Requesting Records & Information

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) – Request for Documents

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is the Federal law that provides access to public records, except for those protected from disclosure under the Act. To request records; your request must be in writing and include complete name, address, and contact information and submitted to the correct FOIA Coordinator. 

General Records Request

Contact the City Clerk, 27600 Jefferson Avenue, St. Clair Shores, MI 48081 (586) 447-3303 cityclerk@scsmi.net 

Police Records Request

Contact the Police Department, 27665 Jefferson, St. Clair Shores MI 48081 (586) 445-5315 policerecords@scsmi.net 

Response Time and Cost

The City has five (5) business days to respond if the request is submitted in person or through the mail and six (6) business days to respond if the request is submitted electronically (not counting the day the request is received). Observed holidays, in which the office is closed, is not included in the required response time.  

If necessary, the City may issue a ten-business day extension, which allows ten additional business days to search for the requested information.

Charges may include the hourly wage, or a portion thereof, of the lowest paid employee capable of performing the search, the costs of copying and retrieval of offsite records.

If research and copying costs are expected exceed $50; a good faith deposit of no more than 50% of the final cost may be required.

FOIA Documents