OPRA Instructions

All requests for copies of official public records must be made in accordance with the State of New Jersey's Open Public Records Act (N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq.). 

A request for access to a government record must be in writing and hand-delivered, mailed, transmitted electronically, or otherwise conveyed to the appropriate custodian. N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5.g. The time frame to fulfill a request for access to government records under OPRA does not begin until the request form or equivalent written request has been delivered to the appropriate records custodian. After the day of receipt, the department records custodian has seven business days to respond. So if the request was received on Friday, day 1 would be Monday. However, if Monday was President's Day, for example, then day 1 would be Tuesday. 

Sending a records request to the wrong officer or employee may result in a delay of the fulfillment of the request.  In the City of Rahway, the City Clerk is the official Records Custodian.  

Requestors must be as specific as possible when requesting records. A valid request identifies a specific type of record, address, Block/Lot of property (properties), parties to the correspondence, dates/date range, and subject matter. Requests for information or requests that ask questions are NOT valid OPRA requests.

Only submit requests by one method.  You do not need to hand-deliver, mail, email, and fax the completed form. Please be advised that records provided via e-mail and facsimile are free of charge.

To submit an OPRA request online, click here.