Hennepin County Public Records
What Are Public Records in Hennepin County?
Public records in Hennepin County are defined under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13), which establishes the presumption that government data are public and accessible to citizens. According to § 13.03, "All government data collected, created, received, maintained or disseminated by a government entity shall be public unless classified by statute, or temporary classification pursuant to section 13.06, or federal law, as nonpublic or protected nonpublic."
Hennepin County maintains numerous types of public records, including:
- Court records (civil, criminal, probate, family court proceedings)
- Property records (deeds, mortgages, liens, property tax assessments)
- Vital records (birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, divorce decrees)
- Business records (licenses, permits, fictitious business names)
- Tax records (property tax information, assessment records)
- Voting and election records (voter registration, election results)
- Meeting minutes and agendas (County Board, committees, commissions)
- Budget and financial documents (annual budgets, expenditure reports)
- Law enforcement records (incident reports, arrest logs where permitted by law)
- Land use and zoning records (permits, applications, zoning maps)
The Hennepin County District Court Records Center maintains court records, while the County Recorder's Office manages property records and vital statistics. The County Auditor maintains tax records, and the County Clerk maintains meeting minutes and other administrative records. Business licenses and permits are typically managed by the appropriate licensing department.
Is Hennepin County an Open Records County?
Hennepin County adheres to Minnesota's robust open records laws, specifically the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA). Under § 13.01, subdivision 3, the law establishes that "The government entity shall keep records containing government data in such an arrangement and condition as to make them easily accessible for convenient use."
The MGDPA is one of the nation's most comprehensive public records laws, creating a presumption of accessibility while balancing privacy concerns. Hennepin County has implemented this state mandate through its own data practices policies that govern how county departments respond to public records requests.
According to § 13.03, subdivision 1, "All government data collected, created, received, maintained or disseminated by a government entity shall be public unless classified by statute, or temporary classification pursuant to section 13.06, or federal law, as nonpublic or protected nonpublic, or with respect to data on individuals, as private or confidential."
Hennepin County also complies with Minnesota's Open Meeting Law (Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13D), which requires that meetings of governmental bodies be open to the public, with limited exceptions. This transparency extends to meeting minutes, agendas, and other documents discussed during public meetings.
The county maintains an official public records policy that outlines procedures for requesting information and establishes responsible authorities for each department.
How to Find Public Records in Hennepin County in 2026
Members of the public seeking records in Hennepin County may utilize several methods to access information. The county has established streamlined processes for obtaining various record types:
For court records:
- Visit the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) portal to search and access many public court documents electronically.
- Submit a request to the Hennepin County District Court Records Center in person, by mail, or electronically.
- For certified copies or records not available online, visit the Records Center during business hours.
Hennepin County District Court Records Center
300 South Sixth Street, Room C-3
Minneapolis, MN 55487
612-348-3991
Hennepin County District Court
For property records:
- Access the Hennepin County Property Information Search portal for property tax and assessment information.
- Visit the Hennepin County Recorder's Office for deeds, mortgages, and other property documents.
- Submit a written request specifying the property address, PIN, or legal description.
For vital records:
- Submit a request to the Hennepin County Service Center with proper identification.
- Complete the appropriate application form for birth, death, marriage, or divorce certificates.
- Provide required identification and payment.
Hennepin County Service Center
300 South Sixth Street
Minneapolis, MN 55487
612-348-8240
Hennepin County Service Center
For other county records:
- Submit a Data Practices Request form to the appropriate department.
- Clearly identify the records sought with reasonable specificity.
- Provide contact information for response.
Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or through the county's online request portal. Pursuant to § 13.03, subdivision 3, government entities must respond to requests in a timely manner, typically within 10 business days.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Hennepin County?
Hennepin County assesses fees for public records in accordance with the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act § 13.03, subdivision 3, which permits government entities to charge "the actual costs of searching for and retrieving government data, including the cost of employee time, and for making copies."
Current standard fees include:
- Paper copies: $0.25 per page for standard letter/legal size documents
- Certified copies of vital records:
- Birth certificates: $26 for the first copy, $19 for each additional copy ordered at the same time
- Death certificates: $13 for the first copy, $6 for each additional copy ordered at the same time
- Marriage certificates: $9 for the first copy, $2 for each additional copy ordered at the same time
- Court records: $10 for certified copies, $0.25 per page for uncertified copies
- Property records: $10.50 for certified copies, $1.00 per page for uncertified copies
- Electronic records: Actual cost of staff time to search, retrieve, and compile data
For extensive or complex requests requiring substantial staff time, the county may charge for actual staff time at the lowest-paid employee rate capable of performing the work. Computer time and programming costs may also be charged when applicable.
Payment methods accepted include cash (in-person only), checks, money orders, and major credit cards. Some departments may require payment in advance, particularly for larger requests.
Fee waivers may be available in limited circumstances where the request is determined to be in the public interest or for indigent requestors, as permitted under § 13.03, subdivision 3(e).
Does Hennepin County Have Free Public Records?
Hennepin County provides free inspection of public records in accordance with the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act § 13.03, subdivision 3(a), which states: "The responsible authority or designee shall provide copies of public data upon request. If a person requests copies or electronic transmittal of the data to the person, the responsible authority may require the requesting person to pay the actual costs of searching for and retrieving government data, including the cost of employee time, and for making, certifying, and electronically transmitting the copies of the data or the data, but may not charge for separating public from not public data."
Free public record access options include:
- In-person inspection of records during regular business hours at the appropriate county office
- Online access to Minnesota Court Records Online for basic case information
- Hennepin County Property Information Search for property tax and assessment data
- County Board meeting minutes and agendas through the county website
- Publicly available budget documents and financial reports
- Voter registration verification and polling place information
While inspection is free, fees apply for copies or certified documents as outlined in the fee schedule. The county maintains public access terminals at various facilities where citizens may search electronic records without charge, though printing from these terminals typically incurs standard copy fees.
Who Can Request Public Records in Hennepin County?
Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act § 13.03, subdivision 3, "Upon request to a responsible authority or designee, a person shall be permitted to inspect and copy public government data at reasonable times and places." This provision establishes that any person, regardless of citizenship or residency status, may request public records from Hennepin County.
Key eligibility considerations include:
- Requestors need not be Minnesota residents
- Requestors are not required to provide identification for most public records
- Requestors generally do not need to state a reason or purpose for their request
- Requestors may remain anonymous when requesting public data, though providing contact information facilitates response
- Minors may request public records without parental consent
For certain record types, additional requirements apply:
- Vital records (birth, death, marriage certificates): Requestors must demonstrate a tangible interest as defined in § 144.225, which typically limits access to the subject of the record, immediate family members, or legal representatives
- Private data: Access is limited to the subject of the data or their authorized representative with proper identification
- Confidential court records: Access may require court order or specific legal standing
When requesting records about oneself, proper identification is required to verify identity and prevent unauthorized disclosure of private data. Third-party requests for public data about individuals are permitted, though certain identifying information may be redacted in accordance with privacy provisions.
What Records Are Confidential in Hennepin County?
While Minnesota law establishes a presumption of public access to government data, the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act § 13.02 classifies certain data as private, confidential, nonpublic, or protected nonpublic. Hennepin County maintains the following records as confidential or with restricted access:
- Juvenile court records (with limited exceptions under § 260B.171)
- Child protection and welfare records (§ 626.556)
- Adoption records (§ 259.79)
- Health and medical records protected under HIPAA and state law (§ 144.291-144.298)
- Personnel data on government employees (with exceptions for specific public data under § 13.43)
- Active criminal investigative data (§ 13.82, subdivision 7)
- Attorney-client privileged communications and attorney work product
- Trade secret information and proprietary business data (§ 13.37)
- Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and other personal identifying information
- Records related to security measures and emergency response procedures (§ 13.37)
- Sealed court records pursuant to court order
- Certain domestic abuse and sexual assault victim information (§ 13.80)
- Income tax returns and tax information (§ 270B.02)
- Educational records protected under FERPA (with exceptions for directory information)
- Certain election data, including voted ballots prior to counting (§ 204C.35)
When records contain both public and private information, Hennepin County will redact the private information and provide access to the public portions, as required by § 13.03, subdivision 3(d): "If the responsible authority or designee determines that the requested data is classified so as to deny the requesting person access, the responsible authority or designee shall inform the requesting person of the determination either orally at the time of the request, or in writing as soon after that time as possible."
Hennepin County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Hennepin County Recorder's Office
Government Center
300 South Sixth Street, A-Level
Minneapolis, MN 55487-0084
612-348-3011
Hennepin County Recorder
Public Counter Hours:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays
The Hennepin County Recorder's Office maintains and provides access to real estate records, including deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other property-related documents. The office also processes and maintains vital records such as birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and military discharge documents.
Services available at the Recorder's Office include:
- Recording of real estate documents
- Issuance of certified copies of recorded documents
- Property records searches
- Birth certificate applications (1997 to present for births in Hennepin County)
- Death certificate applications (1997 to present for deaths in Hennepin County)
- Marriage license applications and certificates
- Military discharge recording
For additional service locations, the county maintains several service centers throughout the county that can process vital records requests:
Hennepin County Service Center - Brookdale
6125 Shingle Creek Parkway
Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
612-348-8240
Hennepin County Service Center - Ridgedale
12601 Ridgedale Drive
Minnetonka, MN 55305
612-348-8240
Hennepin County Service Center - Southdale
7001 York Avenue South
Edina, MN 55435
612-348-8240
Lookup Public Records in Hennepin County
Minnesota Court Records Online
Hennepin County Property Information Search