Do you need help locating City records? Let us help. Follow the instructions below.
The City of Palo Alto understands and supports the public's right to access the public records created and maintained by the City in the course of its normal business. It is the goal of the City to provide service in a transparent manner, which includes timely access to requested records in accordance with the California Public Records Act (PRA).
To enable staff to respond to your request as efficiently as possible, please include:
Use these links to see if the document you are requesting can be accessed instantly:
Enter your request and attach any supporting documents using our convenient online portal.
Submit a Request for Public Records
Submit a Request for Police Records
Your Public Records Request will be forwarded to the appropriate department and you will be sent a confirmation e-mail. Pursuant to Government Code Sections 7922.500 - 7922.605, the typical timeline for the City to make a determination of available records is ten (10) calendar days from the date of receipt of the request. However, under certain circumstances, the City may exercise its right to extend this timeline for up to an additional fourteen (14) days.
Please view this informational guide(PDF, 260KB) or contact the City Clerk's office at City.Clerk@PaloAlto.gov/ 650-329-2571 with any questions on accessing records in GovQA.
Public Records Requests are submitted to the City Clerk's office. Please email your request, along with your contact information, to city.clerk@PaloAlto.gov.
For Police records please email your request to pd@PaloAlto.gov.
Completed requests must be mailed to the City Clerk's office. Please send your request, along with your contact information to: Office of the City Clerk: City Hall, 7th Floor 250 Hamilton AvenuePalo Alto, CA 94301
For Police records, please mail your request to: Palo Alto Police Department Records Unit 275 Forest Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94301
Your Public Records Request will be forwarded to the appropriate department. You will be contacted regarding your method of delivery. Please be aware that there may be fees incurred for the duplication of records. The City will provide the records electronically whenever possible. Pursuant to Government Code Sections 7922.500 - 7922.605, the typical timeline for the City to make a determination of available records is ten (10) calendar days from the date of receipt of the request. However, under certain circumstances, the City may exercise its right to extend this timeline for up to an additional fourteen (14) days.
Please have your request ready and call the City Clerk’s Office at (650) 329-2571.
For Police records please call the Police Records Unit at (650) 329-2406.
Your Public Records Request will be forwarded to the appropriate department and you will be sent a confirmation. Pursuant to Government Code Sections 6250 to 6270, the typical timeline for the City to make a determination of available records is ten (10) calendar days from the date of receipt of the request. However, under certain circumstances, the City may exercise its right to extend this timeline for up to an additional fourteen (14) days.
Completed requests must be filed with the City Clerk's office. Please go to:
Office of the City Clerk: City Hall, 7th Floor 250 Hamilton Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94301
For Police records please file with the Police Records Unit, located next door to City Hall:
Palo Alto Police Department Records Unit 275 Forest Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94301
Your Public Records Request will be forwarded to the appropriate department and you will be sent a confirmation. Pursuant to Government Code Sections 7922.500 - 7922.605, the typical timeline for the City to make a determination of available records is ten (10) calendar days from the date of receipt of the request. However, under certain circumstances, the City may exercise its right to extend this timeline for up to an additional fourteen (14) days.