Public Records : Research Center

Frequently asked questions about airport public records.

  What law governs the disclosure of public records at Denver International Airport?

Denver International Airport is owned and operated by the City and County of Denver, and Denver’s records are made available to the public under the Open Records Act of the state of Colorado (Colorado Revised Statute 24-72-201 to 206).

The federal public records act, called the Freedom of Information Act, applies to records of the federal government, not records of state or local agencies.

  Who maintains the public records of the airport?

The official custodian of the airport’s records is the manager of aviation, the head of the Department of Aviation of the City of Denver.

  Where and how do I request public records of the airport?

For complete information, you should read the rules for Open Records Act requests, Part 220 of the Airport Rules, which are available online here: DIA Rule on Open Records Requests.

As the rules explain, you may request public records of the airport by mail, fax or e-mail to the manager of aviation:

Manager of Aviation Denver International Airport 8500 Peña Boulevard Denver, Colorado  80249

Fax:  (303) 342-2215 E-mail: aviation.manager@diadenver.net

However, e-mail messages are vulnerable to non-delivery or rejection by the airport’s computer security systems.  Thus, if you do not receive a reply e-mail acknowledging receipt of your e-mail request within 24 hours, you should mail or fax your request to the manager.

  Where would I go to look at the records?

Under the Open Records Act, the airport's public records are available for inspection at the location where they are maintained.  Most of the airport’s records are maintained at the Airport Office Building, 8500 Peña Boulevard, Denver, Colorado.

  Are there any airport records I can look at in downtown Denver?

The City Clerk’s Office, located on the first floor of the Wellington E. Webb Municipal Office Building, 201 West Colfax Avenue, Denver, Colorado, has the following airport records on file:

• Duly executed city contracts, including contracts of the Department of Aviation
• Bills for ordinance and contracts pending approval of the city council
• Rules and Regulations of Denver International Airport

The Denver City Council, City and County Building, 1437 Bannock Street, Denver, Colorado has minutes and agendas of meetings of the city council and its committees at which airport matters were discussed.

Under the Open Records Act, if you ask for public records that the airport does not have, but another agency has, the airport staff will let you know to the best of its knowledge where to go and who to ask for the records.  (Colorado Revised Statute 24-72-203(2)(a)).

  Are there any airport records I can look at online?

The following types of records are available online from DIA's Web site:

• Airport rules and regulations
• Commonly requested contracts (available as Adobe PDF files)
• Advertising
• Elevator maintenance
• Ground Transportation Permit (sample)
• Janitorial
• Passenger train operation and maintenance
• Pay telephones
• Parking management
• Security guards
• Shuttle buses
• Concession list of companies doing business as (DBAs) (Adobe PDF file)
• Concession program information and opportunities
• Construction bid and award information
• Financial reports
• Noise Reports
• Tenant Development Guidelines (Adobe PDF file)

The following types of records are available online at the city's Web site, www.denvergov.org:

• Annual budgets
• City council bills, ordinances and agendas
• Denver maps
• Denver Municipal Code
• Pre-qualification guidelines for construction contractors
• Restaurant inspections

There are many other records available and they are added often, so we encourage you to browse these Web sites before making an open records request.

  Can I make a request for records that are not yet available but are to be compiled in the future, such as monthly reports or financial statements?

No, the airport is generally not able to accommodate “standing” requests or requests for future documents.  The airport will let you know when the document is likely to be available, so you can resubmit your request at that time.

  What is the charge for viewing or copying the records?

There is no charge to view or inspect records online or at the office where they are maintained.  If you want to have hard copies made of records you have inspected, photocopies may be made at the airport for .25 cents per page, with page size not exceeding 11 x 17 inches.  Contracts and other documents available at the City Clerk’s Office may also be photocopied for a fee.