R.I. Gen. Laws
Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-4 (2026)

Cost

✓ text as last checked Sept. 2026 (this copy records no edition or section history)
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(a) Subject to the provisions of § 38-2-3, a public body must allow copies to be made or provide copies of public records. The cost per copied page of written documents provided to the public shall not exceed fifteen cents ($.15) per page for documents copyable on common business or legal size paper. A public body may not charge more than the reasonable actual cost for providing electronic records or retrieving records from storage where the public body is assessed a retrieval fee.

(b) A reasonable charge may be made for the search or retrieval of documents. Hourly costs for a search and retrieval shall not exceed fifteen dollars ($15.00) per hour and no costs shall be charged for the first hour of a search or retrieval. For the purposes of this subsection, multiple requests from any person or entity to the same public body within a thirty (30) day time period shall be considered one request.

(c) Copies of documents shall be provided and the search and retrieval of documents accomplished within a reasonable time after a request. A public body upon request, shall provide an estimate of the costs of a request for documents prior to providing copies.

(d) Upon request, the public body shall provide a detailed itemization of the costs charged for search and retrieval.

(e) A court may reduce or waive the fees for costs charged for search or retrieval if it determines that the information requested is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations or activities of the government and is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 2 cases, 1998–2003 · leading case: Direct Action for Rights & Equality v. Gannon, 819 A.2d 651 (R.I. 2003).
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Direct Action for Rights & Equality v. Gannon, 819 A.2d 651 (R.I. 2003). · cites it 13× “We do not address the need for retroactive application of G.L.1956 § 38-2-4 because that provision deals with the waiver of costs associated with producing the requested documents.”
Providence Journal Co. v. Rodgers, 711 A.2d 1131 (R.I. 1998). · cites it 2× “, G.L.1956 §§ 38-2-4(a) and (b). The assessment of costs is necessary because the selection and the redaction of documents in these existing files require more skill and effort than are required to perform routine copying of records.”
R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-4(a): 2 cases
Providence Journal Co. v. Rodgers, 711 A.2d 1131 (R.I. 1998). “, G.L.1956 §§ 38-2-4(a) and (b). The assessment of costs is necessary because the selection and the redaction of documents in these existing files require more skill and effort than are required to perform routine copying of records.”
Direct Action for Rights & Equality v. Gannon, 819 A.2d 651 (R.I. 2003). “We do not address the need for retroactive application of G.L.1956 § 38-2-4 because that provision deals with the waiver of costs associated with producing the requested documents.”
R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-4(e): 1 case
Direct Action for Rights & Equality v. Gannon, 819 A.2d 651 (R.I. 2003). “We do not address the need for retroactive application of G.L.1956 § 38-2-4 because that provision deals with the waiver of costs associated with producing the requested documents.”
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