Charges for services rendered in response to information requests shall be as follows (not to exceed a maximum search fee per request as may be imposed by applicable law):
When a response to a request requires services or materials for which no fee has been established, the direct cost of the services or materials to the government may be charged, but only if the requester has been notified of the cost before it is incurred.
Where an extensive number of documents are identified and collected in response to a request and the requester has not indicated in advance his willingness to pay fees as high as are anticipated for copies of the documents, the Board shall inform the requester that the documents are available for inspection and for subsequent copying at the established rate.
A charge of one dollar ($1.00) shall be made for each certification of true copies of Board records.
Search costs, not to exceed any dollar limitation prescribed by the Act for each request, may be imposed even if the requested record cannot be located. No fees shall be charged for examination and review by the Board to determine whether a record is subject to disclosure.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board shall require that fees as prescribed by these rules shall be paid in full prior to issuance of requested copies.
Remittance shall be in the form either of a personal check or bank draft on a bank in the United States or a postal money order. Remittance shall be made payable to the order of the D.C. Treasurer and mailed or otherwise delivered to the General Counsel for the Board.
A receipt for fees paid shall be given only upon request. No refund shall be made for services rendered.
The Board may waive all or part of any fee when it is deemed to be either in the Board's interest or in the interest of the public.
A requester seeking a waiver or reduction of fees shall provide a statement in his or her request letter explaining how the requested records will be used to benefit the general public.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 3, r. 3-2008