Purchasing Resources for North Carolina Public Records

North Carolina Public Records Laws and Regulations

Learn about agencies that control and provide access to public records in North Carolina
By Emmet McMahan

North Carolina public records laws and regulations provide access to government records like budget reports and meeting minutes. They also allow public access to records on individuals, such as vital records and criminal records.
 

North Carolina public records laws can be classified by the type of public records that they affect. These include the three following categories:

1. Laws on North Carolina public records that address the way in which these records can be accessed. These laws control issues such as the requirement for providing a reason for the information, specifying fees that an agency may charge and stating the length of time that the state is allowed to respond to a request for information.
2. Laws that specify an individual's information that may be considered public. These laws affect the way in which individuals may access their own information and how they may allow access by another party, seen in background checks.
3. Laws that control the government records that the public may access. These laws may be intended to keep individuals informed on government decisions or allow journalists to report on government activity.

Examine the laws that control access to state of North Carolina public records

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for North Carolina is a law that typically guides access to North Carolina court records and is usually handled by the attorney general's office. North Carolina criminal records may also be obtained from municipal and county courts.
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The North Carolina General Assembly provides the general statutes on public records in North Carolina. The Town of Cary provides a policy statement on the release of public records under North Carolina law.

Study the laws that affect North Carolina public records on individuals

Public records laws control access to North Carolina arrest records, North Carolina marriage licenses and North Carolina divorce records. Some of these records may only be accessible to a designated individual or a party.
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New Hanover County provides its procedures for obtaining vital records under North Carolina law. The Macon County Register of Deeds specifies the regulations for releasing vital records.

Review the North Carolina public records laws that affect government records

Government records laws allow access to records such as real estate sales, budget reports and meeting minutes. Some government entities may specialize in one particular type of record, while others may provide access to many different types of government records.
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The Government Records Branch of North Carolina provides its guidelines for disclosing government records under North Carolina law. The North Carolina Open Government Coalition answers specific questions on the laws for disclosing government records to the public.

• North Carolina public records law is generally guided by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This federal legislation was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1966. The FOIA was amended by the Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments in 1996, which controls the electronic access the public has to these records.