Florida Statute 119.07
“Inspection and copying of records; photographing public records; fees; exemptions”
ch. 2026-120 (effective June 10, 2026). Section 7 of ch. 2026-120 (Senate Bill 7024, an act relating to a review under the Open Government Sunset Review Act) amended paragraph (1)(g), the in camera review rule, and removed the reference to s. 119.071(1)(f). The act took effect on becoming law; the Governor approved it June 10, 2026.
What it means
Every person who has custody of a public record shall permit the record to be inspected and copied by any person desiring to do so, at any reasonable time, under reasonable conditions, and under the custodian's supervision ((1)(a)). Requests must be acknowledged promptly and answered in good faith ((1)(c)).
A custodian asserting an exemption must redact the exempt portion and produce the remainder ((1)(d)), state the basis of the exemption, including the statutory citation ((1)(e)), and, if asked, state in writing and with particularity the reasons ((1)(f)). Even if a record is claimed not to be public, it may not be disposed of for 30 days after a written request ((1)(h)). After a request, an agency may not file an action for declaratory relief against the requester to decide whether the record is public or exempt ((9)).
If no fee is prescribed by law, the statute authorizes up to 15 cents per one-sided copy up to 14 by 8½ inches, no more than 5 cents additional for a two-sided copy, the actual cost of duplication for other copies, and up to $1 for a certified copy ((4)(a), (c)). A special service charge may apply when a request requires extensive use of information technology resources or clerical or supervisory assistance ((4)(d)).
- Any person may inspect and copy public records at any reasonable time, under reasonable conditions and the custodian's supervision (§ 119.07(1)(a)).
- Exempt portions are redacted and the remainder produced (§ 119.07(1)(d)).
- A custodian claiming an exemption states its basis, including the statutory citation, and on request the reasons in writing with particularity (§ 119.07(1)(e)-(f)).
- A record claimed not to be public may not be disposed of for 30 days after a written request (§ 119.07(1)(h)).
- Default fees when none is prescribed by law: up to 15 cents per one-sided copy, up to 5 cents more for two-sided, up to $1 per certified copy (§ 119.07(4)(a), (c)).
- An agency may not answer a request by suing the requester for declaratory relief on whether the record is public (§ 119.07(9)).
Text of the statute (2026)
(1)(a) Every person who has custody of a public record shall permit the record to be inspected and copied by any person desiring to do so, at any reasonable time, under reasonable conditions, and under supervision by the custodian of the public records.
(d) A person who has custody of a public record who asserts that an exemption applies to a part of such record shall redact that portion of the record to which an exemption has been asserted and validly applies, and such person shall produce the remainder of such record for inspection and copying. (e) If the person who has custody of a public record contends that all or part of the record is exempt from inspection and copying, he or she shall state the basis of the exemption that he or she contends is applicable to the record, including the statutory citation to an exemption created or afforded by statute. (f) If requested by the person seeking to inspect or copy the record, the custodian of public records shall state in writing and with particularity the reasons for the conclusion that the record is exempt or confidential.
(g) In any civil action in which an exemption to this section is asserted, if the exemption is alleged to exist under or by virtue of s. 119.071(1)(d), (2)(d), (e), or (f), or (4)(c), or s. 119.0725(2)(h), the public record or part thereof in question shall be submitted to the court for an inspection in camera. If an exemption is alleged to exist under or by virtue of s. 119.071(2)(c), an inspection in camera is discretionary with the court. If the court finds that the asserted exemption is not applicable, it shall order the public record or part thereof in question to be immediately produced for inspection or copying as requested by the person seeking such access.
(h) Even if an assertion is made by the custodian of public records that a requested record is not a public record subject to public inspection or copying under this subsection, the requested record shall, nevertheless, not be disposed of for a period of 30 days after the date on which a written request to inspect or copy the record was served on or otherwise made to the custodian of public records by the person seeking access to the record. If a civil action is instituted within the 30-day period to enforce the provisions of this section with respect to the requested record, the custodian of public records may not dispose of the record except by order of a court of competent jurisdiction after notice to all affected parties.
(4) The custodian of public records shall furnish a copy or a certified copy of the record upon payment of the fee prescribed by law. If a fee is not prescribed by law, the following fees are authorized: (a)1. Up to 15 cents per one-sided copy for duplicated copies of not more than 14 inches by 81/2 inches; 2. No more than an additional 5 cents for each two-sided copy; and 3. For all other copies, the actual cost of duplication of the public record. [(b) omitted] (c) An agency may charge up to $1 per copy for a certified copy of a public record.
(9) After receiving a request to inspect or copy a record, an agency may not respond to that request by filing an action for declaratory relief against the requester to determine whether the record is a public record as defined by s. 119.011, or the status of the record as confidential or exempt from the provisions of subsection (1).
Excerpts are the subsections the summary relies on. Read the full official text of § 119.07.
History. s. 7, ch. 67-125; s. 4, ch. 75-225; s. 2, ch. 77-60; s. 2, ch. 77-75; s. 2, ch. 77-94; s. 2, ch. 77-156; s. 2, ch. 78-81; ss. 2, 4, 6, ch. 79-187; s. 2, ch. 80-273; s. 1, ch. 81-245; s. 1, ch. 82-95; s. 36, ch. 82-243; s. 6, ch. 83-215; s. 2, ch. 83-269; s. 1, ch. 83-286; s. 5, ch. 84-298; s. 1, ch. 85-18; s. 1, ch. 85-45; s. 1, ch. 85-73; s. 1, ch. 85-86; s. 7, ch. 85-152; s. 1, ch. 85-177; s. 4, ch. 85-301; s. 2, ch. 86-11; s. 1, ch. 86-21; s. 1, ch. 86-109; s. 2, ch. 87-399; s. 2, ch. 88-188; s. 1, ch. 88-384; s. 1, ch. 89-29; s. 7, ch. 89-55; s. 1, ch. 89-80; s. 1, ch. 89-275; s. 2, ch. 89-283; s. 2, ch. 89-350; s. 1, ch. 89-531; s. 1, ch. 90-43; s. 63, ch. 90-136; s. 2, ch. 90-196; s. 4, ch. 90-211; s. 24, ch. 90-306; ss. 22, 26, ch. 90-344; s. 116, ch. 90-360; s. 78, ch. 91-45; s. 11, ch. 91-57; s. 1, ch. 91-71; s. 1, ch. 91-96; s. 1, ch. 91-130; s. 1, ch. 91-149; s. 1, ch. 91-219; s. 1, ch. 91-288; ss. 43, 45, ch. 92-58; s. 90, ch. 92-152; s. 59, ch. 92-289; s. 217, ch. 92-303; s. 1, ch. 93-87; s. 2, ch. 93-232; s. 3, ch. 93-404; s. 4, ch. 93-405; s. 4, ch. 94-73; s. 1, ch. 94-128; s. 3, ch. 94-130; s. 67, ch. 94-164; s. 1, ch. 94-176; s. 1419, ch. 95-147; ss. 1, 3, ch. 95-170; s. 4, ch. 95-207; s. 1, ch. 95-320; ss. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, ch. 95-398; s. 1, ch. 95-399; s. 121, ch. 95-418; s. 3, ch. 96-178; s. 1, ch. 96-230; s. 5, ch. 96-268; s. 4, ch. 96-290; s. 41, ch. 96-406; s. 18, ch. 96-410; s. 1, ch. 97-185; s. 1, ch. 98-9; s. 7, ch. 98-137; s. 1, ch. 98-255; s. 1, ch. 98-259; s. 128, ch. 98-403; s. 2, ch. 99-201; s. 27, ch. 2000-164; s. 54, ch. 2000-349; s. 1, ch. 2001-87; s. 1, ch. 2001-108; s. 1, ch. 2001-249; s. 29, ch. 2001-261; s. 33, ch. 2001-266; s. 1, ch. 2001-364; s. 1, ch. 2002-67; ss. 1, 3, ch. 2002-257; s. 2, ch. 2002-391; s. 11, ch. 2003-1; s. 1, ch. 2003-100; ss. 1, 2, ch. 2003-110; s. 1, ch. 2003-137; ss. 1, 2, ch. 2003-157; ss. 1, 2, ch. 2004-9; ss. 1, 2, ch. 2004-32; ss. 1, 2, ch. 2004-62; ss. 1, 3, ch. 2004-95; s. 7, ch. 2004-335; ss. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, ch. 2005-251; s. 74, ch. 2005-277; s. 1, ch. 2007-39; ss. 2, 4, ch. 2007-251; s. 1, ch. 2021-173; s. 7, ch. 2026-120.
How it applies
Section 119.07 sets the access procedure; exemptions come from other statutes. Two that apply to estates: under § 733.604(1)(b), an inventory or accounting filed with the clerk in an estate proceeding is confidential and exempt from § 119.07(1) and is disclosed to the personal representative, the personal representative's attorney, an interested person as defined in § 731.201, or by court order on good cause. Under § 406.135(2)(a), a photograph or video or audio recording of an autopsy is confidential and exempt, with access for a surviving spouse, then parents, then an adult child.
Where this shows up
Pages on this site where § 119.07 does real work:
Questions people ask
Sources
- Fla. Stat. § 119.07 (“shall permit the record to be inspected and copied by any person desiring to do so.”)
- Fla. Stat. § 733.604 (Estate inventories and accountings filed with the clerk are confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1).)
- Fla. Stat. § 406.135 (Autopsy photographs and recordings are confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1), with access for a surviving spouse, parents or an adult child.)
- Ch. 2026-120, Laws of Florida, s. 7 (Section 7 amends paragraph (1)(g) of s. 119.07; section 16 provides that the act takes effect upon becoming a law; approved by the Governor June 10, 2026.)
Last checked: October 17, 2026
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