Open Records

Read Our Policy

Open Records Policy(PDF, 336KB)

Getting Started

The Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (RTKL) allows the public to inspect and/or obtain copies of Allegheny County's public records.

Right-to-Know Open Access

If you are requesting documents or records from the following departments, please follow the appropriate link.

All other requests will go through the Allegheny County Office of Open Records.

Allegheny County Office of Open Records

If the records you are seeking are not listed above or are not available for immediate access, you may submit a request to the Allegheny County Office of Open Records.

Submit A RTK Request Online

Or submit a RTK request by mail, fax, email or in-person using the Standard Right-to-Know Request Form:

Open Records Officer
Jessica Garofolo
436 Grant Street, Room 202
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone: 412-350-6109
Fax: 412-350-4925

About Our Process

Upon submitting a request, you will receive one of the following responses within five business days of the receipt of request:

  • Notice on how and when you may inspect or obtain copies of the requested records;
  • Notice that additional time will be needed for legal review of your request, or for the gathering/duplicating of the requested records, or staffing limitations;
  • Notice that some or all of the requested records are not subject to production under the Right-to-Know Law.

If you disagree with a determination from the Allegheny County Open Records Office, you may file an appeal with the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records. Guidelines and forms for appeals may be found at Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Open Records Office. Decisions of the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records may be appealed in court.

Fees

A fee will be charged for all paper copies requested. Copies will not be provided until you have paid the applicable fees. In a few instances, fees are determined by a statute other than the Right-to-Know Law.

In most instances, the county's fees are as follows:

  • Photocopies of standard-sized records (8 ½ x 11 or 8 ½ x 14):
    • For one-sided copies, 25 cents per page
    • For two-sided copies, 25 cents per side
  • Certification of a record: $1 per record
  • Redaction: The county does not charge for time spent redacting, or blacking out, nonpublic information in a public document, but the county will charge for making all copies needed to produce redacted material for viewing by the requester.
  • Blueprints, maps and other specialized documents: the county's cost of reproduction
  • Postage fees: the county's cost of mailing
  • Electronic data: Rates are set by the county with approval of the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Open Records Office

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Open Records Office