Are Tulsa County Records Public?

Yes. Tulsa County records are available to the general public under the Oklahoma Open Records Act (Oklahoma Statutes Title 51, Section 24A.1 et seq.). The Act guarantees and facilitates the public's right to access governmental records, enabling them to "efficiently and intelligently exercise their inherent political power" (51 O.S. 24A.2).

Pursuant to the Oklahoma Open Records Act, local and state public bodies are mandated to document or record their official duties. These records—defined under 51 O.S. 24A.3(1) as all documents, including any book, paper, microfilm, photograph, recording, or other material, created, received, or maintained by public entities—can be inspected or copied by the public, except where an exemption applies. They include Tulsa county court records, vital records, criminal records and property records.

However, the Oklahoma Open Records Act does not apply to records possessed by federal government entities. Public access to federal records is regulated by the federal Freedom of Information Act (codified in Title 5, U.S. Code, Section 552).

What is Exempted Under the Oklahoma Public Records Act?

The Oklahoma Open Records Act, the state's public records law, contains several exemptions to the public's access. These limitations exist mainly to prevent privileged or confidential information from populating the public domain, where it may cause irreparable harm or compromise an official government process.

The following are excluded from public view under Oklahoma's Open Records Act:

• Any record protected by a state evidentiary privilege, such as attorney-client privilege, doctor-patient privilege, attorney work product, and spousal communications
• Any record protected by a federal law or regulation
• Personal information in driver records
• Medical records
• Investigatory records and notes
• Vulnerability assessments of critical assets in water and wastewater systems (51 O.S. § 24A.27)
• Personnel files (51 O.S. § 24A.7)
• Data relating to terrorism (51 O.S. § 24A.28)
• Protective orders
• Juvenile records
• Educational records (51 O.S. § 24A.16)

The above is not an exhaustive list of the Oklahoma Public Records Act exemptions. Additional legal research can be conducted by reading the law or consulting an experienced professional. Also, although a law may restrict access to a confidential record, certain information within the record may be segregable and disclosable to the public upon request. In such instances, the exempt portions will be redacted or otherwise withheld from general access.

Tulsa County Public Record Search

Members of the public can retrieve Tulsa County public records via a written or oral request. This technique involves calling, visiting, faxing, mailing, or emailing an agency's custodian of records, depending on an office's approved method(s) of request. Custodians may also provide forms and guidelines on their official websites to aid the public in submitting clear and precise requests. Still, Tulsa County maintains an Open Records website where individuals can submit public record requests to county departments.

Notably, many records maintained by government departments in Tulsa may already be accessible on designated official websites at no cost. As such, a direct request may not be necessary to obtain a Tulsa public record unless one requires an official copy or certification.

In all cases, the requester is expected to provide specific information about their sought-after record(s), such as subject names, relevant dates, or unique numbers. Parties are also liable for any related public records search fees, which can be confirmed with the respective department.

Generally, 51 O.S. 24A.5(4) imposes a 25 cents per page fee for documents 8 1/2 x 14 inches or smaller or a maximum fee of one dollar for a certified copy. However, this fee provision applies only when no other state or local provision supersedes it. An example is 28 O.S. 31, which allows court clerks to charge a slightly higher amount for document copies—one dollar for the first page and 50 cents subsequently (see also2009 OK AG 27).

Further, agencies can charge a reasonable fee to recover the direct costs of record search and copying if:

• The inquiry is made solely for a commercial purpose, or
• The inquiry would clearly cause excessive disruption of the public body's essential functions

Find Public Records For Free in Tulsa County

Multiple third-party aggregator websites (or third-party websites) offer interested members of the public free Tulsa County public records searches. These websites are run by independent vendors or companies and, like their government counterparts, allow users to look up records for free with specific parameters—in this case, a person's first and last name. However, while searches are mostly free on third-party sites, a fee or subscription may be required to see the information returned after a search. These fees vary across the board.

Additionally, users cannot retrieve exempt information from third-party sites—even if they are legally qualified to see it—and sourced data may be subject to inaccuracies. Eligible individuals are directed to contact the official sources of information (i.e., government agencies) when seeking a confidential record, and users are advised to fact-check any record received from a third-party database with an official custodian.

How to Remove Information From Public Records Free

Information can be removed from public records in Tulsa County if it is exempt by law. Statutory exemptions apply to all public records in Tulsa, and no formal application is required from a record owner to withdraw or limit protected records.

Where statutory exemptions exist, varying access levels may be imposed on a particular record. For example, the subject of the record or their authorized representative may have greater access to some records kept by a government department. At the same time, members of the general public will only receive limited information if they request the same record, or they may be denied access altogether.

One other way to remove information from public records in Tulsa is by court order. Specific Oklahoma laws may allow individuals to petition a court for an order of removal or sealing. For example, Oklahoma's expungement laws allow past defendants to remove their court or arrest records from public view.

Individuals eligible to seek record removal under Oklahoma law may contact the agency custodian's office to find out the procedures for removal, including applicable fees.

Who Can Access Tulsa County Public Records in Oklahoma?

The Oklahoma legislature does not limit who may obtain public records generated or retained by a Tulsa County public agency. According to 51 O.S. 24A.5, anybody can request a Tulsa County public record. The law does not require requesters to be Tulsa County or State of Oklahoma residents.

What Happens if I Am Refused a Public Records Request?

A public agency in Tulsa County may deny or refuse a public records request if the requested information is exempt from public disclosure or if the request will disrupt essential agency functions.

Any person denied access to a Tulsa public record may file a civil action for declaratory or injunctive relief under 51 O.S. § 24A.17 (B). Oklahoma law requires a written notice of the intent to sue to be delivered to the respective public official or body 10 business days before filing the suit in the local district court. The Oklahoma Attorney General must also receive such notice.

If the petitioner wins the suit, they will be entitled to reasonable attorney fees. However, if the court finds the lawsuit "clearly frivolous," the sued public body or official will be entitled to reasonable attorney fees.