Public Record Requests

Records Available Online:

The City of Alameda has many records posted on the website, such as:

 

Records may be requested in the following ways:

1) By submitting a request online via NextRequest.  Please note, requests for Alameda Police Department and Housing Authority records need to be submitted directly to the Police Department (APDRecords@alamedaca.gov) or Housing Authority (hainfo@alamedahsg.org). 

2) By telephone or visiting a department.  Contact information and locations are available here.  Verbal requests will be uploaded into NextRequest.

3) By submitting a request in writing via email or US Mail.  Email addresses are here and mailing addresses are here.  Written requests will be uploaded into NextRequest.

Helpful Tools to Facilitate Records Requests:

Crafting your request with as much specificity as possible will facilitate the most accurate and efficient response to your inquiry.  Please provide a date range and include any details or pertinent information.  Information on submitting a request online via NextRequest can be found on the right panel here.  Answers to Frequently Asked Questions are available here. Pursuant to the Sunshine Ordinance, the City of Alameda does not charge for records provided in an electronic format.  

Please note, certain records kept by the City may not be disclosed because the records are exempt from disclosure by law.  The California Public Records Act (Government Code §6250 - 6270 and §6275 - 6277), specifically §§ 6254 and 6255, provide that certain documents are exempt from public disclosure.  The types of documents that are exempt include, but are not limited to: personnel records, medical records and similar files which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy if publicly disclosed; records pertaining to litigation under the California Tort Claims Act to which the City of Alameda is a party; memoranda from legal counsel regarding pending litigation, preliminary drafts, notes or inter-agency advisory opinions, recommendations and deliberations; records of complaints to or investigations conducted by any state or local police agency; privileged attorney-client communications; initiative, referendum and recall petitions; trade secrets and criminal history information, and certain documents in which the public interest in not disclosing the document outweighs the public interest in disclosing.