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Jurisdiction-first help for public records requests.

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Florida (FL)

Law: Florida Public Records Law (Fla. Stat. § 119.01–119.15)

Notes: The law has a broad definition of public records. Ask to inspect records in person first; copying fees apply later.

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Jurisdiction Facts

Sourced from the jurisdiction registry. Not legal advice.

Best Practice

The law has a broad definition of public records. Ask to inspect records in person first; copying fees apply later.

Statutory Response Deadline

Records must be produced within reasonable time under Fla. Stat. § 119.07(1)(c); no fixed numeric deadline.

Observed Average Response

87 days (MuckRock observed average, not a statutory deadline).

Fee Waivers / Intake

No statutory fee waiver. Extensive fees; 1,100+ exemptions exist.

Appeals

No administrative appeal; may file suit in circuit court. Prevailing parties recover attorney fees.

Direct links to the governing statute, official requester guidance, and central portal for this jurisdiction.

Common Agencies

Broward County Sheriff's Office

Portal: Submit online

Mail: Broward County Sheriff's Office Public Records Unit 2601 W. Broward Boulevard Fort Lauderdale FL 33312

Fees & notes

BSO uses a GovQA portal for public records requests. They are known for high volume and delays, and will provide cost estimates upfront.

Source Reviewed 2026-04-27

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City of Miami City Clerk

Portal: Submit online

Mail: City of Miami City Clerk 3500 Pan American Drive Miami FL 33133

Fees & notes

The City of Miami uses the NextRequest portal for public records requests. The clerk's office is known for being responsive but may experience delays due to high volume.

Source Reviewed 2026-04-27

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Florida Department of Corrections

Portal: Submit online

Mail: Florida Department of Corrections Office of the Secretary 501 South Calhoun Street Tallahassee FL 32399-2500

Fees & notes

FDC uses a JustFOIA portal for all public records requests. They are known for charging for redaction time and may provide aggressive cost estimates.

Source Reviewed 2026-04-27

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Florida Department of Health

Email: [email protected]

Mail: Florida Department of Health 4052 Bald Cypress Way Bin A02 Tallahassee FL 32399

Fees & notes

FDOH does not have a dedicated public portal. Requests are handled via email or mail. They are generally responsive but can be slow for complex medical or licensing requests.

Reviewed 2026-04-27

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Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)

Email: [email protected]

Mail: Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Attn: Office of Open Government – Public Records Section, P.O. Box 1489, Tallahassee, FL 32302-1489

Fees & notes

FDLE does not have a dedicated public portal. They are known for being generally responsive but charge for redaction time, a common practice that can lead to significant fees.

Source Reviewed 2026-04-27

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Florida Department of State

Mail: Florida Department of State, Office of the General Counsel, Attn: Public Records Custodian, 500 South Bronough Street, Suite 100, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250

Fees & notes

Phone: 850-245-6507, Fax: 850-245-6127

Source Reviewed 2026-04-27

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Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

Portal: Submit online

Mail: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Public Records Unit 2008 E. 8th Avenue Tampa FL 33605

Fees & notes

HCSO uses a JustFOIA portal for public records requests. They are known for being responsive but may provide aggressive cost estimates for large or complex requests.

Source Reviewed 2026-04-27

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Jacksonville Sheriff's Office

Portal: Submit online

Mail: Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Attn: Public Records Unit 501 E. Bay Street Jacksonville FL 32202

Fees & notes

JSO uses a GovQA portal for public records requests. They are known for being responsive but may provide aggressive cost estimates for large or complex requests.

Source Reviewed 2026-04-27

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Miami-Dade County Public Schools

Portal: Submit online

Mail: Miami-Dade County Public Schools Public Records Office 1450 NE 2nd Avenue Miami FL 33132

Fees & notes

M-DCPS uses a GovQA portal for public records requests. The district is known for significant backlogs and may take months to fulfill complex requests.

Source Reviewed 2026-04-27

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Orange County Sheriff's Office

Portal: Submit online

Mail: Orange County Sheriff's Office Public Records Unit 2500 W. Colonial Drive Orlando FL 32804

Fees & notes

OCSO uses a GovQA portal for public records requests. They are known for high volume and delays, and will provide cost estimates upfront.

Source Reviewed 2026-04-27

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