65 P.S. §§ 67.901, 67.902, 67.1101

RTKL deadlines

Open Docket counts periods from the dates you record. You own those dates. The numbers on the docket are estimates.

1. Day 0

   Agency receipt, not the draft date

   The clock starts when the agency receives the written request, not when you save a draft in this app, and not when you first type the letter. Record the receipt date you can prove. After-hours and non-business days roll to the next business day.

2. Response

   Five business days to respond

   The agency has five business days from receipt to respond. Weekends and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania holidays do not count. See 65 P.S. § 67.901.

3. Extension

   Up to 30 calendar days if extended

   During the five-day window the open-records officer may invoke a 30-calendar-day extension in writing, with a reason. A missed deadline with no response is a deemed denial. Open Docket treats that date as the deemed denial date, notes that an appeal window may be open, and says an appeal can potentially be filed. Sending the appeal is still your choice. See 65 P.S. § 67.902.

4. Appeal

   Fifteen business days to appeal to the Office of Open Records

   After a denial, deemed denial, or final response, the requester has 15 business days to appeal under 65 P.S. § 67.1101. Weekends and Commonwealth holidays do not count. The statute measures that window from the mailing date of the agency’s response or from the deemed denial. When a local denial needs both OOR and the county DA, Open Docket tracks those 15-business-day clocks separately. Confirm the controlling date against the letter you received.

These figures are estimates. You own the dates. Always confirm the deadline against the agency response, the Commonwealth holiday calendar, and the statute.