New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 5 - COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
Chapter 3 - GOVERNMENT RECORDS
Subchapter 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 5:3-1.4 - Procedures for requests
Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 18, September 16, 2024
(a) Requests shall be hand-delivered during normal business hours of the public agency, mailed, or transmitted electronically by facsimile, e-mail or website access by the requestor to the appropriate division or agency custodian of records.
(b) Any officer or employee of the Department who receives a request for access to a government record shall direct the requestor to the appropriate division or agency custodian of the record.
(c) All inquiries and processes involving the request shall include a tracking number.
(d) Upon receipt of a request for a copy of a record, the custodian shall estimate the cost of providing such a copy and shall, within seven days of receipt of the request, advise the requestor whether a copy of the record will be provided once payment of the cost of providing a copy has been received and, if so, an estimate of the amount that will be charged. The cost of providing the copy as finally determined, notice of which shall be given to the requestor as soon as it is reasonably possible to do so, must be paid before a copy of a record may be sent to a requestor. Payment shall be made by cash, check or money order payable to the "Treasurer, State of New Jersey" and the amount required shall not exceed $ 0.05 per letter size page or smaller, and $ 0.07 per legal size page or larger, or actual copying costs, whichever is greater, unless otherwise provided by law or regulation.
(e) The custodian shall respond to the request in writing within seven business days and provide the requestor with the amount of any copying cost and directions for submitting payment.
(f) No fee shall be charged for inspecting or examining government records.
(g) Upon request, a custodian may allow requestors to use their own photocopying equipment to copy public records, provided that it will not disrupt the business operations of the custodian and will not endanger the public records. No special fee shall be charged to a requestor who utilizes its own equipment.
