St. Louis County Public Records

What Are Public Records in St. Louis County?

Public records in St. Louis County, Minnesota, are government-generated or government-held documents that members of the public may inspect and obtain copies of under state law. Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 13.03, government data collected, created, received, maintained, or disseminated by a government entity is presumed to be public unless classified otherwise by statute, federal law, or temporary classification. St. Louis County maintains a broad range of records across multiple departments, and the county's Public Records & Property Valuation Department serves as a central resource for many of these documents.

The following record types are currently available to members of the public:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court records are maintained by the St. Louis County District Court and may be searched through the Minnesota Judicial Branch portal.
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and title documents are recorded and maintained by the St. Louis County Recorder and Registrar of Titles. Real estate recording services are administered through the Public Records Department.
Vital records — Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are issued by the Minnesota Department of Health and, for local filings, through the county.
Business records — Licenses, permits, and assumed name (fictitious name) filings are maintained at the county and state levels.
Tax records — Property tax and assessment records are accessible through the St. Louis County Auditor and the St. Louis County Parcel Tax Lookup tool.
Voting and election records — Voter registration data and election results are maintained by the St. Louis County Auditor/Treasurer.
Meeting minutes and agendas — County Board meeting minutes, agendas, and resolutions are published by the St. Louis County Administrator's Office.
Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, audits, and financial reports are available through the county's Finance Department.
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted under state law, are maintained by the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office.
Land use and zoning records — Land use permits, zoning maps, and planning documents are held by the St. Louis County Planning and Community Development Department.

Is St. Louis County an Open Records County?

St. Louis County fully operates under Minnesota's open records framework, which establishes a strong presumption in favor of public access to government data. Under Minnesota Statutes § 13.01, the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA) declares that government data on individuals and government data generally shall be accessible to the public unless specifically classified as private, confidential, or protected nonpublic. This statute applies to all county departments, offices, and agencies operating within St. Louis County.

Key provisions of the MGDPA relevant to St. Louis County residents include:

Government entities must respond to data requests in a prompt and appropriate manner.
Entities may not require a requester to identify themselves or state a reason for requesting public data.
Agencies must provide data in the format requested, to the extent reasonably possible.

St. Louis County's Public Records Department administers compliance with the MGDPA at the county level. Minnesota's Sunshine Law provisions further require that meetings of public bodies be open to the public under Minnesota Statutes § 13D.01, ensuring transparency in county governance.

How to Find Public Records in St. Louis County in 2026

Members of the public may access St. Louis County records through several channels, depending on the record type sought.

Online Access:

Property assessment data is available through the St. Louis County Assessor's property information portal.
Parcel and tax data may be searched using the county's online parcel tax lookup tool.
Court case information is accessible through Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO), the official Minnesota Judicial Branch case search system.

In-Person Requests:

Members of the public may visit the St. Louis County Government Center in Duluth or the Virginia or Hibbing service centers to inspect records in person during regular business hours.
Requests for certified copies of recorded documents must be submitted to the Recorder's Office directly.

Written or Electronic Requests:

Data requests may be submitted in writing to the responsible department. Requests should identify the data sought with sufficient specificity to allow staff to locate the records.
Some departments accept requests submitted via email or through online forms available on the county website.

Steps to Submit a Request:

Identify the record type and the department that maintains it.
Submit a written or in-person request to the appropriate office.
Provide sufficient identifying information about the record (e.g., parcel number, case number, date range).
Pay any applicable fees upon receipt of the records.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in St. Louis County?

St. Louis County charges fees for copies of public records in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, which govern the maximum amounts agencies may charge. Current standard fees include:

Paper copies: Agencies may charge the actual cost of reproduction, which is typically $0.25 per page for standard black-and-white copies.
Certified copies: Certified copies of recorded documents, such as deeds or vital records, carry higher fees. Recording and certification fees are set by statute and currently range from approximately $10.00 to $46.00 per document depending on the number of pages and document type.
Electronic records: When data is provided in electronic format, agencies may charge the actual cost of providing the data, including the cost of any medium used.
Research fees: Some offices may charge for staff time required to locate and compile records, particularly for large or complex requests.

Accepted payment methods at St. Louis County offices generally include cash, check, and credit or debit card, though accepted methods may vary by department. Under Minnesota Statutes § 13.03, subdivision 3, government entities may charge only the actual cost of searching for and retrieving data, and may not impose fees that function as a barrier to access. Fee waivers are not broadly established by county ordinance, but requesters experiencing financial hardship may inquire with the relevant department.

Does St. Louis County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to all members of the public under Minnesota law. Agencies are required to permit individuals to inspect public government data at no charge; fees apply only when copies are requested. Several categories of records are currently accessible at no cost through official online portals:

Property and parcel data — The St. Louis County Parcel Tax Lookup tool provides free online access to property tax and parcel information maintained by the county.
Property assessment information — Members of the public may access property valuation and assessment data at no cost through the county Assessor's online portal.
Court records — Basic case information is available at no charge through Minnesota Court Records Online, the official judicial branch search system.
Recorded document indexes — The Public Records Department provides searchable indexes of recorded real estate documents, which may be reviewed without charge.
Meeting minutes and agendas — County Board minutes, agendas, and related documents are published on the St. Louis County website at no cost.

Who Can Request Public Records in St. Louis County?

Any person may request access to public government data maintained by St. Louis County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, government entities may not require a requester to identify themselves when requesting public data, nor may they require the requester to explain the reason for the request. This applies equally to residents and non-residents of St. Louis County and the State of Minnesota.

Specific eligibility considerations include:

Residency: Not required. Non-residents retain full rights to request public data.
Identification: Not required for requests involving public data. Identification may be required when a requester seeks access to their own private data under the Act.
Purpose: Requesters are not required to state a purpose for accessing public records.
Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking access to private data about themselves must provide sufficient verification of identity. Under the MGDPA, individuals have the right to access and challenge the accuracy of private data maintained about them by government entities.
Restrictions for specific record types: Certain records, such as juvenile court records, adoption records, and law enforcement investigative data, are subject to access restrictions regardless of the requester's identity or purpose.

What Records Are Confidential in St. Louis County?

Not all government-held data in St. Louis County is accessible to the public. Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13 classifies certain categories of data as private, confidential, or protected nonpublic, thereby restricting or prohibiting public access. The following record types are currently exempt from general public disclosure:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the public.
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to juvenile court proceedings are generally confidential under Minnesota law.
Ongoing law enforcement investigation data — Active investigative data is classified as protected nonpublic or confidential under Minnesota Statutes § 13.82.
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are classified as private data.
Medical and health records — Protected under both the MGDPA and federal HIPAA regulations.
Adoption records — Adoption-related documents are sealed and accessible only under specific statutory conditions.
Child welfare and protective services records — Data collected in connection with child protection proceedings is classified as private or confidential.
Personnel records — Employee data is generally classified as private, with limited exceptions for certain public officials.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Data submitted to the county in connection with licensing or contracting that constitutes a trade secret may be protected from disclosure.
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — Information relating to security systems and infrastructure vulnerability assessments is classified as nonpublic.

When a government entity withholds data, it must inform the requester of the specific statutory basis for the classification. Minnesota law does not currently provide a general balancing test for weighing privacy interests against the public interest; rather, classification is determined by the applicable statute governing each data type.

St. Louis County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The St. Louis County Recorder and Registrar of Titles is the principal office responsible for recording, indexing, and maintaining real estate documents, military discharge papers, and related instruments. Members of the public may inspect recorded documents and request certified copies during regular counter hours.

St. Louis County Public Records & Property Valuation Department (Duluth) 100 North 5th Avenue West, Room 214, Duluth, MN 55802 Phone: (218) 726-2383 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. St. Louis County Public Records Department

St. Louis County Government Services Center (Virginia) 201 South 3rd Avenue, Virginia, MN 55792 Phone: (218) 749-7100 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

St. Louis County Government Services Center (Hibbing) 880 East 17th Street, Hibbing, MN 55746 Phone: (218) 262-6480 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

St. Louis County District Court (Duluth) 100 North 5th Avenue West, Duluth, MN 55802 Phone: (218) 726-2460 Minnesota Judicial Branch – St. Louis County

St. Louis County Assessor's Office 100 North 5th Avenue West, Room 214, Duluth, MN 55802 Phone: (218) 726-2304 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. St. Louis County Assessor – Property Information