FOIL - Freedom Of Information Law

The Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) is a law that gives you the right to access information from the federal government.

To Submit a FOIL Request

You can submit a FOIL request online or you can download and fill out the FOIL Records Request Form (PDF). Downloaded forms should be returned signed to the appropriate City department that maintains the records you seek.

Fees

Should you desire copies of records, fees shall apply in accordance with Section 87(1) of the Public Officers Law. Advanced payment is required before records will be released. Please make check or money orders payable to the City of Buffalo.

Fees for Photocopies

Pages up to 9 inches by 14 inches are $0.25 each or the actual cost of reproducing any other record.

The fee for reproducing a record may include the actual cost of the storage device or media, actual cost for engaging outside professional service to reproduce record, hourly salary for employee time used in reproducing the record.

Response Time to FOIL Request

5 business days from receipt of request that reasonably describes the requested records to approve, deny, or if decision cannot be rendered within such time, send acknowledgment letter of the receipt of the request. If acknowledgment letter is sent a determination must be rendered with 20 business days from the date of the acknowledgment letter. If access to the records cannot be granted within that time, then a date certain when they will be provided.