Freedom of Information Act

About FOIA

The Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), § 2.2-3700 et seq. of the Code of Virginia, guarantees residents of the commonwealth and representatives of the media access to public records held by public bodies, public officials, and public employees.

A public record is any writing or recording, regardless of whether it is a paper record, an electronic file, an audio or video recording, or any other format, that is prepared or owned by, or in the possession of, a public body or its officers, employees, or agents in the transaction of public business. All public records are presumed to be open, and may only be withheld if a specific, statutory exemption applies.

Make a FOIA Request 

You may submit a records request in several ways:

• Online: Public Records Request Center
• U.S. Mail: FOIA Request, PO Box 8784, Williamsburg, VA 23187
• In Person: 101 Mounts Bay Road, Building D (Administration), Williamsburg, VA 23185

James City County’s elected constitutional officers are the legal custodians of their own respective records, and have separate disclosure exemptions applicable to some of their records. If we receive a request for records that are held by one of those officials, we will refer the requester to that official, as described above.