Welcome to the Department of Community Affairs
Open Public Records Act (OPRA) page.

Request for Government Records
     A request  for  a  government  record  may  be  submitted  to  the  Division  that  holds  the record(s) without going through the OPRA process (and without filling out the Government Records Request Forms). The Government Records Request Form is only to be used if you want to submit an OPRA request.

What's the difference?
    An OPRA request provides a written record of your request and requires that the Department's Records Custodian will respond to the request within 7 business days. Additionally, OPRA provides the public with a means of appealing the Department's decision to withhold a government record.
    If your request is for a routinely requested (and released record) there is no need to apply through OPRA. Simply contact the Division that holds the record and submit your request. If you are denied access to a government record, you may apply for the record through OPRA.

Applying for a Government Record through OPRA
    If you know the Division within the Department of Community Affairs that holds the record (s) you are seeking, fill out the Government Records Request Form and submit it to the appropriate Division. The form may be hand delivered, mailed, faxed, or submitted electronically.
    Please note that if you submit a request for a government record that contains personal information, the request form must be signed. Subsequently, a request form requesting personal information, which is submitted electronically will be mailed back to you for your signature. It would be more expedient to either reserve the use of the electronic submittal to records that do not contain personal information, or submit such request personally, via mail, or fax.

DCA Contacts

Downloadable Form

updated: October 2, 2006