What is the typical time frame for an agency to respond to a FOIL request?

What is the typical time frame for an agency to respond to a FOIL request?

• A. Two weeks.
• B. One day.
• C. Sixty days.
• D. Five business days.

Answer: (D)

FOIL requests are designed to get government records quickly, with a five-business-day deadline for a response. From the day the agency receives the request, it should issue a decision—grant access, deny access, or partly grant—within five business days. If more time is needed, the agency must provide a written acknowledgment and a date by which the records will be provided, though the standard expectation remains five business days. The other timeframes listed are not the typical response window.

FOIL requests are designed to get government records quickly, with a five-business-day deadline for a response. From the day the agency receives the request, it should issue a decision—grant access, deny access, or partly grant—within five business days. If more time is needed, the agency must provide a written acknowledgment and a date by which the records will be provided, though the standard expectation remains five business days. The other timeframes listed are not the typical response window.