Open Public Records Act (OPRA)

Government Records Request
OPEN PUBLIC RECORDS ACT (OPRA)
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq.

Citizen's Guide to OPRA (Third Edition - Updated May 2020)

The Open Public Records Act (OPRA) is a State statute that replaces the old "Right to Know Law" which governs the public's access to government records in New Jersey. OPRA was enacted to give the public greater access to records maintained by public agencies in New Jersey by balancing the public's interest in government records, respect for personal privacy, and the efficient process of government.

• Government records shall be readily accessible for inspection, copying or examination by its citizens, with certain exceptions, for the protection of the public interest.
• Any limitations on the right of access to government records must be interpreted in favor of the public’s right of access.
• A public agency has a responsibility and an obligation to protect a citizen’s personal information that is in the possession of a public agency when disclosure of that information would violate the citizen’s reasonable expectation of privacy.

OPRA designates the Borough Clerk as the official custodian of local government records.  An OPRA request may be submitted to the Borough via e-mail orfax. CLICK HERE to fill out the Borough of Watchung OPRA Request Form.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT INSPECTION RECORDS:

Record requests for HEALTH DEPARTMENT INSPECTION RECORDS which typically may include inspections or related reports to: body art establishments, massage, bodywork or somatic therapy establishments, pumping and abandonment of septic systems, retail food establishment inspections, reports on sealing of abandoned wells or septic systems, soil permeability or percolation test inspections should be routed to Middle-Brook Regional Health Commission (MBRHC).

MBRHC is a separate public entity, contracted by the Borough to serve as its Health Officer. The Borough of Watchung intakes applications for inspections conducted by MBRHC. Intake applications are housed by the Borough of Watchung, but inspection records, including any correspondence MBRHC may have done with the applicant(s), are housed by MBRHC. Therefore, any requests for public records on the above matters should be routed to Middle-Brook Regional Health Commission.

COUNTY & STATE GOVERNMENT RECORDS:
If you are seeking Somerset County or State of New Jersey government records, the request must be made directly to the county or state.

Somerset County
State of New Jersey OPRA

The Government Records Council’s website www.state.nj.us/grc contains useful information on the law, including summaries of exceptions to disclosure, copies of gubernatorial Executive Orders, lists of statutes containing exceptions, and a search engine of all prior GRC decisions. The public is urged to check the website when questions arise and should also feel free to submit their questions to the Council via the toll-free information line (1-866-850-0511), e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or regular mail (P.O. Box 819, Trenton, NJ 08625-0819).

Below is a Citizen’s Guide to the Open Public Records Act that has been prepared by the Government Records Council to help the public understand the requirements of the State of NJ. This guide is intended to familiarize those who want access to public records of their rights and of the responsibilities of the public agencies that hold those records, but is NOT to serve as a legal reference.

MUNICIPAL COURT RECORDS:

The Borough of Watchung shares court services with the Borough of North Plainfield. Copies of municipal court records can be requested from the NJ Courts system by CLICKING HERE.