How to Get Public Records in Jacksonville: 6 Steps, the 15-Cent Copy Rule and Where Requests Go

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - To get public records in Jacksonville, identify which government agency holds the records, submit a request to that agency and provide enough details to help staff locate the information. For records held by the City of Jacksonville, residents can use the city's online Public Records Request Center to submit and track requests. Florida law also establishes rules for access, copying costs, exemptions and how agencies must respond.

Florida's Public Records Law, Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, gives any person the right to inspect and copy public records at any reasonable time, under reasonable conditions and under the custodian's supervision. The law covers more than paper documents and includes photographs, recordings, maps and other materials connected with official business. Knowing where to direct a request and how to describe the records can make the process easier.

Step 1: Identify the Records You Want

Start by identifying the information you want to obtain and the government agency most likely to maintain it. Florida law defines public records broadly, so a request does not have to involve a traditional printed document. The important question is whether the material was made or received in connection with official business.

The definition includes documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, films, sound recordings, data processing software and other materials, regardless of their form. That means requesters should think about the type of information they need rather than limiting their search to paper files. Public records can exist in several formats, although exemptions may restrict access to particular information.

Jax Times guidance: Describe the records as specifically as possible by including relevant dates, names and subjects. A clear description gives the agency a better starting point for locating responsive materials. Before submitting the request, review the description to make sure it identifies the records rather than simply stating a general topic of interest.

Step 2: Find the Agency That Holds the Records

The City of Jacksonville's Public Records Request Center handles requests for records of which the city is the custodian. The center specifically advises that requests involving independent government agencies should go directly to those agencies. Sending a request to the correct custodian is therefore an important part of the process.

Not every government record associated with Jacksonville belongs to the City of Jacksonville's public records office. Other government agencies serve as separate custodians and receive requests for their own records. Requesters should identify the responsible agency before using the city's online system.

Who Holds Which Records?

The following list is a general guide from Jax Times to identifying the appropriate custodian. It does not mean that every record involving an agency is available without restriction. Requesters should contact the agency responsible for the records they seek.

• City of Jacksonville: Records held by the city go through the COJ Public Records Request Center.
• Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department: The city portal provides a separate "Submit a JFRD Request" option.
• Jacksonville Sheriff's Office: Direct requests for records held by this agency to the Sheriff's Office.
• JEA: Contact JEA directly for records it maintains.
• Duval County Public Schools: Direct requests for district records to the school district.
• Duval County Clerk of Courts: Contact the Clerk of Courts for records held by that office.
• Duval Supervisor of Elections: Direct requests for records maintained by that office to the Supervisor of Elections.

Step 3: Submit Your City of Jacksonville Request

The City of Jacksonville provides an online portal at https://jacksonvillefl.govqa.us for public records requests. The portal includes a "Submit a COJ Request" option for city records and a separate "Submit a JFRD Request" option for Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department records. Those choices help users direct their requests through the appropriate city process.

The site also includes a "My Request Center" area for tracking requests and a feature to search using a reference number. Its frequently asked questions cover subjects including "Costs of Public Records" and "How to File a Request for Public Records." These features give requesters a central location to submit city requests and follow their progress.

Jax Times guidance: Use a specific description when entering your request and identify the dates, names or subjects involved. If you want electronic copies, say so in the request rather than assuming the agency will provide that format. Keep the reference number so you can locate your request again through the portal.

Step 4: Understand What Florida Law Requires

Section 119.07(1)(a), Florida Statutes, requires custodians of public records to permit inspection and copying at reasonable times and under reasonable conditions. The law applies to any person requesting access, not just someone with a particular connection to the records. Inspection and copying take place under the custodian's supervision.

Under section 119.07(1)(c), custodians must acknowledge requests promptly and respond in good faith. That responsibility includes reasonable efforts to determine whether the requested record exists and where it can be accessed. The statute uses the word "promptly" rather than establishing a fixed number of days for every response.

A request may involve information that the agency identifies as exempt from public disclosure. Under section 119.07(1)(d), the custodian must redact only the exempt portion and produce the remainder of the record. Section 119.07(1)(e) also requires the custodian to state the basis for the exemption, including the applicable statutory citation.

These provisions give requesters a way to understand an agency's response when it does not release every part of a requested document. A custodian cannot treat the mere presence of exempt information as a reason to withhold the remaining nonexempt material. The statutory citation also identifies the legal basis the agency relies upon for its decision.

Step 5: Understand the 15-Cent Copy Rule

Florida law establishes copying fees when no other fee is specifically prescribed by law. Section 119.07(4) sets limits for certain paper copies and addresses other duplication costs. It also allows additional charges when fulfilling a request requires extensive technological or staff resources.

Public Records Costs at a Glance

The 15-cent provision is a maximum charge for a qualifying one-sided copy when no different fee is prescribed by law. It does not establish a universal 15-cent price for every kind of public record. Other formats can carry actual duplication costs, and qualifying requests can involve special service charges.

The special service charge applies when a request requires extensive use of information technology resources or extensive clerical or supervisory assistance. Florida law requires that charge to be reasonable and based on the agency's actual cost. Requesters should distinguish that potential charge from the ordinary per-copy limits.

Jax Times guidance: Ask for electronic copies when suitable and request a cost estimate before the agency proceeds with potentially chargeable work. Electronic delivery may help avoid paper-copying expenses, although it does not guarantee that a request will be free. Clarifying the expected charges beforehand helps requesters make informed decisions about their requests.

Step 6: Track the Request and Review the Response

After submitting a city request, use the Public Records Request Center's "My Request Center" feature to follow its progress. The portal also provides a reference-number search, which makes retaining that number useful. Keep the request description available when reviewing the agency's eventual response.

Florida law requires prompt acknowledgment and a good-faith response, but it does not specify one universal response deadline measured in days. Requesters should not assume that every agency or every type of record will follow the same timetable. The legal requirement focuses on prompt handling and reasonable efforts to identify and locate the records.

When records arrive, check whether the response addresses the materials described in the original request. If the custodian identifies exempt information, review the explanation and statutory citation accompanying that determination. If a record contains both exempt and nonexempt information, the law requires production of the nonexempt portion after the exempt material is redacted.

Jax Times guidance: Save the request reference number, the original description and any cost information provided by the agency. These details help keep the request organized and make it easier to identify what information was requested. For additional guidance on the city process, review the portal's public records filing and cost FAQs.

How We Did This

Jax Times prepared this guide using Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, particularly section 119.07 in the 2025 Florida Statutes available through flsenate.gov. We also used information from the City of Jacksonville Public Records Request Center at jacksonvillefl.govqa.us, linked from jacksonville.gov, as checked October 26, 2026. The practical suggestions about describing requests, requesting electronic copies, seeking estimates and keeping reference numbers are Jax Times guidance, and this article is not legal advice.