How to Request Body Camera Footage in California
Reviewed October 2026
Police video can be requested as a public record in California, but the rules depend on what the recording shows. Recordings of serious force incidents have their own law. Other recordings are often treated as part of an investigation.
Recordings of critical incidents
Gov. Code § 7923.625 covers video and audio of “critical incidents,” meaning an officer firing a gun at a person, or an officer’s use of force causing death or great bodily injury. Jail custodial officers are included.
During an active investigation, an agency can delay release for up to 45 days after it knew or should have known about the incident, but only if release would substantially interfere with the investigation. It must tell you the specific reason in writing and give an estimated release date. After 45 days, it must show that release would still substantially interfere with the investigation, and it must reassess and update you every 30 days. After one year, it must prove this by clear and convincing evidence.
An agency may blur or distort parts of a recording to protect someone’s reasonable expectation of privacy, but it must explain why in writing. The redaction can’t stop a viewer from fully and accurately understanding the events.
Other police recordings
Recordings of routine stops and other incidents aren’t covered by that section. Agencies may treat them as investigative records and withhold them. You can still ask, and the agency has to answer within the normal timeline.
What to include
- The exact date and a time window
- The location, including cross streets
- An incident or case number, if you have one
- The officers’ names or badge numbers, if you know them
- The type of recording, such as body camera, dash camera or dispatch audio
Recordings are often stored by incident, so these details can make a real difference. Ask quickly as well, because agencies only keep recordings for a limited time.
Fees for video
Electronic copies are limited to the direct cost of producing them. You may have to pay more if the request needs data extraction or programming (Gov. Code § 7922.575). Ask for an estimate first.
Related guides
General information, not legal advice.