Other Permits and Forms

Misc. Permits and Forms

Public Disclosure Requests

Individuals have a right to review public records, as provided in ORS 192.420.

Requests for Public Records must be made to the government agency that is the custodian of the records. City staff maintains the legislative history, documents, and public records of the City of Durham. If the records you seek are held by another public body, you should instead request them from that body.

Oregon law does not require the City to create a document in order to fulfill a public records request nor does it require public bodies to explain or answer questions about their records, analyze their records, or perform legal research or opinions.

The City has many records available on the website at no cost. Oregon law allows the City to charge a fee for the cost to respond to record requests. Individuals may request a fee waiver if the disclosure of the record is in the public interest and making the record available primarily benefits the public. The fee waiver request must be in writing. The City Council will make a determination whether to grant a fee waiver or reduction at the next regular meeting.

To request public records that are not provided on the City website, submit a written request to:

Administrative Assistant
City of Durham
17160 SW Upper Boones Ferry Rd
Durham, OR 97224

Phone: 503-639-6851
Fax: 503-598-8595
Email: [email protected]

The request may be submitted in person, by mail, by fax or by e-mail. You may use the City’s Public Disclosure Request Form. The request must include:

  • the name and address of the person requesting the public record;
  • the telephone number and email or other contact information for the person requesting the public record;
  • a description of the record(s) detailed enough to allow staff to search for and identify responsive records; and
  • the date and signature of the person requesting the public record.

If a request is made in writing, the City will acknowledge the request within 5 businesses days of receipt.

The City calculates fees for responding to public records requests from individuals and organizations in the following manner:

  • Labor charges that include researching, locating, compiling, editing or otherwise processing information and records. $30 per hour, first 15 minutes free.  Prorated after the first hour in 15-minute increments.
  • $0.25 per page for photocopies. Actual cost for large copies.
  • Postage and delivery fees are calculated at actual cost.
  • Faxed records are $2.00 per page, not including the cover page. Faxed records are limited to a 30-page maximum.
  • Electronic scans $2.00 per page. Records transmitted by e-mail are limited to 10 MB in size per e-mail.
  • Actual cost for use of material and equipment for producing copies of nonstandard records. Upon request, copies of public records may also be provided on an electronic storage device if the document(s) are stored in the City’s computer system. The actual cost of the storage device will be charged. Due to the threat of computer viruses, the City will not allow requesters to provide devices for electronic reproduction of computer records.
  • $5.00 for each true copy certification.
  • Actual attorney, planning, or engineering fees charged to the City of Durham for the time and materials spent fulfilling the request.
  • An individual or organization may request a fee reduction or waiver. The Durham City Council may grant a reduction or waiver if it determines that doing so is in the public interest because making the record available primarily benefits the general public.

Public Disclosure Request Form