Right-to-Know: How to See Public Records

Last Updated: June 5, 2026

The Starting Point: Records Are Presumed Public

Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. §§ 67.101 and following) flips the old assumption on its head. A record in the possession of a government agency is presumed to be public, and the burden is on the Borough to justify withholding it — not on you to justify asking. You do not have to explain why you want a record, and you do not have to be a Tyrone resident.

Tyrone’s Charter has long pointed the same direction: Council’s minutes and records are “open for public inspection” (§ C-18), and the Borough’s ordinance and resolution books must be “open and available for public inspection” (§ C-34).

What You Can Ask For

Common public records include meeting minutes and agendas, ordinances and resolutions, the annual budget and audit, contracts, bid documents, and many financial and administrative records. Some records are exempt — for example, personal identification information, certain personnel and law-enforcement investigative records, and documents protected by privilege — so the Borough may redact or withhold those specific items while releasing the rest.

How to File a Right-to-Know Request

Every agency in Pennsylvania has an Open Records Officer who receives and handles these requests. To make a request in Tyrone:

• Put it in writing. Submit a written request to the Borough’s Open Records Officer. The Borough’s standard Right-to-Know request form (PDF) (opens in a new tab) (also linked below) makes this easy, or you may use the form on the state Office of Open Records website. Describe the records you want as specifically as you can.
• The Borough has 5 business days to respond. The Open Records Officer must answer within five business days — granting the request, denying it (with reasons), or invoking a limited extension (up to 30 days) when more time is genuinely needed.
• Modest copying fees may apply. The Borough may charge reasonable, posted fees for copies; inspection in the office is generally free.

If Your Request Is Denied

Most records are public, but the Right-to-Know Law lets the Borough redact or withhold specific records for defined reasons. The most common are when a record:

• contains personal identification information — Social Security or driver’s-license numbers, financial-account numbers, and similar private details;
• is part of a criminal or noncriminal investigation, or would reveal law-enforcement or emergency-response procedures;
• would threaten public safety, security, or critical infrastructure — building security plans, computer-security details, and the like;
• reflects internal, predecisional deliberations — drafts, notes, and recommendations exchanged before a decision is made;
• is protected by attorney-client privilege or attorney work product;
• is a personnel, medical, or similar private record about an individual;
• is a trade secret or confidential proprietary information;
• is exempt under another state or federal law, regulation, or a court order; or
• does not exist, or is not a record the Borough holds.

Even then, a denial isn’t the end of the road. If only part of a record is exempt, the Borough must still release the rest. And you have the right to appeal to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records within 15 business days — an independent state agency that reviews these appeals and can order records released. That right is what makes the law more than a suggestion.

The Fastest Route of All

Before filing a formal request, check what’s already published. Many records — agendas, minutes, the budget, and the full Borough Code — are posted on the Borough website or available on eCode360 (opens in a new tab). A quick call to the Borough office can often get you what you need without any paperwork at all.

How to Start in Tyrone

In the Charter & Code: § C-18 (Records) · § C-34 (Recording of ordinances). State law: PA Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq. Related: The Sunshine Act. Full code: ecode360.com/TY1357.