On December 2, 2025, the North Dakota Attorney General’s office released an opinion regarding the West Fargo Police Department and its handling of open records requests. The opinion, numbered 2025-O-16, addressed whether the department violated open records law by providing a cost estimate for reviewing and redacting confidential or exempt information.
The Attorney General concluded that “The West Fargo Police Department did not violate the open records law by issuing a cost estimate based on legally authorized charges for reviewing and redacting confidential or exempt information.”
This decision clarifies that public agencies may provide cost estimates for time spent on tasks such as reviewing and redacting information protected by law when responding to records requests.