Charging for Copies

The Office of Open Records Counsel, created in 2008, was charged with developing a schedule of reasonable charges which may be used as a guideline in establishing charges or fees, if any, to charge a citizen requesting copies of public records.  On October 1, 2008, the Office of Open Records Counsel issued its Schedule of Reasonable Charges for Copies of Public Records.  Records custodians are authorized by T.C.A. § 10-7-503(a)(7)(C)(i) to charge reasonable costs consistent with the schedule.  The schedule, together with instructions for records custodians, can be found on the website of the Office of Open Records Counsel.  Charges established under separate legal authority are not governed by the schedule, and are not to be added to or combined with charges authorized under the schedule.  Questions regarding the schedule should be directed to the Office of Open Records Counsel.