How long will the City of Markham take to respond?

The City follows MFIPPA timelines; specific response windows and extension reasons are described on the City FOI page.

How do I get a copy of an occurrence report from York Regional Police?

Contact York Regional Police Records Services using the procedure on their records page to request an occurrence report and follow their form and ID requirements.

Can I appeal a decision if a request is refused?

Yes — appeals are made to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario; filing deadlines and appeal steps are on the IPC site.

Request Police Records & FOI in Markham

Public Safety Ontario 4 Minutes Read · published May 24, 2026

Markham, Ontario residents and businesses sometimes need police occurrence reports, incident information, or municipal records under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA). This guide explains who handles requests in Markham, how to apply, expected timelines, likely fees, and how to appeal a decision. It covers requests to York Regional Police for police records and to the City of Markham for municipal records, with concrete action steps and official contacts to start a request.

What records to request and who enforces access

Police records (occurrence reports, witness statements, and evidence lists) are held by York Regional Police for incidents in Markham; municipal records (bylaw files, council minutes, permits, planning records) are held by the City of Markham and released under MFIPPA. For police-held information that contains personal information, York Regional Police manages access and may require a formal request or authorization. For municipal records, the City Clerk / Freedom of Information office processes MFIPPA applications.^[1]

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement and penalties for mishandling or unlawfully disclosing personal information are governed by provincial law and by the policies of the agency holding the records. Specific monetary penalty amounts or bylaw fines for improper disclosure are not provided on the cited municipal and police request pages; see the official contacts below to confirm enforcement details.^[2]

Enforcer: City of Markham FOI / City Clerk for municipal records; York Regional Police Records Unit for police records.
Inspection/complaint pathway: submit a formal FOI request to the City or a formal records request to York Regional Police; appeals go to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario.
Response timelines: institutions generally use the MFIPPA framework; specific extension rules appear on provincial guidance and on institutional pages.^[3]
Non-monetary sanctions: orders to stop disclosure, court actions, or administrative directions from the IPC are possible though specific measures are not listed on the cited request pages.

If a request is denied, you usually have a limited time to appeal to the provincial privacy commissioner.

Applications & Forms

City FOI form: "Freedom of Information Request Form" (City of Markham) — includes instructions, $5 application fee under MFIPPA and submission details as listed by the City.^[1]
Police records request: York Regional Police occurrence/records request page lists how to request reports and contact details for Records Services; fees for specific report copies are not specified on the cited page.
Fees: the standard MFIPPA application fee is $5 where applicable; other reproduction or processing fees may apply and are listed by the holding agency or not specified on the cited page.

Save reference numbers and confirmation emails when you submit a request.

How to prepare a request

Clear requests get faster responses. Identify the record type (occurrence report, bylaw file, permit file), date range, names or file numbers, and provide ID or signed authorization if requesting personal information about someone else.

Be specific about dates, locations, and parties to narrow search time and fees.
Include contact details for follow-up and preferred delivery method (email, mail, pickup).
Attach signed consent if requesting another person’s personal information or medical records.

Requests that are vague or broad may be delayed or assessed additional fees.

FAQ

How long will the City of Markham take to respond?: The City follows MFIPPA timelines; specific response windows and extension reasons are described on the City FOI page.^[1]
How do I get a copy of an occurrence report from York Regional Police?: Contact York Regional Police Records Services using the procedure on their records page to request an occurrence report; follow their form and ID requirements as listed on the police page.^[2]
Can I appeal a decision if a request is refused?: Yes — appeals are made to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario; filing deadlines and appeal steps are on the IPC site and linked from municipal FOI pages.^[3]

How-To

Identify the record holder: use York Regional Police for police records and City of Markham for municipal records.
Gather details: dates, file or occurrence numbers, names, and any authorizations needed.
Complete the official request form: City FOI form or the police records request process linked on official pages and pay the required application or reproduction fees.
Submit to the listed contact (City Clerk/FOI office or York Regional Police Records Services) by the method specified (email, mail, in person).
Track and follow up: keep confirmation, note statutory response dates, and if refused, prepare an appeal to the IPC within the stated deadline.

Use precise search terms and file numbers to reduce processing time and fees.

Key Takeaways

York Regional Police holds police occurrence reports for Markham incidents.
City of Markham processes municipal records requests under MFIPPA; a $5 application fee applies where required.^[1]
If denied, appeals go to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario.