"Public records" are defined as "records kept by any public office ... " Kept by a public office has been further defined as the type of item/record typically and actually retained by the office in the ordinary course of its business in order to carry out its duties and functions. Definition of public "Records" to include any document, device, or item, regardless of physical form or characteristic, including an electronic record, created or received by or coming under the jurisdiction of any public office of the state or its political subdivi­sions, which serves to document the organization, functions, policies, decisions, procedures, operations, or other activities of the office.  The definition of a public record can be further refined, as that statute requires records to be created only when they "are necessary for the adequate and proper documentation of the organization, functions, policies, decisions, procedures and essential transac­tions of the ... " office. Those records so generated are "public records", unless they fall into a specific exclusion provided for in the Ohio Revised Code or court cases.

A more complete version of this summary can be downloaded by accessing the Board of County Commissioners Public Records Policy (PDF).