Open Records Request

Submit an Open Records Request Here: 

https://myhealthdepartment.com/orangecotx

Did you know we have a website dedicated to providing every citizen inspection reports for all retail food establishments along with permits issued for Building/Development projects and On-Site Sewage Facilities?

https://inspections.myhealthdepartment.com/orangecotx 

This website provides valuable access to inspection reports and permit information, making it easier for residents to stay informed about local food safety and development activities. 

The Public Information Act

Texas Government Code, Chapter 552, gives you the right to access government records; and an officer for public information and the officer's agent may not ask why you want them. All government information is presumed to be available to the public. Certain exceptions may apply to the disclosure of the information. Governmental bodies shall promptly release requested information that is not confidential by law, either constitutional, statutory, or by judicial decision, or information for which an exception to disclosure has not been sought. 

Public Information Request Process

Section 552.221 specifies the duties of the officer for public information upon receiving a request for public information. An officer for public information of a governmental body shall promptly produce public information. Orange County Environmental Health and Code Compliance Department has designated 10 business days to release available responsive information. If it cannot be produced within 10 working days the department will notify you in writing of the reasonable date and time when it will be available. “Promptly” means that a governmental body may take a reasonable amount of time to produce the information but may not delay. 

• Orange County Environmental Health and Code Compliance Department receives your public information request.
• Our staff will begin gathering and reviewing information to promptly provide all the responsive information available.
• Orange County Environmental Health and Code Compliance may contact you if clarification is needed to better understand what information is being requested.
• Upon completion of the request, Orange County Environmental Health and Code Compliance Department will notify you if there is no responsive information or release any responsive information available to you.

Tips for Getting the Records You Need

• Check the Online Portal first! Many commonly requested things are posted daily on this website for you.
• Please include as much detailed information as possible when submitting a public information request. The more detailed information you provide us with, the quicker we can provide the records to you. Orange County Environmental Health and Code Compliance is not required to answer questions, perform legal research, or comply with a request to supply information on a periodic basis for information that will be prepared in the future. So, make sure the records you are requesting are strictly for things that have already happened and have been documented.    

Examples are as follows:

• Specific date range
• Specific address
• Property owner's name
• Legal description of property
• Business name
• Keywords or phrases regarding the information being requested

If you do not provide enough detail in your public information request description of the specific information or records you are requesting, we may contact you asking for clarification for the necessary information needed to conduct the search for records.