Tennessee public records law: how to make a request

Tennessee Public Records Act, Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503 et seq. 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: TN.

Build a request letter Official source

Statute and who may ask

• Only citizens of Tennessee have the right to inspect and receive copies of public records under the Tennessee Public Records Act, although governmental entities may choose to give access to others. (Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503(a)(2)(A), as described by the Office of Open Records Counsel)

  Source: Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Office of Open Records Counsel: Tennessee Public Records Act FAQs · last verified 2026-10-20

• "Public records" means all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, photographs, microfilms, electronic data processing files and output, films, sound recordings or other material, regardless of physical form, made or received under law or in connection with the transaction of official business by any governmental entity. (Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503(a)(1)(A)(i), as quoted by the Office of Open Records Counsel)

  Source: Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Office of Open Records Counsel: Tennessee Public Records Act FAQs · last verified 2026-10-20

• Every governmental entity subject to the Act must have a public records policy that sets out how to request records, how requests are answered, any copy fees, and the name and title of its Public Records Request Coordinator. There is no central repository: send the request to the entity believed to hold the records. A governmental entity may require government-issued photo identification that includes an address. (OORC FAQ; Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503(a)(7)(A)(vi))

  Source: Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Office of Open Records Counsel: Tennessee Public Records Act FAQs · last verified 2026-10-20

• A request to inspect only cannot be required to be in writing; a request for copies may be required in writing or on a particular form. A request must be detailed enough for the entity to identify the specific records; the entity is not required to sort through files and compile information. (Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503(a)(4), (a)(7)(A)(i)-(ii), as described in the OORC FAQ)

  Source: Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Office of Open Records Counsel: Tennessee Public Records Act FAQs · last verified 2026-10-20

• The Office of Open Records Counsel says the Act generally does not distinguish requests by intended use, so a custodian generally may not ask why records are wanted, except in rare cases where it needs that to decide whether the records can be disclosed.

  Source: Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Office of Open Records Counsel: Tennessee Public Records Act FAQs · last verified 2026-10-20

Response deadline

• Records that are readily available should be provided promptly. If prompt production is not practicable, within seven business days the custodian must make the records available, deny the request in writing with the basis for the denial, or give a written explanation of the time reasonably necessary to produce the records. (Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503(a)(2)(B), as described in the OORC FAQ)

  Source: Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Office of Open Records Counsel: Tennessee Public Records Act FAQs · last verified 2026-10-20

• If a person makes two or more inspection requests within six months and does not view the records within fifteen business days after being told they are available, the entity may decline that person's requests for six months, unless there was good cause. (Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503(a)(7)(A)(vii)(a), as described in the OORC FAQ)

  Source: Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Office of Open Records Counsel: Tennessee Public Records Act FAQs · last verified 2026-10-20

Fee rules

• No charge may be made to inspect public records, including electronic records, unless another law requires it. (Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503(a)(7)(A)(i), as described in the OORC FAQ)

  Source: Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Office of Open Records Counsel: Tennessee Public Records Act FAQs · last verified 2026-10-20

• Under the Schedule of Reasonable Charges, a custodian may charge up to 15 cents per black-and-white page and up to 50 cents per color page for standard letter or legal size copies; higher charges need a documented actual-cost analysis in an adopted policy or another legal basis. (Schedule, section II)

  Source: Tennessee Office of Open Records Counsel: Schedule of Reasonable Charges (PDF, effective January 20, 2017) · last verified 2026-10-20

• Labor may be charged at the hourly wage (base salary, without benefits) of the employees reasonably necessary to produce the records, only for time beyond the labor threshold, which is the first hour unless the entity adopted a higher one. Labor includes locating, retrieving, reviewing, redacting and reproducing records. (Schedule, section IV)

  Source: Tennessee Office of Open Records Counsel: Schedule of Reasonable Charges (PDF, effective January 20, 2017) · last verified 2026-10-20

• The entity must give an estimate of reasonable costs before charging for copies, and may require payment before producing copies. Per-page charges apply to electronic records only when paper copies must be made, such as printing to redact; actual costs of flash drives may be charged. (Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503(a)(7)(C); Schedule, sections I and III)

  Source: Tennessee Office of Open Records Counsel: Schedule of Reasonable Charges (PDF, effective January 20, 2017) · last verified 2026-10-20

Appeal path and remedies

• Denial of access, including through unreasonable or unfounded costs, can be challenged by filing a petition for access in the appropriate circuit or chancery court under Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-505, according to the Office of Open Records Counsel.

  Source: Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Office of Open Records Counsel: Tennessee Public Records Act FAQs · last verified 2026-10-20

• The Office of Open Records Counsel answers questions about the Act and helps resolve disputes about ongoing records requests, including fee estimates a requester believes are unreasonable. It does not make records requests for others and is not a clearinghouse for records.

  Source: Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Office of Open Records Counsel: Tennessee Public Records Act FAQs · last verified 2026-10-20

• Office of Open Records Counsel contact as listed: email [email protected], phone 615.401.7891.

  Source: Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury: Open Records Counsel · last verified 2026-10-20

Request-letter wording notes

• Find the governmental entity's public records policy and send the request to its Public Records Request Coordinator, in the form the policy requires for copies. (OORC FAQ)

  Source: Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Office of Open Records Counsel: Tennessee Public Records Act FAQs · last verified 2026-10-20

• State that you are a Tennessee citizen and be ready to show government-issued photo identification with an address if the policy requires it. (OORC FAQ; Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503(a)(7)(A)(vi))

  Source: Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Office of Open Records Counsel: Tennessee Public Records Act FAQs · last verified 2026-10-20

• Identify the specific records, with dates and subjects, and say whether you want to inspect them (free) or receive copies. (Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503(a)(4), (a)(7)(A))

  Source: Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Office of Open Records Counsel: Tennessee Public Records Act FAQs · last verified 2026-10-20

• Ask for an estimate of costs before copies are made, and ask for electronic copies where possible to avoid per-page charges. (Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503(a)(7)(C); Schedule of Reasonable Charges)

  Source: Tennessee Office of Open Records Counsel: Schedule of Reasonable Charges (PDF, effective January 20, 2017) · last verified 2026-10-20

Not yet researched or not verified

• The statute text itself: Tennessee's official code is not published on a state website that this site could read, so the entry relies on the Office of Open Records Counsel's FAQ (which quotes and cites the statute) and its Schedule of Reasonable Charges
• Court remedies in detail under Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-505, including any attorney fee rules
• The many specific exemptions in Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-504 and other statutes
• Individual governmental entities' public records policies, coordinators and any approved higher fees

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.