FAQs

  1. How do I know what records a department holds? Pursuant to the Ohio Revised Code 149.38, Greene County has an established Records Commission that is responsible for providing the rules for retention and disposal of all county records. The Greene County Records Commission meets twice a year and all meetings are open to the public. Minutes from past Records Commission meetings are available through our ArchiveCenter. The most up-to-date retention schedules have been approved by the Records Commission, the Ohio History Connection, and the State Auditor. When submitting your request, please review the department's retention schedule to ensure that they hold the record(s) that you are requesting.
  2. What is Greene County's Public Records Policy? It is the policy of Greene County that records will be organized and maintained so that they are readily available for inspection and copying. Records retention schedules are to be updated as necessary and also made available to the public upon request. The full public records policy can be found here.
  3. Who can make a request for public records? Any person can request public records by simply asking for them. The requester cannot be required to identify themselves or explain why the records are being requested unless a specific law requires it. Often, however, a voluntary discussion about the requester's purposes or interest in seeking certain information can aid the public office in locating and producing the desired records. ORC 149.43 (B)(5).
  4. Does my request have to be in writing? No, Greene County Request for Public Records forms can be submitted via the website, email, mail, fax, or dropped off in-person to the appropriate office and/or department:
  5. Are there any fees or charges associated with making a public records request? Those seeking public records will be charged only the actual cost of making copies. The charge for copies is established by Board Resolution or as otherwise mandated by law. There is no charge for documents e-mailed. Requesters may ask that documents be mailed to them. They will be charged the actual cost of postage and mailing supplies, in addition to the copying charges.
  6. How fast can I expect records to be processed? Public records are to be available for inspection during regular business hours, with the exception of published holidays. Public records must be made available for inspection promptly. Copies of public records must be made available within a reasonable period of time. “Prompt” and “reasonable” take into account the volume of records requested; the proximity of the location where the records are stored; and the necessity for any legal review and redaction of the records requested. In processing the request, the County does not have an obligation to create new records or perform new analysis of existing information. 
  7. Does FOIA apply to Greene County? The Federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a federal law that does not apply to state or local agencies or officers. A request for government records from a state or local agency in Ohio is governed only by the Public Records Act.
  8. Where can I find more details about the Public Records Act? For more information about the Public Records Act, the Sunshine Laws Manual [ohioattorneygeneral.gov] is a great resource for finding answers to common and complex questions.