How to File a Public Records Request in Nevada
The Nevada Public Records Act (NPRA), codified at NRS Chapter 239, guarantees every person the right to inspect, copy, or receive copies of public books and records held by governmental entities, including state agencies, local governments, school districts, university foundations, and other bodies exercising governmental functions. The Legislature declared that the NPRA must be construed liberally in favor of public access, and any exemption from disclosure must be construed narrowly. Governmental entities must respond to a records request within five business days — by granting access, explaining why they lack custody of the record, providing a written extension notice, or issuing a written denial with a specific statutory citation. There is no residency requirement; any person may file a request. The burden of proving confidentiality falls on the agency, not the requester.
The Nevada Public Records Act
- Statutory Citation
- Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) Chapter 239 (§§ 239.001 through 239.340)
- Response Deadline
- 5 business days
- Fee Provisions
- Under NRS § 239.052, agencies may charge only the actual cost of providing a copy — defined as direct costs including ink, toner, paper, media, and postage — and may not charge fees they would incur regardless of the request. Fees may not exceed $0.50 per page for paper copies. Agencies may require prepayment or a deposit up to the estimated actual cost. Fee waivers are permitted if the agency adopts and publicly posts a written waiver policy. No fee may be charged for records a statute requires to be provided free of charge.
- Key Exemptions
- Nevada law contains extensive statutory exemptions listed in NRS § 239.010(1), including personnel records, active law enforcement investigative records, records declared confidential by other statutes (e.g., medical records, juvenile records, certain financial data), and records protected by attorney-client privilege. Where no specific statute declares a record confidential, courts apply a balancing test weighing the agency's interest in confidentiality against the public's interest in access. The burden of proving confidentiality rests on the governmental entity under NRS § 239.0113.
- Appeal Process
- Nevada's NPRA provides no administrative appeals process. If a governmental entity denies a request or fails to respond, the requester may file a civil action in the district court of the county where the record is located (NRS § 239.011). Courts give these matters priority over most other civil cases. If the requester prevails, the court must award the requester's costs and reasonable attorney's fees from the governmental entity. If the entity appeals an adverse district court ruling and the ruling is affirmed, the requester is also entitled to recover appellate fees and costs. Consulting the Nevada Attorney General's office before litigation is advisable but not required.
- Ombudsman
- Nevada has no designated public records ombudsman. Requesters who cannot resolve disputes informally may contact the Nevada Attorney General's office for guidance, though the AG's office does not adjudicate individual disputes — formal enforcement requires filing a civil action in district court under NRS § 239.011.
City FOIA Guides in Nevada
Select a city below for a detailed guide on how to file a public records request with that municipality.
Need Help with Public Records in Nevada?
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