OPRA Requests — Lakewood Township

To request public records from Lakewood Township under the Open Public Records Act (OPRA), use the official online portal:

Portal: lakewoodnj.justfoia.com

Requests can be submitted directly through the JustFOIA system. Lakewood Township is required by law to respond within 7 business days.

What Is OPRA?

The Open Public Records Act (OPRA) is a New Jersey law that gives the public the right to access government records. Any person can submit an OPRA request — you don't need to explain why you want the records.

What Can You Request?

• Government contracts and bids
• Budget documents and spending records
• Building permits and inspection records
• Meeting minutes and agendas
• Correspondence between officials
• Personnel records (with some exceptions)
• Police reports (with some exceptions)

Timeline

The municipality must respond within 7 business days. They may grant access, deny the request with a legal reason, or request an extension. If denied, you can appeal to the Government Records Council (GRC) or file suit in Superior Court.

Tips for Effective Requests

• Be specific. Name the exact document, date range, and department if you can. Vague requests get denied or delayed.
• Request records, not information. OPRA covers existing documents — not questions answered by staff.
• Ask for electronic copies. PDFs are faster and free; paper copies cost per page.
• Keep your confirmation. Screenshot or save the confirmation number — it's your proof of submission.

Resources

• NJ Government Records Council — appeals and guidance
• NJ Foundation for Open Government — free help with denials