Utah Public Records Law

The Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA) is Utah's public records law. GRAMA is a series of laws formulated to grant the public the right to access records maintained by state and local government agencies, including documents, emails, and other materials related to state and local government operations. Enacted in 1991, GRAMA ensures transparency in the conduct of public business while also recognizing the right of privacy about personal records gathered by Utah governmental entities.

Birth Records
Court Records
Criminal Records
Death Records
Divorce Records
Inmate Records
Marriage Records
Traffic Violation Records

Where Do I Submit a Public Record Request in Utah?

Per Utah Code § 63G-2-204(2)(d), government entities in the state may designate to whom and where public record requests may be directed. Consequently, public agencies in the state typically have a records officer charged with receiving and responding to public record requests. Therefore, you may submit your public record request to the designated records officer of the agency maintaining the record you need.

How Do I Request Public Records in Utah?

Third-party websites allow the public to find public records from the comfort of their homes. Hence, you may visit a reputable third-party public record website to search. However, if you want to go through an official government source, you may use the centralized Open Records Portal which allows the public to submit GRAMA requests to any state or government entity. If you are unsure which agency maintains the record you seek, you may use the Utah Government Records Ombudsman service to locate the entity.

Alternatively, you may contact the records officer of the agency holding the sought record to submit a GRAMA request directly to them.

What Records are Public in Utah?

Since GRAMA laws in Utah state that the provisions of the Act apply to all governmental entities, the scope of the laws covers all records of local and state government agencies. However, GRAMA provides for certain exemptions where its provisions or other statutes restrict access to some record types.

Commonly requested Utah public records include the following:

  • Vital Records: Although some of these records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce) are restricted for a time, basic information in these records is usually publicly available.
  • Property Records: These include deeds and titles, property tax records, and mortgage and lien records.
  • Court Records: These include district court records, justice court records, court of appeals records, and supreme court records.
  • Law Enforcement Records: Examples are incident reports, arrest records, police reports, traffic accident reports, and inmate records.
  • Government Financial Records: Audit reports, public contracts and bids, and state and local government budget and expenditure reports.

Who Can Request Public Records in Utah?

According to Utah Code § 63G-2-201(1), every person has a right to inspect and copy public records during normal working hours. Therefore, any individual, company, firm, organization, or partnership may submit a public record request to the appropriate records officer.

What Is the Response Time for Public Records Requests in Utah?

Following Utah Code § 63G-2-204(3)(a), a government entity is required to respond to written requests for public records no longer than 10 business days after the receipt of the request. However, requests that qualify for expedited treatment must be responded to within five business days.

What Is the Fee Charged for Providing Copies of Public Records?

Per Utah Code § 63G-2-203(1), a Utah government agency may charge a reasonable fee covering the actual cost of providing a requested public record. Also, a government agency may charge for specific costs incurred in compiling a requested record in a form other than that maintained by the entity. Hence, a government entity may impose fees for the cost of staff time to search and retrieve a record.

Typically, copy fees range between $0.10 and $0.25 per page for standard paper copies.

What Records Are Exempted Under the Utah Public Law?

The Utah GRAMA provides public access to government records, but certain records are exempt from disclosure to protect privacy, security, and other public interests. Common exemptions and types of documents not open to the public in Utah include:

  • Personal data, such as medical records, Social Security numbers, and private financial information.
  • Trade secrets and proprietary business information.
  • Records that could result in unfair competition or financial instability if disclosed.
  • Records that could interfere with investigations, reveal confidential informants or endanger individuals.
  • Confidential legal advice and communication between government entities and their attorneys.
  • Records involving minors, such as juvenile court proceedings or delinquency cases.
  • Sealed court records
  • Security plans, emergency response procedures, and internal deliberative processes that, if disclosed, could compromise public safety or government operations.