did not respond at all, the review request must say so.
Source: Illinois Attorney General, Public Access Counselor: How to Submit a Request for Review (PDF) · last verified 2026-10-17Unless the PAC extends the time by no more than 30 business days by written notice with reasons, or decides to address the matter without a binding opinion (for example by mediation), the Attorney General issues a binding opinion within 60 days of receiving the request for review. The opinion is binding on requester and public body, subject to administrative review under Section 11.5. (5 ILCS 140/9.5(f))
Source: Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/9.5, Public Access Counselor (Illinois General Assembly, ilga.gov) · last verified 2026-10-17A requester denied access may also file suit in circuit court for injunctive or declaratory relief (State bodies: the county of the body's principal office or where the requester resides; other bodies: the county where the body is located). If the requester files suit over the same denial as a pending PAC review, the PAC takes no further action. The court decides de novo, and the public body bears the burden of showing by clear and convincing evidence that a record is exempt. (5 ILCS 140/11(a)-(f), 9.5(g))
Source: Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/11, circuit court review (Illinois General Assembly, ilga.gov) · last verified 2026-10-17A requester who prevails in court must be awarded reasonable attorney's fees and costs. If the court finds a willful and intentional failure to comply or bad faith, it must also impose a civil penalty of $2,500 to $5,000 per occurrence. (5 ILCS 140/11(i)-(j))
Source: Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/11, circuit court review (Illinois General Assembly, ilga.gov) · last verified 2026-10-17
Request-letter wording notes
Put the entire request in the body of the email or letter, not in an attached file or link, and direct it to the public body's Freedom of Information officer. Keep a copy of the request and every response, because a PAC request for review must include them. (5 ILCS 140/3(c), 9.5(a); PAC guidance)
Source: Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/3 (Illinois General Assembly, ilga.gov) · last verified 2026-10-17You do not have to state a purpose, unless you are asking for a fee waiver or the body needs to determine whether the request is commercial. If you seek a waiver, state the specific purpose and say why waiver or reduction is in the public interest. (5 ILCS 140/3(c), 6(c))
Source: Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/3 (Illinois General Assembly, ilga.gov) · last verified 2026-10-17Ask for electronic copies in your preferred format; the public body must furnish the specified electronic format if feasible and may charge only the cost of the medium. (5 ILCS 140/6(a))
Source: Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/6, fees (Illinois General Assembly, ilga.gov) · last verified 2026-10-17A denial must state the reasons including a detailed factual basis for any exemption claimed, the names and titles or positions of each person responsible, the right to PAC review (with the PAC's address and phone number) and the right to judicial review. A letter can ask for these items. (5 ILCS 140/9(a)-(b))
Source: Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/9, denial notice (Illinois General Assembly, ilga.gov) · last verified 2026-10-17
Not yet researched or not verified
- The Act's exemptions (Sections 7 and 7.5) and what counts as a "public record" or "public body" (Section 2 was not read)
- Rules for commercial-purpose, recurrent-requester and voluminous requests (Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.6: time limits differ; only the existence of these categories is noted)
- Administrative review of binding opinions (Section 11.5) and enforcement (Section 11.6)
- The Attorney General's FOIA guidance pages beyond the request-for-review PDF
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.