Is it free to look at Florida public records?

Yes, in most cases. Florida law treats inspection of public records as free unless a statute expressly authorizes a charge. The one common exception is the special service charge under Section 119.07(4)(d), F.S., which an agency can use only when extensive labor or information-technology use is required.

Do I have to pay for copies of Florida public records?

Yes, but the fees are capped. Letter-sized paper copies are limited to 15 cents per one-sided page and an extra 5 cents for two-sided. Certified copies are capped at $1. Other formats are limited to the actual material cost.

Can I inspect the records first and then pay for copies of only some?

Yes. You can ask to inspect at the agency's office, identify the specific pages you need, and pay the statutory fee for only those copies.

What is a certified copy and do I need one?

A certified copy carries the custodian's seal or signature attesting that it is a true copy. You usually need one only if a court or another agency requires it. For ordinary use, an uncertified copy is enough.

Can a Florida agency charge me a fee just to look at a record?

Generally no. The agency can add a reasonable special service charge under Section 119.07(4)(d), F.S., when extensive labor or information-technology use is required, but inspection is free as a default.

Can an agency charge me for an email of a public record?

The agency can charge the actual cost of duplication, which is the material and supply cost. AGO 13-03 noted that an emailed record has no paper or toner cost, so a labor or overhead charge tied to the email itself does not fit the statutory definition.

Home / Fees and timing

Florida Public Records: Inspection vs. Copying

Written by Adam Bair.Published June 29, 2026Updated June 29, 2026

TL;DR: Florida public records law gives you two rights. You can inspect records in person, and you can ask for copies. Inspection is generally free unless the agency proves the search takes extensive staff time. Copies cost up to 15 cents a page for normal letter-sized prints, up to $1 for a certified copy, or the actual material cost for other formats. If you only need to see a record, ask to inspect. Save the copy fee for what you really need to take home.

What does Florida law actually give me: a right to look or a right to copies?

Both. Florida Constitution Article I, Section 24 guarantees public access to government records. Section 119.01(1), Florida Statutes, states that “all state, county, and municipal records are open for personal inspection and copying by any person.” Section 119.07(1)(a), Florida Statutes, backs that up: “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.”

These are two separate rights, side by side. You can choose to inspect, to copy, or both. Understanding the difference matters because the fee rules are not the same for each.

Is inspecting public records in Florida free?

Generally, yes. Inspection of public records must be open without charge unless a statute expressly authorizes a fee. AGO 85-03. The Public Records Act is designed to provide citizens with a simple and expeditious method of accessing public records. Orange County v. Hewlings, 152 So. 3d 812, 817 (Fla. 5th DCA 2014). That design choice runs against charging people just to look at what the government holds.

The custodian must permit inspection “at any reasonable time, under reasonable conditions, and under supervision.” Section 119.07(1)(a), F.S. “Reasonable conditions” protect the records; they do not give the agency a tool to block access. Wait v. Florida Power & Light Company, 372 So. 2d 420, 425 (Fla. 1979). An agency cannot force a requester to come in, mark up records, wait for a written estimate, and then come back. Orange County v. Hewlings, 152 So. 3d 812 (Fla. 5th DCA 2014).

When inspection might cost money (the narrow exception)

Section 119.07(4)(d), Florida Statutes, lets an agency add a reasonable special service charge based on actual labor cost when the nature or volume of records to be inspected or copied requires extensive use of information technology resources, or extensive clerical or supervisory assistance, or both. The Second District held this charge can apply to inspection requests, not just copy requests, when extensive assistance is required. Board of County Commissioners of Highlands County v. Colby, 976 So. 2d 31 (Fla. 2d DCA 2008).

This is the exception, not the default. The article on the special service charge covers when the charge is and is not justified. If an agency quotes you an inspection fee that is not labeled a special service charge, ask for the statutory authority.

How much can a Florida agency charge to copy records?

The fees are capped by statute. An agency cannot charge more than the statutory ceiling.

Letter-sized paper copies

For paper copies that are 14 inches by 8.5 inches or less (standard letter and legal size), the fee cap is:

Up to 15 cents per one-sided copy. Section 119.07(4)(a)1., F.S.
An additional 5 cents per two-sided copy (so up to 20 cents for a double-sided page). Section 119.07(4)(a)2., F.S.

These are maximums. An agency may charge less but not more.

Certified copies

A certified copy carries the custodian's seal or signature attesting that it is a true copy of the original. Section 119.07(4)(c), Florida Statutes, caps the fee at $1 per certified copy. You pay this in addition to the per-page duplication fee for the underlying copy. Most people do not need a certified copy for personal research. A certified copy is required only when a court, a government agency, or another institution specifically asks for one.

Other formats (large maps, electronic files, video)

For copies not covered by the per-page cap, the charge is limited to the “actual cost of duplication.” Section 119.07(4)(a)3., F.S. Section 119.011(1), Florida Statutes, defines actual cost of duplication as the cost of the material and supplies used to make the copy. Labor and overhead are not included. An agency cannot add staff time to the bill just because it took a technician an hour to burn a DVD.

The one carve-out: county maps and aerial photographs. For those, an agency can include the cost of labor and overhead. Section 119.07(4)(b), F.S. This exception does not extend to other record types.

When an agency emails a record rather than printing it, the Attorney General has advised that the agency did not identify any actual material cost involved in forwarding electronic records by email, so a labor or overhead charge for email delivery does not fit within the actual cost of duplication definition. AGO 13-03. If an agency quotes a per-email fee for sending you a digital record, ask for the statutory authority.

Why does the difference matter to me?

The right to inspect carries the right to make copies. Fuller v. State ex rel. O'Donnell, 17 So. 2d 607 (Fla. 1944). A requester can inspect a large file at the agency, identify the few pages they actually need, and ask for paid copies of only those pages. The agency cannot pre-bill you for copies of everything in a file just because you asked to see it.

On a large request, the difference is real money. If an agency has 500 pages that might be responsive, coming in to inspect and narrowing to 30 pages before paying costs you $4.50 instead of $75. For records you only need to read and photograph with your phone, the copy fee may be zero.

For a full picture of what the agency can actually charge for copies, see the dedicated fees article.

How do I ask to inspect records instead of paying for copies?

Say so up front in your request. The inspection right is yours by default; you just have to invoke it. A clear script:

I would like to inspect the following records at your office. After inspection, I will identify which specific pages I would like copies of, and I will pay the statutory fee under Section 119.07(4) for those copies.

This script keeps the agency from pre-billing a copy fee that the requester may not need to pay. The agency must make the records available for inspection at a reasonable time. If the agency tries to require you to order copies before you can see the records, that is not a “reasonable condition” within the meaning of Section 119.07(1)(a), F.S.

What if the agency tries to charge me a fee just to look?

Ask for the statutory authority for the charge. If the agency cannot point to a statute that expressly authorizes a fee for inspection, the default is that inspection is free. Section 119.01(1), F.S., and Section 119.07(4), F.S., are the governing provisions. If the agency claims the charge is a special service charge under Section 119.07(4)(d), that opens a separate question: whether the nature or volume of your request actually required extensive labor or information-technology use. That fight is covered in detail in the article on the special service charge trap and on how to push back on an inflated estimate.

The rule of thumb: inspect when you can. Copy when you must. Ask for copies of only the pages you actually need. If a fee seems off, ask for the statute that authorizes it.

Frequently asked questions

Is it free to look at Florida public records?: Yes, in most cases. Florida law treats inspection of public records as free unless a statute expressly authorizes a charge. The one common exception is the special service charge under Section 119.07(4)(d), F.S., which an agency can use only when extensive labor or information-technology use is required.
Do I have to pay for copies of Florida public records?: Yes, but the fees are capped. Letter-sized paper copies are limited to 15 cents per one-sided page and an extra 5 cents for two-sided. Certified copies are capped at $1. Other formats are limited to the actual material cost.
Can I inspect the records first and then pay for copies of only some?: Yes. You can ask to inspect at the agency's office, identify the specific pages you need, and pay the statutory fee for only those copies.
What is a certified copy and do I need one?: A certified copy carries the custodian's seal or signature attesting that it is a true copy. You usually need one only if a court or another agency requires it. For ordinary use, an uncertified copy is enough.
Can a Florida agency charge me a fee just to look at a record?: Generally no. The agency can add a reasonable special service charge under Section 119.07(4)(d), F.S., when extensive labor or information-technology use is required, but inspection is free as a default.
Can an agency charge me for an email of a public record?: The agency can charge the actual cost of duplication, which is the material and supply cost. AGO 13-03 noted that an emailed record has no paper or toner cost, so a labor or overhead charge tied to the email itself does not fit the statutory definition.

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.