https://illinoisfoia.org/exemptions/7-1-k/ 2026-06-09T00:00:00Z https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/10-001-2/ 2026-06-09T00:00:00Z

This document is not a legal decision, but rather a master list or index of all binding opinions issued by the Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Counselor since 2010. It is intended to help the public and legal professionals find specific past rulings on Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) issues.

https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/2025-pac-87009/ 2025-09-02T00:00:00Z

The requester sought a private solar-energy developer's application materials submitted to a county land use department, which withheld two engineering technical submissions in their entirety as construction-related technical documents. The Public Access Counselor held that because the project was not being constructed or developed with public funds, section 7(1)(k) of FOIA exempted the engineering submissions from disclosure regardless of whether disclosure would compromise security. The depart

https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-81197/ 2024-08-13T00:00:00Z

A resident asked the Village of Woodridge for maps showing the exact locations of water shutoff valves for several streets. The Village refused to provide the maps, and the Attorney General's office agreed, ruling that the records are exempt from disclosure to protect the security of the water utility infrastructure. This means the Village does not have to release these specific maps to the public.

https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-69505/ 2022-05-19T00:00:00Z

A reporter requested building plans and permit records from the City of Edwardsville for commercial warehouses, including an Amazon facility. The City denied the building plans under FOIA exemption 7(1)(k), arguing the projects were privately funded and not built with public funds. The Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Bureau concluded the City did not improperly deny the records, because the exemption applies to privately funded building plans regardless of security concerns. The Bureau

https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-34937/ 2016-03-04T00:00:00Z

A requester asked for detailed facility plans from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, but the District refused to provide them, citing security concerns. The Attorney General's office reviewed the documents and agreed that releasing the technical details of the facility's systems could pose a security risk. Consequently, the PAC closed the case, finding that the District acted within the law.

https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-38780/ 2015-12-18T00:00:00Z

A resident requested building blueprints from the Village of Arlington Heights, but the Village refused to provide them, citing a law that protects construction documents for private projects. The Attorney General's office reviewed the request and agreed with the Village, finding that the building was privately funded and therefore exempt from disclosure. This means the Village was legally allowed to keep the blueprints private.