Opinion No. (2005)

BILL LOCKYER Attorney General DANIEL G. STONE Deputy Attorney General THE HONORABLE JOE NATION, MEMBER OF THE STATE ASSEMBLY, has requested an opinion on the following questions: 1. Is parcel boundary map data maintained in an electronic format by a county assessor subject to public inspection and copying under provisions of the California Public Records Act? 2. If so, in what period of time must a county furnish a copy of the data upon request of a member of the public? 3. What fee may be charged by a county for furnishing a copy of the data to a member of the public? CONCLUSIONS 1. Parcel boundary map data maintained by a county assessor in an electronic format is subject to public inspection and copying under provisions of the California Public Records Act. 2. A copy of parcel boundary map data maintained in an electronic format by a county assessor must be furnished "promptly" upon request of a member of the public. 3. The fee that may be charged by a county for furnishing a copy of parcel boundary map data maintained in an electronic format by a county assessor is generally limited to the amount that covers the direct cost of producing the copy but may include certain other…