Public Records Request

The City of Auburn supports the public’s right to access public records in accordance with Alabama law and our commitment to open and transparent government.

How can I request public records?

Many City of Auburn records are available online. We encourage you to check these resources first:

• Budget Information
• Finance Information
• Finance Forms
• Auburn Community Data (contours, city limits, zoning information)
• City Council agendas
• Public Access Portal (flood plain documents)
• Press release archive
• Community Profile
• Construction project information
• City bids
• City Plans and Guiding Documents
• Studies and Surveys
• Planning Commission Agendas
• Board of Zoning Adjustment Agendas
• Construction Reports
• Permits
• Zoning Ordinance
• Planning Fees and Forms

To request public records not available online, fill out the Public Records Request (PRR) form, available at any City facility, or online.

Please complete the form and email to recordrequest@auburnal.gov

What are public records?

Public records are typically those records necessary to record the status and condition of business carried out by the City.

As allowed by State law, and related case law, some records are not available for public inspection. Exceptions are typically made in cases where privacy or security issues have been judged to be of overriding importance, or where documents are not necessary to record the status and condition of business carried out by the City. Such exceptions may include:

• Information received by a public officer in confidence.
• Sensitive personnel records.
• Information relating to pending criminal investigations.
• Records the disclosure of which would be detrimental to the best interests of the public, including:
  • Records concerning security plans, procedures, assessments, measures, or systems, and any other records relating to, or having an impact upon, the security or safety of persons, structures, facilities, or other infrastructures, including without limitation information concerning critical infrastructure and critical energy infrastructure.
  • Documents regarding pending or threatened litigation or other documents created by or at the direction of the City's attorney(s) or communications by and between the City and its attorney(s) where legal advice is sought, discussed and/or received.

• The City is not required by law to create documents to answer a request if there are no existing documents responsive to the request.

• As defined by Alabama law, only Alabama residents have standing to request public records in Alabama.

What can I expect?

State law allows the following timeframes for response to public records request:

• Acknowledgement of request by 10 business days from receiving the request
• A response or status update to the request by 15 business days from acknowledging the request

What fees will be charged?

Generally, copies will be provided at a cost of $0.25 per page. If a request becomes time-intensive, defined as requiring more than eight hours of employee time to complete, a fee of $20 per hour will be charged, beginning with the second hour. Partial hours will be rounded to the next full hour. If it is estimated that charges will reach or exceed $50, a deposit, via cash or credit card, of half the estimated amount will be required before the request is fulfilled, but you may be required to pay the full amount of the estimated charges at the City's discretion.

Disclaimer and Use Information

The City of Auburn provides information in response to Public Records Requests in good faith with no warranty, expressed or implied, concerning content, accuracy, currency or completeness. It does not accept any liability arising from incorrect, incomplete or misleading information or improper use. Use or interpretation of the data is solely the Requestor's responsibility. As applicable, the City shall retain all rights, title, and interest in the information.