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Pennsylvania (PA)

Law: Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (65 Pa. Stat. Ann. §§ 66.1–66.9)

Notes: Submit written requests to the agency’s open-records officer. Most denials can be appealed to the state Office of Open Records.

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Jurisdiction Facts

Sourced from the jurisdiction registry. Not legal advice.

Best Practice

Submit written requests to the agency’s open-records officer. Most denials can be appealed to the state Office of Open Records.

Statutory Response Deadline

5 business days under 65 P.S. § 67.901, extendable by up to 30 days.

Observed Average Response

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

Fee Waivers / Intake

Fee waivers available for public interest requests.

Appeals

Appeal to the Office of Open Records (OOR) within 15 days. OOR issues binding decisions. Further appeal to Commonwealth Court.

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

Common Agencies

Allegheny County

Email: [email protected]

Mail: Jessica Garofolo, Open Records Officer, County Office Building, 542 Forbes Avenue, Room 101 - Mezzanine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Fees & notes

Photocopies are $0.25 per side. Record certification is $1.00. Postage and specialized reproduction costs are additional.

Source Reviewed 2026-04-27

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Allegheny County Sheriff

Email: [email protected]

Mail: Allegheny County Sheriff's Office 436 Grant Street Pittsburgh PA 15219

Fees & notes

The Allegheny County Sheriff's Office does not have a dedicated public RTKL portal. Requests may be submitted via email or mail. The office is generally responsive but may provide aggressive cost estimates.

Reviewed 2026-04-27

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PA State Police

Email: [email protected]

Mail: Pennsylvania State Police Right-to-Know Law Office 1800 Elmerton Avenue Harrisburg PA 17110

Fees & notes

PA State Police does not have a dedicated public RTKL portal. The agency is known for requiring the use of specific PSP or OOR forms and has a reputation for delays. Fee waivers are rarely granted.

Reviewed 2026-04-27

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Pennsylvania State Police

Email: [email protected]

Mail: PSP Bureau of Records & Identification, ATTN: Agency Open Records Officer, Mr. William Rozier, 1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110

Fees & notes

Standard duplication fee is $0.25 per page (waived if under $5). Crash reports are not available via RTKL; must be requested separately.

Source Reviewed 2026-04-27

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Philadelphia District Attorney

Email: [email protected]

Mail: Philadelphia District Attorney's Office 3 South Penn Square Philadelphia PA 19107-3499

Fees & notes

The Philadelphia DA's Office does not have a dedicated public RTKL portal. The office has been known to deny fee waivers and is subject to the same 5-day response requirement as other agencies.

Reviewed 2026-04-27

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Philadelphia Police Department

Email: [email protected]

Mail: Philadelphia Police Department Open Records/Right to Know Section Philadelphia Public Services Building 400 N. Broad St. Philadelphia PA 19130

Fees & notes

The Philadelphia PD does not have a dedicated public RTKL portal. Act 22 requests for police recordings must be made within 60 days of the recording. The department is known for delays and may require appeals to the OOR.

Reviewed 2026-04-27

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Pittsburgh Public Schools

Email: [email protected]

Mail: School District of Pittsburgh Open Records Officer 341 S Bellefield Ave Pittsburgh PA 15213

Fees & notes

Pittsburgh Public Schools does not have a dedicated public RTKL portal. Requests must be made in writing using the district's RTKL request form. The district is generally responsive but may experience delays due to volume.

Reviewed 2026-04-27

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