The Town of Leesburg is committed to the principles of open and accessible government. Under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia, Title 2.2, Chapter 37), the Town provides citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia with access to existing public records by request. Click on the "Submit Request" button below to go to our online Public Records Center.

PLEASE READ BEFORE SUBMITTING A FOIA REQUEST 

The Town may make reasonable charges not to exceed its actual cost incurred in accessing, duplicating, supplying, or searching for requested records.  If the requester wants a cost estimate in advance of the Town supplying the requested records, as set forth in § 2.2-3704(F) of the Code of Virginia, please select, “Yes, I am requesting an estimate of charges before this records request is filled," when completing a request.

How FOIA charges are assessed by the Town of Leesburg

The Town assesses reasonable charges in accordance with Virginia State Code 2.2-3704(F).  The Town charges for the following:

Staff Labor – The Town assesses reasonable charges not to exceed its actual cost incurred in accessing, duplicating, assembling, supplying, or searching the requested records. The Town shall make reasonable efforts to supply the requested records at the lowest cost.  The Town uses a tiered-rate for FOIA-related staff labor charges.  Each Town employee falls within a salary pay range based on the employee’s salary grade. The Town will use the lowest hourly rate within the employee’s pay band for FOIA requests.  For a current Fiscal Year Salary Schedules list please refer to the “Salary Schedules” in the adopted fiscal year Town budget on the Town’s Web site or by clicking here.

Record Sharing Mediums – Goods used to provide records such as thumb drives, DVRs, CDs, cassettes, etc.  will be billed at their actual cost to the Town. 

Postage and Delivery Fees – If the requested delivery method is by US Mail or other delivery service, actual costs for these services will be assessed to the requester. 

Outside Vendor or Contractor Copying/Scanning Charges – If a copy of large documents is requested, the Town may need to use an outside vendor.  Charges imposed by the vendor will be assessed to the requester.

Record Retrieval Delivery Charges from the Town’s Long-term Storage Facility – If records are housed in the Town’s long-term storage facility, charges assessed by the facility to deliver records will be assessed to the requester.

Note: For requests submitted via the Town’s FOIA request portal, the requester is notified through a written statement above the submit request button that the Town has the right to assess reasonable charges and that the requester has the right to request an estimate in advance of any work performed. 

Additionally, requesters may select whether or not they desire an estimate when the request is submitted through the portal.  For requests received outside of the Town’s Web site, a written statement is provided to the requester notifying them of the Town’s rights to assess reasonable charges and the requester’s rights to request an estimate in advance.

If the Town provides an estimate and the requestor does not respond within 30 days, the request is withdrawn.

To access The Rights of Requesters and the Responsibilities of the Town of Leesburg under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, click here. 

Town of Leesburg FOIA Officers

Prior to submitting your request, you may want to review the Frequently Asked Questions below.