FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions

One or more of the following factors could delay the provision of publicly available records in response to your request:

Failure to pay incurred fees

Failure to respond to correspondence from City staff

Requests that are broad in scope, include numerous records or require extensive staff time to process and research

Requests that are vague without referencing any specific records

While some publicly available records my exist and can be furnished in electronic format, not all records exist in electronic format. The City is not required to create an electronic version of a public record when one does not exist to fulfill a records request (Section 30-4-30[A][2]). If an electronic version of a public record is made, the City may charge for any staff time used to transfer the record to electronic format (Section 30-4-30[B]).

You may contact the department who maintains the document(s) to schedule an appointment to view the copyrighted materials if you wish, but they cannot be reproduced or copied, in whole or apart, without written consent of the design professional.  During your appointment, you may not photograph or video the copyrighted materials and may be asked to leave your electronic device(s) at a desk or in your vehicle.  Written permission from the design professional, i.e. Engineer, Architect, etc., must specifically address the consent to City of Hanahan for release of the specified copyrighted document(s). 

The City is afforded 10 days (not including  weekends and legal public holidays) of the receipt of the request to notify the person making the request of its determination and the reasons for it; provided, however, that if the record is more than twenty-four 24 months old at the date the request is made, the public body has 20 days (not including weekends and legal public holidays), of the receipt to make this notification.  

If the records are less than 24 months old, the City must make available the records within 30 calendar days.  If the records are more than 24 months old, wholly or apart, the City must make available the records within 35 calendar days. 

The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA") exempts certain matters from disclosure.  For a complete list of exemptions under FOIA, please see Section 30-4-40 in the South Carolina Code of Laws here: SC FOIA Exemptions.  

Additional records are exempted from disclosure by statute or law.

Section 30-4 of the S.C. Code of Laws.