Copyright 2023 by Forsyth County, Georgia

Open Records Requests

What is a Public Record?

The Georgia Open Records Act, § 50-18-70, et seq, outlines the process for how members of the public can request and inspect governmental records. According to O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 (b)(2), the term "public record" includes "all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, computer based or generated information, data, data fields, or similar material prepared and maintained or received by an agency or by a private person or entity in the performance of a service or function for or on behalf of an agency or when such documents have been transferred to a private person or entity by an agency for storage or future governmental use."

911 Center

To request a copy of a 911 call or CAD report from the Forsyth County 911 Center, please use this link : https://forsythcountyga911.nextrequest.com/ . If you have questions please call the number listed below.

Phone: 770-781-3087
Fax: 770-781-2202

Mail: Forsyth County 911 Center
ATTN - Open Records Clerk
3520 Settingdown Road
Cumming, GA 30028
Costs: Please note a pre-retrieval cost estimate will be provided for those requests expected to take more than 15 minutes to fulfill.

Building & Economic Development

Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, et seq., it is possible for certain public records maintained by the Building and Economic Development Department be made available to the public. The term "public record" shall mean all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, computer based or generated information, or similar material prepared and maintained or received in the course of the operation of a public office or agency. "Public record" shall also mean such items received or maintained by a private person or entity on behalf of a public office or agency which are not otherwise subject to protection from disclosure. The individual in control of such public record or records shall have a reasonable amount of time to determine whether or not the record or records requested are subject to access under the Open Records Act. In no event shall this time exceed three business days; however, where responsive records exist but are not available within three business days of the request, a written description of such records, together with a timetable for their inspection and copying, shall be provided within that period.

Open Records Requests will be processed by the Building and Economic Development Department in conformance with state law. As such, reasonable charges will be collected for search, retrieval, and other direct administrative costs for complying with a request. Fees will be based upon the following:

  • Research Fees (charged hourly based upon the starting salary of the lowest paid full-time employee who, in the discretion of the custodian of the records, has the necessary skill and training to perform the request; it does not include the first 15 minutes of searching.)
  • Retrieval Fees (based upon the department's fee schedule)
  • Copy Fees (based upon the department's fee schedule)
  • Other Fees (e.g. DVDs, CDs, maps, etc.)
  • Open Records Request Form 

If you wish to submit an Open Records Request relating to information managed by the Building and Economic Development Department, please send an email to bed@forsythco.com

Planning & Community Development

Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, et seq., it is possible for certain public records maintained by the Department of Planning and Development to be made available to the public. The term "public record" shall mean all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, computer based or generated information, or similar material prepared and maintained or received in the course of the operation of a public office or agency. "Public record" shall also mean such items received or maintained by a private person or entity on behalf of a public office or agency which are not otherwise subject to protection from disclosure. The individual in control of such public record or records shall have a reasonable amount of time to determine whether or not the record or records requested are subject to access under the Open Records Act. In no event shall this time exceed three business days; however, where responsive records exist but are not available within three business days of the request, a written description of such records, together with a timetable for their inspection and copying, shall be provided within that period.

Open Records Requests will be processed by the Department of Planning and Community Development in conformance with state law. As such, reasonable charges will be collected for search, retrieval, and other direct administrative costs for complying with a request. Fees will be based upon the following:

  • Research Fees (charged hourly based upon the starting salary of the lowest paid full-time employee who, in the discretion of the custodian of the records, has the necessary skill and training to perform the request; it does not include the first 15 minutes of searching.)
  • Retrieval Fees (based upon the department's fee schedule)
  • Copy Fees (based upon the department's fee schedule)
  • Other Fees (e.g. DVDs, CDs, maps, etc.)
  • Open Records Request Form 

If you wish to submit an Open Records Request relating to information managed by the Department of Planning and Community Development, please contact Cindy K. McBrayer at 770-886-2824 or ckmcbrayer@forsythco.com.

Voter Registrations & Elections

To submit an open records request to Forsyth County Voter Registrations & Elections:

Email: ElectionsORR@forsythco.com 

Mailing address: 1201 Sawnee Drive, Cumming, GA 30040 

Phone: (770) 781-2118 

Open Records Requests will be processed by the Voter Registrations & Elections Office in conformance with state law. As such, reasonable charges will be collected for search, retrieval, and other direct administrative costs for complying with a request.