Mich. Comp. Laws » Michigan Compiled Laws / Chapter 15 / Act 442 of 1976
Michigan Compiled Laws

Mich. Comp. Laws § 15.233 (2026)

Public records; request requirements; right to inspect, copy, or receive; subscriptions; forwarding requests; file; inspection and examination; memoranda or abstracts; rules; compilation, summary, or report of information; creation of new public record; certified copies.

✓ current as of July 2026
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FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT


Act 442 of 1976


15.233 Public records; request requirements; right to inspect, copy, or receive; subscriptions; forwarding requests; file; inspection and examination; memoranda or abstracts; rules; compilation, summary, or report of information; creation of new public record; certified copies.

Sec. 3.

    (1) Except as expressly provided in section 13, upon providing a public body's FOIA coordinator with a written request that describes a public record sufficiently to enable the public body to find the public record, a person has a right to inspect, copy, or receive copies of the requested public record of the public body. A request from a person, other than an individual who qualifies as indigent under section 4(2)(a), must include the requesting person's complete name, address, and contact information, and, if the request is made by a person other than an individual, the complete name, address, and contact information of the person's agent who is an individual. An address must be written in compliance with United States Postal Service addressing standards. Contact information must include a valid telephone number or electronic mail address. A person has a right to subscribe to future issuances of public records that are created, issued, or disseminated on a regular basis. A subscription is valid for up to 6 months, at the request of the subscriber, and is renewable. An employee of a public body who receives a request for a public record shall promptly forward that request to the freedom of information act coordinator.

    (2) A freedom of information act coordinator shall keep a copy of all written requests for public records on file for no less than 1 year.

    (3) A public body shall furnish a requesting person a reasonable opportunity for inspection and examination of its public records, and shall furnish reasonable facilities for making memoranda or abstracts from its public records during the usual business hours. A public body may make reasonable rules necessary to protect its public records and to prevent excessive and unreasonable interference with the discharge of its functions. A public body shall protect public records from loss, unauthorized alteration, mutilation, or destruction.

    (4) This act does not require a public body to make a compilation, summary, or report of information, except as required in section 11.

    (5) This act does not require a public body to create a new public record, except as required in section 11, and to the extent required by this act for the furnishing of copies, or edited copies pursuant to section 14(1), of an already existing public record.

    (6) The custodian of a public record shall, upon written request, furnish a requesting person a certified copy of a public record.

History: 1976, Act 442, Eff. Apr. 13, 1977 ;-- Am. 1996, Act 553, Eff. Mar. 31, 1997 ;-- Am. 2018, Act 523, Imd. Eff. Dec. 28, 2018

PopularName Notes:

Act 442

PopularName Notes:

FOIA
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 138 cases (33 in the last 5 years), 1979–2026 · leading case: Coblentz v. City of Novi, 719 N.W.2d 73 (Mich. 2006).
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Coblentz v. City of Novi, 719 N.W.2d 73 (Mich. 2006). · cites it 18× “MCL 15.233(1) states, in relevant part: Except as expressly provided in section 13 [exemptions from disclosure], upon providing a public body's FOIA coordinator with a written request that describes a public record sufficiently to enable the public body to find the public…”
Arabo v. Michigan Gaming Control Bd., 872 N.W.2d 223 (Mich. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 14× “” King v Michigan State Police Dep’t, 303 Mich App 162, 176 ; 841 NW2d 914 (2013) (citations and quotation marks omitted); MCL 15.233(1). “ ‘The FOIA provides that “a person” has a right to inspect, copy, or receive the public records upon providing a written request to the FOIA…”
Walen v. Dep't of Corr., 505 N.W.2d 519 (Mich. 1993). · cites it 14× “1801(13a); § 14, MCL 15.244; MSA 4.1801(14). [22] After plaintiff commenced this action, originally entitled Walen v Boyd, Docket No.”
Herald Co. v. City of Bay City, 614 N.W.2d 873 (Mich. 2000). · cites it 10× “(4) This act does not require a public body to create a new public record, except as required in sections 5 and 11, and to the extent required by this act for the furnishing of copies, or edited copies pursuant to section 14(1), of an already existing public record.”
Detroit Free Press, Inc v. City of Southfield, 713 N.W.2d 28 (Mich. Ct. App. 2006). · cites it 8× “" MCL 15.233(1). The request need not specifically describe the records containing the sought information; rather, a request for information contained in the records will suffice.”
Thomas v. City of New Baltimore, 657 N.W.2d 530 (Mich. Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 4× “MCL 15.233(1); Herald Co v Bay City, 463 Mich 111, 119 ; 614 NW2d 873 (2000); Scharret, supra at 411 .”
Flagg ex rel. Bond v. City of Detroit, 252 F.R.D. 346 (E.D. Mich. 2008). · cites it 4× “” Mich. Comp. Laws § 15.233 (3). There is no question that the Defendant City is a “public body” under the FOIA, see Mich.”
Rataj v. City of Romulus, 858 N.W.2d 116 (Mich. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 3× “Regarding plaintiffs request for any RPD reports concerning internal investigations or the discipline of Jones, the circuit court ruled that plaintiff had not “sufficiently” described those records within the meaning of MCL 15.”
Herald Co. v. E. Michigan Univ. Bd. of Regents, 719 N.W.2d 19 (Mich. 2006). · cites it 2× “MCL 15.233(1). A person has a right to inspect, copy, or receive a copy of the requested record.”
Bitterman v. Vill. of Oakley, 868 N.W.2d 642 (Mich. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 4× “’ ” Amberg, 497 Mich at 30 , quoting MCL 15.233(1); see also Coblentz v City of Novi, 475 Mich 558, 573 ; 719 NW2d 73 (2006) (“A FOIA request must be fulfilled unless MCL 15.”
Federated Publications, Inc v. City of Lansing, 467 Mich. 98 (Mich. 2002). · cites it 2× “In such cases, the circuit court may be required to conduct a “particular instance” categorization of records to enable it to identify and weigh similar aspects of the public 7 A FOIA request must “sufficiently” describe the sought-after records.”
Coalition Protecting Auto No-Fault v. Michigan Catastrophic Claims Ass'n, 894 N.W.2d 758 (Mich. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 3× “, 294 Mich App 401, 409 ; 812 NW2d 27 (2011), citing MCL 15.233(1). The issue in this case is whether the MCCA is a “public body” for purposes of FOIA.”
Show all 138 citing cases →
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 15.233(1) — 110 cases
Coblentz v. City of Novi, 719 N.W.2d 73 (Mich. 2006). “MCL 15.233(1) states, in relevant part: Except as expressly provided in section 13 [exemptions from disclosure], upon providing a public body's FOIA coordinator with a written request that describes a public record sufficiently to enable the public body to find the public…”
Arabo v. Michigan Gaming Control Bd., 872 N.W.2d 223 (Mich. Ct. App. 2015). “” King v Michigan State Police Dep’t, 303 Mich App 162, 176 ; 841 NW2d 914 (2013) (citations and quotation marks omitted); MCL 15.233(1). “ ‘The FOIA provides that “a person” has a right to inspect, copy, or receive the public records upon providing a written request to the FOIA…”
Herald Co. v. City of Bay City, 614 N.W.2d 873 (Mich. 2000). “(4) This act does not require a public body to create a new public record, except as required in sections 5 and 11, and to the extent required by this act for the furnishing of copies, or edited copies pursuant to section 14(1), of an already existing public record.”
Walen v. Dep't of Corr., 505 N.W.2d 519 (Mich. 1993). “1801(13a); § 14, MCL 15.244; MSA 4.1801(14). [22] After plaintiff commenced this action, originally entitled Walen v Boyd, Docket No.”
Thomas v. City of New Baltimore, 657 N.W.2d 530 (Mich. Ct. App. 2003). “MCL 15.233(1); Herald Co v Bay City, 463 Mich 111, 119 ; 614 NW2d 873 (2000); Scharret, supra at 411 .”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 15.233(2) — 9 cases
Arabo v. Michigan Gaming Control Bd., 872 N.W.2d 223 (Mich. Ct. App. 2015). “” King v Michigan State Police Dep’t, 303 Mich App 162, 176 ; 841 NW2d 914 (2013) (citations and quotation marks omitted); MCL 15.233(1). “ ‘The FOIA provides that “a person” has a right to inspect, copy, or receive the public records upon providing a written request to the FOIA…”
Mithrandir v. Dep't of Corr., 416 N.W.2d 352 (Mich. Ct. App. 1987).
Walloon Lake Water Sys., Inc v. Melrose Twp., 415 N.W.2d 292 (Mich. Ct. App. 1987).
Cashel v. Regents of the Univ. of Michigan, 367 N.W.2d 841 (Mich. Ct. App. 1985).
Pennington v. Washtenaw Cnty. Sheriff, 336 N.W.2d 828 (Mich. Ct. App. 1983).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 15.233(3) — 8 cases
Walen v. Dep't of Corr., 505 N.W.2d 519 (Mich. 1993). “1801(13a); § 14, MCL 15.244; MSA 4.1801(14). [22] After plaintiff commenced this action, originally entitled Walen v Boyd, Docket No.”
Truel v. City of Dearborn, 804 N.W.2d 744 (Mich. Ct. App. 2010).
Farrell v. City of Detroit, 530 N.W.2d 105 (Mich. Ct. App. 1995).
Hartzell v. Mayville Cmty. Sch. Dist., 455 N.W.2d 411 (Mich. Ct. App. 1990).
Pennington v. Washtenaw Cnty. Sheriff, 336 N.W.2d 828 (Mich. Ct. App. 1983).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 15.233(4) — 11 cases
Detroit Free Press, Inc v. City of Southfield, 713 N.W.2d 28 (Mich. Ct. App. 2006). “" MCL 15.233(1). The request need not specifically describe the records containing the sought information; rather, a request for information contained in the records will suffice.”
Herald Co. v. City of Bay City, 614 N.W.2d 873 (Mich. 2000). “(4) This act does not require a public body to create a new public record, except as required in sections 5 and 11, and to the extent required by this act for the furnishing of copies, or edited copies pursuant to section 14(1), of an already existing public record.”
Bitterman v. Vill. of Oakley, 868 N.W.2d 642 (Mich. Ct. App. 2015). “’ ” Amberg, 497 Mich at 30 , quoting MCL 15.233(1); see also Coblentz v City of Novi, 475 Mich 558, 573 ; 719 NW2d 73 (2006) (“A FOIA request must be fulfilled unless MCL 15.”
Herald Co. v. City of Bay City, 577 N.W.2d 696 (Mich. Ct. App. 1998).
HAK v. City of Dearborn, 609 N.W.2d 827 (Mich. 2000).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 15.233(5) — 9 cases
Arabo v. Michigan Gaming Control Bd., 872 N.W.2d 223 (Mich. Ct. App. 2015). “” King v Michigan State Police Dep’t, 303 Mich App 162, 176 ; 841 NW2d 914 (2013) (citations and quotation marks omitted); MCL 15.233(1). “ ‘The FOIA provides that “a person” has a right to inspect, copy, or receive the public records upon providing a written request to the FOIA…”
Bitterman v. Vill. of Oakley, 868 N.W.2d 642 (Mich. Ct. App. 2015). “’ ” Amberg, 497 Mich at 30 , quoting MCL 15.233(1); see also Coblentz v City of Novi, 475 Mich 558, 573 ; 719 NW2d 73 (2006) (“A FOIA request must be fulfilled unless MCL 15.”
20251118_C373717_35_373717.Opn.Pdf (Mich. Ct. App. 2025).
Earl D Booth v. Dep't of Corr. (Mich. Ct. App. 2016).
Terry Lee Ellison v. Dep't of State (Mich. Ct. App. 2017).
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