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Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) | Inspection of Public Records Procedures.

The Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/1 et seq., is the Illinois Statute governing the inspection of public records. This Act provides for public inspection of records in the possession of the Village of Arlington Heights. Exemptions are also provided to insure the confidentiality of certain records.

If anyone is looking to review records that are in the possession of the Village of Arlington Heights, please visit the Freedom of Information Act Records Request Portal. Keep in mind that a lot of information is available on our website and you may easily find what you need without submitting a form.

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Requests to waive the Freedom of Information Act fee must be made in writing to the Village Manager and must state how the primary purpose of the requested information is to access and disseminate information regarding the health, safety and welfare or the legal rights of the general public and is not for the principal purpose of personal or commercial benefits.
All requests obtained through the Freedom of Information Act shall be subject to the following fees:

8 1/2" x 11" and 11" x 14" and 11" x 17" copies up to 50 pages:  No Fee
8 1/2" x 11" and 11" x 14" and 11" x 17" copies over 50 pages:  10 cents per page
24" x 36" size copies:  $3
Police Traffic Crash Report:  $5
Accident Reconstruction Report:  $20
Roll of Film from Police Department:  $20

All requests requiring outside duplication services will be charged at actual cost for the duplication.
Response Time 

The Village will respond to requests for information within 5 business days (a business day is Monday through Friday and does not include Saturday, Sunday or legal holidays) for non-commercial requests and within 21 business days for commercial requests (Commercial requests are requests where the information requested will be used, in any form, for sale, resale, or solicitation or advertisement for sales or services). 

Types of Responses

  • Grant the request
  • Deny the request
  • Notice that the request is unduly burdensome
  • Request additional time to respond and provide reasons for delay and date when response will be provided
  • Grant in part and deny in part
  • Notice that the Village does not maintain the information requested
When requests are denied in whole or in part, the requester may appeal the decision. Appeals should be made within 60 days in writing, signed by the requester, should include a copy of the FOIA request and any responses from the Village and must be addressed as follows:

By US Mail: 

Public Access Bureau Office of the Attorney General
500 S. 2nd Street 
Springfield IL 62706
By e-mail: [email protected] 
Copies of police reports are available from Police Records between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday (except on Village-recognized holidays). Copies of police accident reports may be requested by parties involved, a minimum of three days following the incident.  

Reports may be purchased online at LexisNexis. There is a convenience charge for this service.

Requests for copies of case reports should be made in in the Village's Freedom of Information Act Request Portal. Written requests may be submitted to the Village of Arlington Heights Police Department:

Maureen Schmidt, Records Supervisor
Records Bureau
200 E. Sigwalt Street
Arlington Heights, IL  60005
P:  847.368.5319
F:  847.368.5972
E-Mail:  [email protected]

Requests for special information (i.e. crime or arrest statistics within specific geographical areas) will be accommodated if possible to do so, in accordance with state statute. A printed list of child sex offenders within the Police Department's jurisdiction is available for public inspection at the Police Records Section upon display of photo identification. 
Requests for information may be made through the online FOIA request portal. 

Written requests can be mailed, faxed, e-mailed or delivered in person to the relevant department or to the Legal Department at the address below.  If you are unsure about which department or departments to send your request to, send your request to the Legal Department at the address below. Unless the requested information falls within an exemption or the volume of information requested is unduly burdensome, the information will be provided for inspection or copying. Certified copies are available on request.

FOIA Officer for the Village of Arlington Heights:

Rebecca Hume
Village Clerk
33 S. Arlington Heights Road
Arlington Heights, IL  60005
P: 847.368.5700
F: 847.368.5540
Email: [email protected]