Open records requests in Florida

How the Florida Sunshine Law works

Florida's Public Records Law (Chapter 119, Florida Statutes), known as the Sunshine Law, is one of the broadest and most actively litigated open records statutes in the country. Florida's constitution independently guarantees a right of access to public records, and the statutory law reinforces this with a strong presumption of openness. Any person may request records, and an oral request is legally sufficient, no writing is required, though it is advisable.

Florida does not impose a specific number of days for response but requires a "reasonable time," which courts have interpreted contextually. Fees may be charged only for actual duplication costs and, for extensive requests, staff time. Florida's enforcement mechanism is notably powerful: a requester who prevails in court is entitled to mandatory attorney's fees. The state has hundreds of statutory exemptions, making it simultaneously one of the most open and most complex public records systems in the country.