Public records tips & tricks
By North Carolina law, public records are property of the people. Below is a running list of resources for helping you access records in the public interest.
Request template
Not sure where to start? If you’re submitting a records request in North Carolina, feel free to use or remix the template below.
Pursuant to state public records law, I request access to and copies of [[[WHAT YOU WANT]]]
I’d like copies of these records in electronic format, preferably in [[[HOW YOU WANT IT]]]. If you are unable to provide the records in this format for any reason, please let me know.
If applicable, please provide these records as they are processed.
Please notify me in advance of any fees associated with this request, and if my request is denied in whole or part, I ask that you justify all deletions and redactions by reference to specific exemptions in the state open records act.
If you need any additional information to fulfill this request, please let me know.
Submitting a Freedom of Information Act request to a federal agency? Use the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press iFOIA tool or Muckrock’s FOIA request generator.
Public records portals
A running list of public records portals in North Carolina (and some on the federal level). Agencies generally route records requests through these sites, some of which encourage registration.
Know of any portals we’re missing? Respond to @mtdukes’ Twitter thread here.
State agencies
- Department of Public Instruction
- State Board of Elections
- Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
- Department of Information Technology
- Department of Administration
- Department of Public Safety
- Administrative Office of the Courts
- Bonus: Court record retention schedules
- Bonus: Court rules of recordkeeping
Counties
Cities and towns
- City of Raleigh
- City of Charlotte
- City of Durham
- Town of Chapel Hill
- City of Fayetteville
- City of Greensboro
- City of Winston-Salem
- City of Asheville
- Town of Mooresville
- Town of Apex
Public boards
Colleges and universities
- UNC System
- Appalachian State
- N.C. Central
- N.C. State
- UNC-Chapel Hill
- UNC-Charlotte
- UNC-Greensboro
- Winston-Salem State University
Federal agencies
Other resources
- State and local records retention schedules // State Archives of NC
- Open Government Guide // RCFP
- FOIA wiki // RCFP
- FOIA 101 // Muckrock
- 241 FOIA electronic reading rooms // Lisa DeLuca
- How to find stuff in state-level courts // Ally Jarmanning
- I’ve Sent Out 1,018 Open Records Requests, and This Is What I’ve Learned // Sandhya Kambhampati
- Submit a records request like a pro in 8 easy steps // Tyler Dukes & Kelly Hinchcliffe
- Sunshine Request platform // PRC Applications
Special thanks
A note of gratitude to the fabulous folks (so far) who have contributed resources and links to this page: