Botetourt County Expands Online Access to FOIA Records
Botetourt County has expanded its online Freedom of Information Act resources, giving residents a new way to search for public records that have already been released by the County.
The new FOIA Document Center allows residents to search and view published documents without submitting a new FOIA request.
Residents can visit botetourtcounty.gov/foiadocs to search the available records. If a requested document is not available, residents can also use the site to submit a new FOIA request.
The Document Center is part of the County’s broader effort to make the FOIA process easier to navigate and improve access to public information.
New system helps manage FOIA requests
In August, Botetourt County launched JustFOIA, an online records management system that allows the County to track, respond to and invoice FOIA requests through a centralized system.
The system provides a way for residents to submit and monitor requests while giving County staff a more consistent process for managing requests from the time they are received through completion.
The launch of JustFOIA also provides the foundation for the County’s online FOIA Document Center, where records that have been published can be made available for residents to search.
The goal is to make information that has already been provided through the FOIA process easier for the public to find.
What to know about FOIA requests
The Virginia Freedom of Information Act provides Virginia residents with access to public records held by public bodies, subject to certain exemptions and requirements.
The County generally must respond to a FOIA request within five working days. A response may include the requested records, a denial when permitted by law, a request for clarification or an explanation that additional time is needed to fulfill the request.
The County may charge reasonable fees when a request requires more than 30 minutes of staff time to fulfill. When fees are expected, the requester will be provided with an estimate before the work resulting in the charge is completed.
The new Document Center does not replace the FOIA request process. Instead, it gives residents the opportunity to search for records that are already available before submitting a new request.
Search published FOIA documents or submit a new request at botetourtcounty.gov/foiadocs.
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