Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-506
Right to inspect public records - Public records having commercial value
- (a) In all cases where any person has the right to inspect any such public records, such person shall have the right to take extracts or make copies thereof, and to make photographs or photostats of the same while such records are in the possession, custody and control of the lawful custodian thereof or such custodian's authorized deputy; provided, that the lawful custodian of such records shall have the right to adopt and enforce reasonable rules governing the making of such extracts, copies, photographs or photostats.
- (b) Within ten (10) days of the release of public records originating in the office of the county assessor of property, the state agency releasing such records shall notify, in writing, the assessor of property of the county in which such records originated of the records released and the name and address of the person or firm receiving the records. The reporting requirements of this subsection (b) shall not apply when county or city summary assessment information is released.
- (c)
- (1) If a request is made for a copy of a public record that has commercial value, and such request requires the reproduction of all or a portion of a computer generated map or other similar geographic data that was developed with public funds, a state department or agency or a political subdivision of the state having primary responsibility for the data or system may establish and impose reasonable fees for the reproduction of such record, in addition to any fees or charges that may lawfully be imposed pursuant to this section. The additional fees authorized by this subsection (c) may not be assessed against individuals who request copies of records for themselves or when the record requested does not have commercial value. State departments and agencies and political subdivisions of the state may charge a reasonable fee (cost of reproduction only) for information requested by the news media for news gathering purposes (broadcast or publication).
- (2) The additional fees authorized by this subsection (c) shall relate to the actual development costs of such maps or geographic data and may include:
- (A) Labor costs;
- (B) Costs incurred in design, development, testing, implementation and training; and
- (C) Costs necessary to ensure that the map or data is accurate, complete and current, including the cost of adding to, updating, modifying and deleting information.
- (3) The development cost recovery set forth above shall be limited to not more than ten percent (10%) of the total development costs unless additional development cost recovery between ten percent (10%) and twenty percent (20%) is approved by the following procedures: For state departments and agencies, the information systems council (ISC) shall review a proposed business plan explaining the need for the additional development cost recovery. If the ISC approves additional development cost recovery, such recovery shall be submitted to the general assembly for approval. For political subdivisions of the state, approval for additional development cost recovery as contained in a proposed business plan must be obtained from the governing legislative body. If the governing legislative body approves additional development cost recovery, such recovery shall be submitted to the ISC for approval. The development costs of any system being recovered with fees authorized by this section shall be subject to audit by the comptroller of the treasury, it being the legislative intent that once such additional fees have paid the portion of the development costs authorized above, such fees shall be adjusted to generate only the amount necessary to maintain the data and ensure that it is accurate, complete and current for the life of the particular system. Notwithstanding the limitations above, the recovery of maintenance costs shall not be subject to the limitations and procedures provided above for the recovery of development costs.
- (4) As used in this subsection (c), "record that has commercial value" means a record requested for any purpose other than:
- (A) A non-business use by an individual; and
- (B) A news gathering use by the news media.
Acts 1957, ch. 285, § 4; T.C.A., § 15-307; Acts 1986, ch. 546, § 1; 1991, ch. 433, § 1; 1992, ch. 682, § 1; 1997, ch. 97, § 1; 2000, ch. 868, §§ 1 - 5.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 15
cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1990–2026 · leading case: Tennessean, a Division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc. v. Electric Power Board of Nashville
Tennessean, a Division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc. v. Electric Power Board of Nashville (1998)
“Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-506 (a) (1992 & Supp.”
Lance v. York (2011)
“” Rather, we explained that: Section 10-7-506 of the Tennessee Code allows for citizens “to take extracts or make copies of public records .”
Creative Restaurants, Inc. v. City of Memphis (1990)
“§ 10-7-503, and copying, pursuant to T.C.A. § 10-7-506. Inasmuch as this case was tried by the court below sitting without a jury, we consider this appeal de novo upon the record in the trial court, which comes to us with a presumption of correctness as to the findings of fact…”
Daniel Hils v. Gabriel Davis (2022)
“43 ; Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-506 . But those laws do not apply here and do not help the claimants in the context of an ongoing investigation.”
Shabazz v. Campbell (2001)
“1998); Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-506 (a) (1988); Cammuse v.”
Bradley Jetmore v. Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County, Tennessee (2017)
“Relying on Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-506 (a), Metro argues that its custodian of records has the right to adopt reasonable rules regarding copies.”
The Tennessean v. Electric Power Bd. of Nashville (1997)
“Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-506 (c)(1)(1992). By its own terms, this subsection authorizes the imposition of fees in a very specific situation "in addition to any fees or charges that may lawfully be imposed pursuant to this section.”
Clata Renee Brewer v. Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County (2026)
“Assuming for argument that the Parents hold a valid copyright and that Petitioners seek copies of the material pursuant to section 10-7-506, where does this leave Metro as the records custodian? In Ali, the Pennsylvania appellate court explained this dilemma well: Although the…”
The Tennessean v. Electric Power Board of Nashville (1998)
“Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-506 (a) (1992 & Supp.”
Byron C. Wells v. A. C. Wharton, Jr. (2005)
“” Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-506 (a). This statute, however, does not mention the manner in which the custodian of the record may present the record to the citizen.”
Stanley Green v. Nashville and Davidson County (2002)
“Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503 (c). Where copies of records are requested, the agency involved has the right to recover the copying costs.”
Linda Noe v. Solid Waste Board Of Hamblen County/Morristown (2018)
“” Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-506 (a). 5 Given that the Board met and approved the budget prior to the show cause hearing, the practical relief sought by Ms.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-506(a) — 4 cases
Tennessean, a Division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc. v. Electric Power Board of Nashville (1998)
“Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-506 (a) (1992 & Supp.”
Lance v. York (2011)
“” Rather, we explained that: Section 10-7-506 of the Tennessee Code allows for citizens “to take extracts or make copies of public records .”
Bradley Jetmore v. Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County, Tennessee (2017)
“Relying on Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-506 (a), Metro argues that its custodian of records has the right to adopt reasonable rules regarding copies.”
The Tennessean v. Electric Power Bd. of Nashville (1997)
“Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-506 (c)(1)(1992). By its own terms, this subsection authorizes the imposition of fees in a very specific situation "in addition to any fees or charges that may lawfully be imposed pursuant to this section.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-506(c) — 1 case
The Tennessean v. Electric Power Bd. of Nashville (1997)
“Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-506 (c)(1)(1992). By its own terms, this subsection authorizes the imposition of fees in a very specific situation "in addition to any fees or charges that may lawfully be imposed pursuant to this section.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-506(c)(1) — 1 case
The Tennessean v. Electric Power Bd. of Nashville (1997)
“Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-506 (c)(1)(1992). By its own terms, this subsection authorizes the imposition of fees in a very specific situation "in addition to any fees or charges that may lawfully be imposed pursuant to this section.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-506(c)(2)(A) — 1 case
The Tennessean v. Electric Power Bd. of Nashville (1997)
“Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-506 (c)(1)(1992). By its own terms, this subsection authorizes the imposition of fees in a very specific situation "in addition to any fees or charges that may lawfully be imposed pursuant to this section.”
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