Sunshine Law

Government must be accountable to the people. The Florida Constitution – the document which sets forth our rights as citizens of this great state – provides that the public has the right to know how government officials at all levels spend taxpayer dollars and make the decisions affecting their lives. As such, the principle of open government is one that must guide everything done in government for its public.​​

As a Florida Citizen…​​

• You have the right to inspect and copy public records at any reasonable time, under reasonable conditions, and under the supervision by the custodian of the public records.
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• You have the right to request public records without having to show identification, without saying why you want the records, and without making your request in writing.
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• You have the right to request an estimate for the time and costs involved in producing your public records request.
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• You have the right to ask for a written statement of the statutory basis for denying access to public records.
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• You have the right to be present and unobtrusively record public meetings.​​​​

Section 286.011, F.S.​

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Florida’s Government-in-the-Sunshine Law applies when two or more members of the same elected or appointed public board or commission meet to discuss or take action on any matter which may foreseeably come before them in their official capacity. The Sunshine Law requires that: (1) meetings be open to the public; (2) notice be given; and (3) minutes be taken.