Rhode Island's counties are purely historical and judicial boundaries, used for court districts, with no governmental function — they've had no operating government since the 1840s. All local governance happens at the city or town level, so a resident should contact their city or town council, mayor, or town manager, and file records requests with the municipal clerk.

Most states structure local government as a small elected commission with combined legislative and executive power; Rhode Island instead has no county government layer at all — that tier was abolished in the 19th century, and its cities and towns carry out all local governance directly.