The Virginia Freedom of Information Act (VFOIA) is the state law governing access by citizens of Virginia, and representatives of the media, to public records and to meetings of public bodies. VFOIA provides that, with some specific exemptions and exceptions, all meetings of public bodies shall be open to the public and all public records open for public inspection. More information about FOIA is posted online.

FOIA requests should be as detailed as reasonably as possible and outline the specific information and/or records/documents you are seeking. Please include:

• Your full name, legal address, email address and phone number, and where you would like to have the records sent.
• If you are an attorney representing a client; please send a ‘Release of Information’ form signed by the client explicitly giving permission for the release of DFS records, your client’s name, and other identifying information, including the case number (if known/any). As above, include where you would like records/documents to be sent.
• Include any other relevant details to aid in locating the records/documents you are seeking.
• Prior to submitting your request, please review the Common Statutory Exemptions to ensure your record is allowable for public disclosure in accordance with VFOIA.
• Although FOIA requests can be submitted in person, by mail, fax or email, the best way to submit a request is to use the information in the Where to Send DFS FOIA Requests section below.

• Fairfax County may make reasonable charges not to exceed its actual cost incurred in accessing, duplicating, supplying, searching for requested records, or developing a cost estimate.
• If you would like a cost estimate, let us know promptly before we provide a response to your request. Please note if we do not hear from you promptly, we will continue to process your request, and you may be responsible for any charges incurred.
• If we estimate that it will cost more than $200 to respond to your request, we may require you to pay a deposit, not to exceed the amount of the estimate, before proceeding with your request. The five days that we have to respond to your request does not include the time between when we ask for a deposit and when you respond.
• If you owe Fairfax County Government money from a previous FOIA request that has remained unpaid for more than 30 days, we may require payment of the past-due bill before responding to your new FOIA request.

The Code of Virginia allows any public body to withhold certain records from public disclosure. DFS commonly withholds records subject to the following exemptions:

• Personnel records (§ 2.2-3705.1 (1))
• Records subject to attorney-client privilege (§ 2.2-3705.1 (2)) or attorney work products (§ 2.2-3705.1 (3))
• Vendor proprietary information (§ 2.2-3705.1 (6))
• Records relating to the negotiation and award of a contract, prior to a contract being awarded (§ 2.2-3705.1 (12))
• Client records (§ 2.2-3705.5(3), 63.2-104, 63.2-105)
• Confidential records and information related to child protective services and child-placement agencies (§ 63.2-104, § 63.2-105)
• Confidential records and information related to adult protective services by local departments (§ 63.2-1605)
• Health records (§ 2.2-3705.5(1))