Kentucky public records law: how to make a request

Kentucky Open Records Act, KRS 61.870 to 61.884. Rules below are quoted or closely paraphrased from the linked official pages, and each shows the date it was last checked (2026-10-20). Jurisdiction code: KY.

Build a request letter Official source

Statute and who may ask

• All public records are open for inspection by any resident of the Commonwealth, except as otherwise provided by KRS 61.870 to 61.884. The custodian may require a written application, signed and with the name printed legibly, describing the records, and may require a statement of how the applicant is a Kentucky resident. (KRS 61.872(1)-(2)(a))

  Source: KRS 61.872 (right of Kentucky residents to inspect public records; written application, Kentucky General Assembly) · last verified 2026-10-20

• The Attorney General's guide says that since June 29, 2021 only residents of the Commonwealth may request records. Residents include people living in Kentucky, domestic businesses with a location in Kentucky, foreign businesses registered with the Secretary of State, people employed and working in Kentucky, anyone representing one of these, and news-gathering organizations. (KRS 61.870(10), as described in the guide)

  Source: Kentucky Attorney General: The Kentucky Open Records and Open Meetings Acts, a guide for the public and public agencies (PDF, revised September 2025) · last verified 2026-10-20

• The written application may be hand delivered, mailed, faxed, or emailed to the agency's records custodian at the email address in its rules. An agency may not require any particular form, but must accept the Attorney General's standardized form. (KRS 61.872(2)(b)-(c))

  Source: KRS 61.872 (right of Kentucky residents to inspect public records; written application, Kentucky General Assembly) · last verified 2026-10-20

• Each agency must post its public records rules, the mailing address, email address and phone number of its records custodian, and the Attorney General's request form, including on its website. (KRS 61.876(2))

  Source: KRS 61.876 (agency rules; standardized request form, Kentucky General Assembly) · last verified 2026-10-20

• If the person receiving the application does not have custody of the record, that person must tell the applicant and give the name and location of the official custodian. (KRS 61.872(4))

  Source: KRS 61.872 (right of Kentucky residents to inspect public records; written application, Kentucky General Assembly) · last verified 2026-10-20

Response deadline

• Each public agency must decide within five days, excepting Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, after receiving a request whether to comply, and notify the requester in writing within that period. A denial must state the specific exception relied on and briefly explain how it applies. (KRS 61.880(1))

  Source: KRS 61.880 (denial of inspection; role of the Attorney General, Kentucky General Assembly) · last verified 2026-10-20

• If the record is in active use, in storage or not otherwise available, the custodian must immediately notify the applicant and designate a place, time and date for inspection not more than five days from receipt, unless a detailed explanation of the cause of further delay and the earliest date the record will be available is given. (KRS 61.872(5))

  Source: KRS 61.872 (right of Kentucky residents to inspect public records; written application, Kentucky General Assembly) · last verified 2026-10-20

• An application that places an unreasonable burden, or repeated requests intended to disrupt essential functions, may be refused, but the refusal must be sustained by clear and convincing evidence. (KRS 61.872(6))

  Source: KRS 61.872 (right of Kentucky residents to inspect public records; written application, Kentucky General Assembly) · last verified 2026-10-20

Fee rules

• The Attorney General's guide says an agency may charge a reasonable fee for copies that does not exceed its actual cost of copying (media and mechanical reproduction), not including staff costs, and that ten cents per page has generally been deemed reasonable for paper copies. Some agencies, such as county clerks, are allowed by law to charge more. (KRS 61.874, as described in the guide)

  Source: Kentucky Attorney General: The Kentucky Open Records and Open Meetings Acts, a guide for the public and public agencies (PDF, revised September 2025) · last verified 2026-10-20

• No fee may be charged for inspecting records in person. A higher fee, which may include staff time, may be charged for a commercial purpose request. The agency may require prepayment for copies, and must mail copies to a resident outside the county once fees and postage are paid. (Attorney General guide; KRS 61.872(3)(b))

  Source: Kentucky Attorney General: The Kentucky Open Records and Open Meetings Acts, a guide for the public and public agencies (PDF, revised September 2025) · last verified 2026-10-20

• The guide says redaction costs may not be passed on to the requester: if an agency prints electronic records to redact them, it may not charge a copying fee for that.

  Source: Kentucky Attorney General: The Kentucky Open Records and Open Meetings Acts, a guide for the public and public agencies (PDF, revised September 2025) · last verified 2026-10-20

Appeal path and remedies

• To ask the Attorney General to review a denial, send a copy of the written request and the written denial (or just the request if the agency did not respond). The Attorney General issues a written decision within 20 business days, extendable by up to 30 more work days in unusual circumstances; the agency has the burden of proof. (KRS 61.880(2))

  Source: KRS 61.880 (denial of inspection; role of the Attorney General, Kentucky General Assembly) · last verified 2026-10-20

• The guide says the Attorney General also accepts appeals by email at [email protected] if the email includes the original request and any response. Requesters other than inmates may instead go directly to circuit court. (Attorney General guide; KRS 61.882(2))

  Source: Kentucky Attorney General: The Kentucky Open Records and Open Meetings Acts, a guide for the public and public agencies (PDF, revised September 2025) · last verified 2026-10-20

• Excessive fees, delay past five days, excessive extensions or misdirection can be complained of in writing to the Attorney General as if the record had been denied. (KRS 61.880(4))

  Source: KRS 61.880 (denial of inspection; role of the Attorney General, Kentucky General Assembly) · last verified 2026-10-20

• Either party has 30 days after the Attorney General's decision to appeal to circuit court; otherwise the decision has the force and effect of law. (KRS 61.880(5))

  Source: KRS 61.880 (denial of inspection; role of the Attorney General, Kentucky General Assembly) · last verified 2026-10-20

• The guide says a requester who prevails in circuit court may be awarded costs, including reasonable attorney fees, if the court finds records were willfully withheld, and up to $25 for each day the right to inspect was denied. (KRS 61.882(5), as described in the guide)

  Source: Kentucky Attorney General: The Kentucky Open Records and Open Meetings Acts, a guide for the public and public agencies (PDF, revised September 2025) · last verified 2026-10-20

Request-letter wording notes

• Address the request to the agency's official records custodian, using the mailing or email address in the agency's posted rules; you may use the Attorney General's standardized form or a letter. (KRS 61.872(2), 61.876(2))

  Source: KRS 61.872 (right of Kentucky residents to inspect public records; written application, Kentucky General Assembly) · last verified 2026-10-20

• Sign the request, print your name legibly, describe the records, and state how you are a Kentucky resident under KRS 61.870(10). (KRS 61.872(2)(a))

  Source: KRS 61.872 (right of Kentucky residents to inspect public records; written application, Kentucky General Assembly) · last verified 2026-10-20

• State whether the request is for a commercial purpose, since that affects the fee. (KRS 61.876(4); Attorney General guide)

  Source: Kentucky Attorney General: The Kentucky Open Records and Open Meetings Acts, a guide for the public and public agencies (PDF, revised September 2025) · last verified 2026-10-20

• Ask for a written decision within five business days and, if any record is withheld, the specific exception and how it applies. (KRS 61.880(1))

  Source: KRS 61.880 (denial of inspection; role of the Attorney General, Kentucky General Assembly) · last verified 2026-10-20

Not yet researched or not verified

• The text of KRS 61.870 (definitions), 61.874 (fees and commercial use) and 61.882 (court actions) on the General Assembly's site; those points are taken from the Attorney General's September 2025 guide
• The exemptions in KRS 61.878 and the special rules for inmates and for booking photographs
• Individual agencies' rules, custodians and fee schedules

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.