Records packet · Printable · Binder Tab B
Public Records Request Packet
Print one worksheet per request. Use the trackers as you submit, follow up, pay fees, or appeal a denial. Keep the whole packet behind Tab B.
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What this is for
A start-to-finish paper trail for a public records request: the worksheet, the logs, and the appeal.
Who it's for
Anyone requesting permit files, environmental reports, meeting records, agency correspondence, or easement documents.
When to use it
Print before you draft your first request. Keep the whole packet behind Tab B so every request is logged in one place.
What's inside
A preview of what prints. The printed output is the deliverable; this is just so you know what you'd get.
Cover & Worksheet
- Cover page
- (Blank — duplex pairing)
- Request Worksheet
Trackers
- Submission Log
- Follow-Up Tracker
- Fee Tracker
Appeal
- Appeal Tracker
- If you are denied — 4 steps
The blank page after the cover is intentional — it pairs the worksheet to the right side of a duplex print so the cover faces out when the packet is filed. It is not a render bug.
Letter templates (initial request, status follow-up, fee-waiver, appeal) live in the Public Records Handbook. For agency choice, see the Public Records Center.
Most common uses
If any of these match what you're working on, this is the right printable.
- Requesting a permit file or application
- Asking for environmental or stormwater reports
- Pulling meeting minutes or staff reports
- Getting agency correspondence about a project
- Reviewing easement documents on a property
- Appealing a denial or excessive fee estimate
Before They Build
Public Records Request Packet
A Neighborhood Action Guide
Records packet · one worksheet per request
Vol. I · Edition One · Generated August 3, 2026 · Private to this device · Not legal advice.
© 2026 Before They Build™. All rights reserved. Educational re-use permitted; see beforetheybuild.com/permissions.
Request Worksheet
Fill this out before you draft the letter. One worksheet per records request.
Date drafted
Requester name (optional in most jurisdictions)
Contact email or address
Agency / office name
Agency records officer (if known)
Subject of request (project, address, parcel, or topic)
Specific records sought (be precise — narrow beats broad)
Date range
Preferred format (paper, PDF, email)
Fee ceiling — refuse to pay above this amount without prior notice
Statutory citation invoked (FOIA / state act)
Submission Log
One row per submission. Take a screenshot of any portal confirmation and tape it to the back of this sheet.
| Date sent | Agency / office | Subject | Method (email · portal · mail) | Confirmation # / receipt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Follow-Up Tracker
Public-records response and appeal timing vary by jurisdiction. Check the applicable law or agency instructions and calendar any stated date promptly.
| Date | Who you contacted | Channel (phone · email) | What they said | Next action / deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fee Tracker
Fee waivers exist. Most agencies must justify high estimates. Log every quote, payment, and refund.
| Date | Fee quoted / charged | What it was for | Paid? (Y/N) | Receipt # / notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Appeal Tracker
Public-records response and appeal timing vary by jurisdiction. Check the applicable law or agency instructions and calendar any stated date promptly.
| Denial received | Reason given | Appeal deadline | Appeal filed (date) | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
If you are denied
- Write the reason verbatim — exact statutory citation if given.
- Ask the agency to identify a narrower version that would be releasable.
- If the denial cites cost, request a fee-waiver or a cost itemization.
- If you still disagree, file the appeal before the deadline above.
Before They Build
Civic Handbook · Vol. I · Edition One
Public Records Request Packet · generated August 3, 2026
Prepared by Before They Build Editorial Team · Community Record Series
beforetheybuild.com/reports/public-records-request-packet
Printed August 3, 2026 · Reference ID ------
Private to this device. General information only — not legal advice. Confirm details with your local authority.
© 2026 Before They Build™. Educational use permitted. Not legal advice. Reprint or commercial use: beforetheybuild.com/permissions
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