Public records

Public records in Illinois

Last reviewed October 7, 2026. Statute: 5 ILCS 140 (opens in a new tab).

Public records law in Illinois

Law: Illinois Freedom of Information Act
Citation: 5 ILCS 140
Response deadline: The agency must comply with or deny a request within 5 business days, and may extend once by up to 5 more business days for specific reasons (5 ILCS 140/3(d) and 3(e)). Missing the deadline counts as a denial you can appeal to the Attorney General's Public Access Counselor.
Statute: Read the law (opens in a new tab)

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