Oklahoma Open Records Act

Response Timeline

No fixed statutory deadline. Agency must 'promptly' undertake a search for records upon request. No specific number of days required for response or production.

No residency requirement. Any person may request public records.

How to Submit a Request

Accepted Methods

• Written — Email, mail, or fax
• In person — Accepted at agency offices
• Oral — Oral requests may be accepted

Requests may be written or oral. Written requests recommended for documentation purposes.

Required Elements

• Description of records sought
• Contact information for response

Optional Elements

• Preferred format
• Whether request is commercial or disruptive

Fees

$0.25/page max for standard copies (up to 8.5x14). $1 max for certified copies. Search fees permitted only for commercial or disruptive requests. No per-page charge for electronic records.

Fee Waivers

• Search fees waived for news media
• Search fees waived for scholars and authors
• Search fees waived for taxpayers seeking government accountability information

Search fees are waived for news media, scholars, authors, and taxpayers seeking government accountability. Copy fees still apply.

Exemptions

• Personnel
  Personnel records (§24A.7)
• Law enforcement
  Law enforcement records (§24A.8)
• Sealed bids
  Sealed bids and proposals (§24A.10)
• Litigation
  Records relating to pending litigation (§24A.12)
• Federal records
  Records received from federal government that are restricted (§24A.13)
• Educational
  Educational student records (§24A.16)
• Terrorism
  Terrorism-related security records (§24A.28)
• Trade secrets
  Trade secrets and proprietary commercial information
• Attorney client
  Attorney-client privileged communications
• Medical
  Medical and psychiatric records

Oklahoma has numerous exemptions spread across multiple sections. The burden of proof is on the agency to justify withholding records.

Appeal Process

Primary enforcement is through district court action. The AG also issues binding opinions on compliance. Willful violations may be prosecuted by the district attorney.

Request Templates

Records Retention

67 O.S. §§ 201-215

View retention law →

Retention schedule catalog →

The Archives and Records Commission (chaired by a Governor appointee) must approve all disposition schedules. No record less than five years old may be destroyed without a unanimous Commission vote; records over five years require a majority vote.

Sources & References

• Full text of law →
• Primary source →
• RCFP Open Government Guide — Oklahoma →
• NFOIC State FOI Resources →