Arizona law requires all officers and public bodies to maintain records reasonably necessary to provide an accurate accounting of their official activities and of any government funded activities.

Any record in the custody of an Arizona government entity that has a substantial nexus to government activity is considered a public record and is presumed to be subject to disclosure.  Griffis v. Pinal Cnty., 215 Ariz. 1, 4, ¶ 10, 156 P.3d 418, 421 (2007).  Pursuant to A.R.S. section 39-121, the public has a right to inspect (i.e. view in person) public records.  Pursuant to A.R.S. section 39-121.01, the public has a right to obtain copies of public records, subject to reasonable copy fees.

Requests to Ombudsman-Citizens’ Aide Office

Pursuant to A.R.S. section 39-171, entities subject to the public records law must make available on their websites “the name, telephone number, and email address of an employee or department that is authorized and able to provide the information requested or able to forward the request to an employee or department that is authorized and able to provide the information requested.”

Pursuant to this section, please direct all public records requests for Ombudsman-Citizens’ Aide office records* to:

10/15/2025 – The 2025 Open Meeting Law Booklet is now available.

The Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session will begin on January 13, 2026.

• All laws passed during the 2025 legislative session went into effect on September 26, 2025.

Public Records – PUBLICATIONS

• Arizona Ombudsman Public Records Law Booklet
• Arizona Agency Handbook – Chapter 6 (Index of Records Confidential by Statute is Located in Appendix 6.1 and 6.2, p. 16)
• Attorney General Opinions: 1999 to present
• Attorney General Opinions prior to 1999
• Opinion No: I13-012 (R13-018), Re: Charging Copying Fees Under Arizona’s Public Records Law
• Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records – Retention Schedules
• Arizona Ombudsman Public Access Newsletters – The Public Record

Public Records – RESOURCES

• Frequently Asked Questions – General
• Frequently Asked Questions for Journalists
• Best Practices for Custodians of Public Records
• Office of Government Information Services – The Federal FOIA Ombudsman
• Arizona State Library – How and where to find various Arizona records

Public Records – STATUTES

• The Arizona Public Records Law is located in A.R.S. §§ 39-121 through 39-161.
• Statutory requirements for records management are located in A.R.S. §§ 41-151 through 41-151.23.