Ohio's Sunshine Laws give all citizens the right to broad access to government records and meetings. To support this right, the Auditor of State (AOS) offers public records training and processes public records requests.
Each year, the Ohio Attorney General's office publishes the Ohio Sunshine Laws, an Open Government resource manual, providing extensive information on the Ohio Public Records Act and Ohio Open Meetings Act.
The Public Records Act outlines procedures for the public to request records from any public office in Ohio, ensuring transparency and accountability.
The Open Meetings Act mandates that public officials deliberate, discuss, and conduct public business in open meetings, promoting transparency.
AOS offers CPRTs, which cover the requirements of Ohio’s Sunshine Laws and are mandatory trainings for all elected officials. The trainings are also open to private citizens.
Transparency in ActionTo obtain public records via traditional mail, send your request to the Auditor of State Open Government Unit at 65 East State Street, Columbus, OH 43215.
For a convenient and quick way to request public records, you can send an email to OGU@ohioauditor.gov.