Open Records

Nevada’s public records law is the Nevada Public Records Act (NPRA), codified at NRS Chapter 239. It gives any person a presumptive right to inspect or copy government records held by state and local agencies. A significant 2019 overhaul (Senate Bill 287, effective October 1, 2019) modernized the law considerably, and it was updated again in 2023.

Who can request records

Any person may request records – Nevada doesn’t require residency, and no statement of purpose is needed. All that’s legally required is a written or oral request to inspect, copy, or receive a copy of a public record.

What’s covered

The law covers executive and legislative bodies, along with any subdivision of the state – quasi-municipal entities, schools, university foundations, and other bodies serving a governmental role. Notably, Nevada’s judiciary has taken the position that it is not a “government entity” under NRS 239.005, so the NPRA doesn’t apply to administrative judicial records – those are instead governed separately by the Administrative Office of the Courts’ own access policy (though electronic court case dockets are posted publicly).

How to request

Requests can be made in writing, by phone, or in person – a written request is preferred to avoid confusion and delay, and many agencies provide a specific form, though using it usually isn’t legally required.

Response timeline

Agencies must respond in writing by the end of the 5th business day after receiving the request (NRS 239.0107(1)). This initial response must do one of: provide the records, notify the requester the agency doesn’t have the record (and identify who might, if known), notify the requester that more time is needed, or provide a legal basis for denial. If a record is readily available, the agency can provide it in lieu of a written response.

Fees

– Standard copying: actual cost only – agencies generally cannot charge for labor involved in ordinary search and duplication unless a statute specifically allows it. – The 2019 reform capped “extraordinary use” fees and specified an agency may NOT charge for: reviewing a record to determine if it’s responsive, ordinary search/retrieval time, regular staff time for compliance, or a requester’s use of their own device to photograph records (though an agency can set reasonable rules to prevent business disruption). – Some agencies do charge research fees for complex requests – commonly $20-$40/hour – where allowed by statute. – If an estimate exceeds $25, the agency may request a deposit before proceeding. – Extraordinary-use requests must be submitted in writing, and can carry the actual cost of resources used, plus up to $0.50/page in some cases.

Exemptions

Exemptions are spread across numerous individual state statutes rather than consolidated in a single master list within NRS 239 itself – records containing identifying information or otherwise declared confidential by law are excluded.

If your request is denied

This is one of Nevada’s weaker points: there’s no clear administrative appeal option, which limits how effectively the response-time and fee provisions can be enforced short of litigation. Enforcement runs through the district courts rather than an administrative body. The 2019 reform guaranteed attorney’s fees to requesters who prevail in court and added civil penalties that can climb to $10,000 for willful, repeat violations.

A note on terminology

Nevada’s law is officially the “Nevada Public Records Act” (sometimes called the Nevada Open Records Act) – the same basic type of law that other states call a “Freedom of Information Act,” “FOIA Laws” (South Carolina), or “Public Records Laws” (Tennessee).