Freedom of Information Act Requests

As a government agency, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) adheres to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

The information you are seeking may be available on this website and may not require you to submit a FOIA request form. If you can’t find the information you are looking for on our website, please follow the guidance below to request information from CMAP.

How to submit a FOIA request

Please make your request for records in writing. CMAP has created a template FOIA request form for your convenience.

You may submit your written request by mail, email, or in person.

By mail or in person:

Attn: FOIA officer
Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning
433 W. Van Buren Street, Suite 450
Chicago, IL 60607

Read more about visiting us in person.

By email:

Email your request to FOIA@cmap.illinois.gov. Please use “FOIA” in the subject line to identify your request and reduce the possibility of its being filtered as spam.

Tips for submitting a FOIA request

If you would like to submit a FOIA request, please include the information below.

• Be specific in your request, so that the FOIA officer can process it more efficiently.
• Tell us whether you would like copies of the requested records, or whether you wish to examine the records in person.
• Include your name, telephone number(s), mailing address, and email address

Fees

Electronic records can be requested and will be provided, as allowed under the law, for free.
Physical copies are:

• Free for first 50 pages (black and white)
• 15 cents per page thereafter (black and white)
• Actual cost of copying for color and abnormal size copies

You may ask for a copying fee waiver. To do so, please include the following statement in your FOIA request: “I request a waiver of all fees associated with this request.” In addition, you must include a specific explanation as to why your request for information is in the public interest — not simply your personal interest — and merits a fee waiver.

Response

Illinois law requires public bodies to respond to FOIA requests within 5 business days for non-commercial requests and 21 days for commercial requests.