Public Records
Under Massachusetts law, every person has a right to access public government records. Not all records are public, and you may need to pay a fee to get them.
Request a Public Record Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any questions, or if you need help getting records from the City of Boston, contact publicrecords@boston.gov.
Contact
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1 City Hall Square
Room 615Boston, MA 02201 -
Office hoursMonday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Our Values
Our mission is to foster transparency and public trust by providing timely, accurate, and accessible public records. We are committed to a collaborative approach that values clear communication and efficient processes, ensuring accountability and serving the public with professionalism and respect.
- Providing transparency and a high level of service to constituents
- Protecting the privacy and safety of employees and constituents
- Sustainability through responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources
Public Records Resources
Analyze Boston: Boston's Open Data Hub
Before requesting a record, check to see if it is available on Analyze Boston. This resource stores many records that are readily available to the public such as earning reports and building permits.
Boston Police Records Request
This resource stores instructions on how to submit public records requests related to the Boston Police Department.
City of Boston Birth, Death, and Marriage Records
The Registry Department is where all birth, death, and marriage certificates are stored. You can contact the department through their homepage for these records.
A Guide to the Massachusetts Public Records Law
This guide has definitions, regulations, and exemptions to Public Records law.
Appealing A Denial Of Access To Pubic Records
This is where you appeal a denial of access to public records.
Cost of public records requests
City of Boston departments assume you would like electronic copies of records if we have them. The cost of black and white paper copies of documents is $.05 per page.
There is no cost for the first two hours of time we need to find records. After two hours, the fee is usually no more than $25.00 per hour. When we review a request, we will provide you an estimate of how much the research will cost.
VOLUME OF PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS
Over the last five years, requests for public records have skyrocketed. While internal processes are constantly improving to keep up with this increase, it's helpful for constituents to transition to using some of the below resources before submitting a request.
| Year | Volume |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 10,790 |
| 2024 | 9,121 |
| 2023 | 8,598 |
| 2022 | 7,367 |
| 2021 | 5,094 |
| 2020 | 3,253 |
Records Access Officer
Grace Jung is the Director of Public Records and Records Access Officer (RAO) for the City of Boston. You can contact her at grace.jung@boston.gov.
Contact
-
1 City Hall Square
Room 615Boston, MA 02201 -
Office hoursMonday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
