Dowd, Melissa

Virginia Freedom of Information Act

§§ 2.2-3700 - 2.2-3714

The Virginia Freedom of Information Act is a series of laws designed to guarantee that the public has access to public records of government bodies at all levels in Virginia. Public records includes all documents, no matter their physical form, that are "prepared or owned by, or in the possession of a public body or its officers, employees or agents in the transaction of public business."

Any citizen of Virginia may request public records, however Virginia does limit the right of incarcerated felons to request any records whatsoever. The Virginia Freedom of Information Act does not require a statement of purpose,  nor are there any restrictions on the use of records. Virginia law requires open records request responses to be made within 5 business days.