California Public Records Act: agency determination and notice within 10 days from receipt of request
10 days after date the agency received the records request, under Cal. Gov. Code 7922.535(a) (amended by Stats. 2025, ch. 34 (AB 370), eff. Jan. 1, 2026).
Rule text
(a) Each agency, upon a request for a copy of records, shall, within 10 days from receipt of the request, determine whether the request, in whole or in part, seeks copies of disclosable public records in the possession of the agency and shall promptly notify the person making the request of the determination and the reasons therefor. If the agency determines that the request seeks disclosable public records, the agency shall also state the estimated date and time when the records will be made available.
Calculate this deadline
Deadline
Monday, November 16, 2026
- Trigger (Date the agency received the records request): Friday, November 6, 2026.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 10 calendar days: Monday, November 16, 2026.
Rules applied
Cal. Gov. Code 7922.535(a) (amended by Stats. 2025, ch. 34 (AB 370), eff. Jan. 1, 2026)
(a) Each agency, upon a request for a copy of records, shall, within 10 days from receipt of the request, determine whether the request, in whole or in part, seeks copies of disclosable public records in the possession of the agency and shall promptly notify the person making the request of the determination and the reasons therefor. If the agency determines that the request seeks disclosable public records, the agency shall also state the estimated date and time when the records will be made available.Official source
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b; Cal. Gov. Code 6800, 6707 (state agency filings); Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(a) (federal statutes and federal court filings)
CCP 12: "The time in which any act provided by law is to be done is computed by excluding the first day, and including the last, unless the last day is a holiday, and then it is also excluded." CCP 12a(a): "If the last day for the performance of any act provided or required by law to be performed within a specified period of time is a holiday, then that period is hereby extended to and including the next day that is not a holiday. For purposes of this section, “holiday” means all day on Saturdays, all holidays specified in Section 135 and, to the extent provided in Section 12b, all days that by terms of Section 12b are required to be considered as holidays." Gov. Code 6707: "When the last day for filing any instrument or other document with a state agency falls upon a Saturday or holiday, such act may be performed upon the next business day with the same effect as if it had been performed upon the day appointed." FRCP 6(a): "The following rules apply in computing any time period specified in these rules, in any local rule or court order, or in any statute that does not specify a method of computing time. (1) ... (A) exclude the day of the event that triggers the period; (B) count every day, including intermediate Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays; and (C) include the last day of the period, but if the last day is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the period continues to run until the end of the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday."Official source
- 10 calendar days (statute does not say business days). This is a determination deadline, not a production deadline; records must then be made 'promptly available' (Gov. Code 7922.530, not modeled). Extension for unusual circumstances: cpra_determination_extended_outer_limit. Roll assumes Gov. Code 6800 / CCP 12a; an agency should respond by the unrolled date.
- If the clerk's office is closed or inaccessible on the last day (weather, emergency or local closure orders), the deadline may be extended. Check local orders.
This calculator applies the cited rules to the dates you enter. It is not legal advice. Court orders, local rules, and case-specific facts can change a deadline; verify before relying on it. Rule set pending attorney review.
Worked example
Date the agency received the records request on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Thursday, March 25, 2027.
- Trigger (Date the agency received the records request): Monday, March 15, 2027.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 10 calendar days: Thursday, March 25, 2027.
Notes
10 calendar days (statute does not say business days). This is a determination deadline, not a production deadline; records must then be made 'promptly available' (Gov. Code 7922.530, not modeled). Extension for unusual circumstances: cpra_determination_extended_outer_limit. Roll assumes Gov. Code 6800 / CCP 12a; an agency should respond by the unrolled date.
Related deadlines
- Public Records Act: outer limit if agency gives written notice of unusual-circumstances extension (10 + 14 days from receipt) (24 days after)
- Judicial administrative records (CRC 10.500): judicial branch entity determines disclosability within 10 calendar days from receipt of request (10 days after)
- Judicial administrative records: outer limit with written unusual-circumstances extension (10 + 14 calendar days) (24 days after)
Rules current as of 2026-10-27. Confirm against the official source and any local rule or court order before relying on a date. Rules changelog.