Maryland Public Information Act

The public’s right to information about government activities lies at the heart of a democratic government. Maryland’s Public Information Act (PIA) grants the people of this State a broad right of access to public records while protecting legitimate governmental interests and the privacy rights of individual citizens.  Requests for public records always begin with a government agency (State, county, or municipal).  See the General Information and FAQ’s section of this page for additional guidance. 

The nature of an issue will determine other services related to the PIA.  Several offices and entities have a role in facilitating access to public information:  the Public Access Ombudsman, the Public Information Act Compliance Board, and the Office of the Attorney General.  Each of these offices is described following the general information regarding the Public Information Act, with links to their respective services.

 For more information, visit http://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/Pages/OpenGov/pia.aspx