How do I get 911 call recordings in Florida?

Contact the agency that took the call. Give the date, time, and place, and ask for the audio recording. You do not need a form, and you do not need to say why.

Can I find out who called 911?

Usually not. Section 365.171(12)(a) keeps secret the facts that could identify the person who called.

Is there a fee to get a 911 call?

The agency may charge what it costs to copy the file. A large request that takes a lot of staff time can add a special service charge.

Can the police withhold a 911 call?

They can hold back the parts that are active case work while the case is open. They must still give you the rest of the call.

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Are 911 Calls Public Records in Florida? How to Get 911 Call Recordings

Written by Adam Bair.Published May 18, 2026Updated October 20, 2026

TL;DR: Yes, in Florida 911 calls are public records, and you can get a copy of the recording. The law hides the name, address, and phone number of the person who called. Here is how to get 911 call recordings, and what to expect.

Anyone can ask for a 911 call. You do not have to be the person who called, or say why you want it. This guide covers the steps, the cost, and the parts the law keeps closed.

Are 911 calls public record in Florida?

Yes. A 911 call tape counts as a public record. The center must hand it over once it takes out the parts the law protects (AGO 93-60).

An AGO is a written opinion from the Florida Attorney General. Another says calls a police department records as part of its normal work are public records too (AGO 12-07).

Some states call this an open records request or a FOIA request.

In Florida, you make a public records request under Chapter 119, Florida Statutes. The federal Freedom of Information Act does not apply to a Florida agency. See Florida public records law is not FOIA.

What does the law keep secret in a 911 call?

The main shield is section 365.171(12)(a), Florida Statutes. It keeps secret the facts in a 911 record that could identify the person who called. That means the caller's name, address, phone number, and other personal identifying information.

The shield covers the person who called for help or reported an emergency. It applies while the record sits with the agency that gives emergency services (AGO 93-60).

The shield is narrow. The sound of a caller's voice is not, by itself, protected (AGO 15-01). Facts that police learn on their own, such as in a later crime report, are not covered either (AGO 11-27).

Other parts that may be cut

Facts that could name the victim of a sex crime or of child abuse. Section 119.071(2)(h) keeps those secret.
Active criminal investigative information. That means case work police still use to solve a crime (AGO 95-48).
A recording of a suicide, or of the killing of a child or an officer on duty. The same goes for the killing of a mass violence victim. Section 119.071(2)(p) closes those, with few exceptions.
Medical notes. Records of an emergency call that hold a patient's exam or care notes are confidential under section 401.30(4).

The agency may cut out only the closed part. It must give you the rest of the record under section 119.07(1)(d). If it holds back any part, it must name the law it relies on, under section 119.07(1)(e).

How to get 911 call recordings in Florida

Start with who has the call. A city police dispatch center, the sheriff, or a county emergency dispatch center may hold it.

In many counties, one 911 board runs the system and keeps the calls. Ask the agency that sent help which office keeps the recording.

Find the appropriate agency: the one that took the call.
Give the date and time of the call, as close as you can.
Give the place, and the case number if you have one.
Ask for the audio recording of the call. Also ask for the dispatch log and any transcript that already exists.
Say how you want the copy, such as an audio file.

You do not need a form, and the law does not make you put it in writing. Dade Aviation Consultants v. Knight Ridder, Inc., 800 So. 2d 302 (Fla. 3d DCA 2001). Even so, you may want to submit a written request, since it shows the date you asked.

You also do not have to say why you want the call. Your reason does not change your right to see it. Curry v. State, 811 So. 2d 736 (Fla. 4th DCA 2002).

Can I get the dispatch log too?

Yes, in most cases. The Attorney General has said that logs showing where officers went on emergency calls are not generally exempt (AGO 08-23). The same closed parts may be cut from the log.

The dispatch log, often called a CAD log, shows times, the units sent, and dispatcher notes. It can tell you almost as much as the audio.

Can I get the 911 call recording as an audio file?

Yes, if the agency keeps it that way. Section 119.01(2)(f) says you get a copy in the form you ask for. That holds when the agency keeps the record in that form.

A typed copy does not take the place of the file you asked for (AGO 91-61). Most 911 centers store calls as MP3 or WAV files. Ask for the audio file in the format the center uses.

How long does it take to get a 911 call?

Florida law sets no fixed number of days. The agency must respond to your request promptly and in good faith, under section 119.07(1)(c).

It may take a short, fair time to find the call and black out the closed parts. It may not make you wait as a set rule. Tribune Co. v. Cannella, 458 So. 2d 1075 (Fla. 1984).

A delay with no good reason can count as a refusal under the law. Lilker v. Suwannee Valley Transit Authority, 133 So. 3d 654 (Fla. 1st DCA 2014).

If police still work an open case, they may hold back case parts until the case ends. See records of an active criminal investigation.

How much does a 911 call recording cost?

For a copy that is not a paper page, the charge is the actual cost of duplication. Section 119.07(4)(a)3. sets that cap.

That cost means the supplies used to make the copy. It does not include staff time, under section 119.011(1).

A big job can add a special service charge under section 119.07(4)(d). That applies only when the work takes a lot of staff time or tech resources.

An agency usually may not charge for the time it takes to check a record for closed parts (AGO 84-81). A large batch of calls with many cuts can change that. See what a Florida agency can charge.

What if the agency will not give you the 911 call?

Ask the agency to put its reasons in writing. Section 119.07(1)(f) says it must do so, with detail, when you ask.

Then check the law it names. The 911 shield covers who called, not every word said on the call.

If the agency says no, see what to do after a denial. If it does not answer at all, see what to do when an agency ignores your request.

Frequently asked questions

Are 911 calls public record in Florida?: Yes. A 911 call tape counts as a public record. The center must give it out once it takes out the parts the law keeps secret.
How do I get 911 call recordings in Florida?: Contact the agency that took the call. Give the date, time, and place, and ask for the audio recording. You do not need a form, and you do not need to say why.
Can I find out who called 911?: Usually not. Section 365.171(12)(a) keeps secret the facts that could identify the person who called.
Is there a fee to get a 911 call?: The agency may charge what it costs to copy the file. A large request that takes a lot of staff time can add a special service charge.
Can the police withhold a 911 call?: They can hold back the parts that are active case work while the case is open. They must still give you the rest of the call.

Not legal advice. Educational and informational content only. Reading this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. For advice on a specific matter, consult a licensed Florida attorney.