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How to Find Public Records in Washington County in 2026
WashingtonMNRecords.us provides access to publicly available information related to public records maintained by government agencies in Washington County, Minnesota. Members of the public seeking government documents may find records spanning court filings, property transactions, vital statistics, and other categories of official documentation. The availability and completeness of any given record depends on the maintaining agency, the nature of the document, and applicable state law.
Record categories that may be accessible include:
- Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family court filings)
- Property records (deeds, mortgages, liens, and tax assessments)
- Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates)
- Business licenses and permits
- Voting and election records
- County board meeting minutes and agendas
- Budget and financial documents
- Law enforcement incident reports (where permitted by law)
- Land use and zoning records
Records in Washington County, Minnesota may be searched through official court resources, county clerk offices, public access terminals, and online government tools.
Online Access: The Minnesota Judicial Branch provides the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) portal, through which members of the public may search district court case records statewide, including Washington County. Property records and recorded documents are accessible through the Washington County Recorder's Office online portal at washingtonCounty.us. Some records require account registration or payment of applicable fees prior to access.
In-Person Requests: Members of the public may inspect records in person at the Washington County Government Center. The Washington County Recorder's Office and the District Court Clerk's Office both maintain public counters. Requestors should bring a valid government-issued photo identification and be prepared to complete a written request form if required by the maintaining office. Courthouse public access terminals provide the most complete access to electronic district court case records and are available during regular business hours.
Written/Mail Requests: Written requests should be directed to the appropriate office by mail. Requests must include the requestor's name, contact information, a description of the records sought, and the preferred format for delivery. Under Minnesota Statutes § 13.03, government entities are required to respond to data requests within a reasonable time.
Phone/Email:
- Washington County Recorder's Office: (651) 430-6175
- Washington County District Court: (651) 413-8030
- Washington County Government Center main line: (651) 430-6000
What Are Public Records in Washington County?
Public records in Washington County are government-held documents and data that are accessible to the public under Minnesota law. Under Minnesota Statutes § 13.03, Subd. 1, government data are presumed to be public unless classified as private, confidential, or protected by a specific statutory exemption. The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA) governs the collection, maintenance, and dissemination of government data across all Minnesota counties, including Washington County.
The following record types are maintained by Washington County agencies:
| Record Type | Maintaining Office |
|---|---|
| Court records (civil, criminal, probate, family) | Washington County District Court |
| Property deeds, mortgages, liens | Washington County Recorder's Office |
| Vital records (birth, death, marriage) | Washington County Vital Records / MN Dept. of Health |
| Business licenses and permits | Washington County Community Development |
| Property tax and assessment records | Washington County Assessor's Office |
| Voting and election records | Washington County Auditor/Treasurer |
| Meeting minutes and agendas | Washington County Administrator's Office |
| Budget and financial documents | Washington County Finance Department |
| Law enforcement records | Washington County Sheriff's Office |
| Land use and zoning records | Washington County Community Development |
The Washington County Recorder's Office maintains recorded land documents, while the Minnesota Department of Health serves as the central repository for statewide vital records.
Is Washington County an Open Records County?
Washington County operates in full compliance with Minnesota's open records framework. Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, Minn. Stat. § 13.01 et seq., all government data collected, created, received, maintained, or disseminated by a government entity are public unless classified otherwise by statute or federal law. As the Minnesota Department of Administration states, "The MGDPA presumes that government data are public and accessible to anyone who requests them, unless a specific law classifies the data as not public."
Washington County does not maintain a separate county-level open records ordinance; the county operates under the statewide MGDPA framework administered by the Minnesota Department of Administration's Information Policy Analysis Division (IPAD). The county's Responsible Authority — the County Administrator — is designated to ensure compliance with data practices obligations across all county departments. Members of the public who believe their data request has been improperly denied may file a complaint with IPAD or seek judicial review under Minn. Stat. § 13.08.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Washington County?
Washington County charges fees for copies and certified documents in accordance with Minnesota law. The fee structure varies by record type and the office maintaining the record.
| Fee Type | Standard Amount |
|---|---|
| Paper copies (standard) | $0.25 per page |
| Certified copy of recorded document | $10.00 per document |
| Electronic copy (where available) | Varies by record type |
| Vital records certified copy (birth/death/marriage) | $13.00 per copy (MN Dept. of Health rate) |
| Court record copies | Set by Minnesota Judicial Branch fee schedule |
Inspection of public records at a government office is available at no charge. Under Minn. Stat. § 13.03, Subd. 3, a government entity may charge for copies but may not charge for the time spent locating or retrieving data unless the request requires extraordinary effort. Accepted payment methods at Washington County offices include cash, check, and credit or debit card. Fee waiver provisions are not broadly established under Minnesota law, though individual offices may exercise discretion in limited circumstances.
Does Washington County Have Free Public Records?
Free inspection of public records is available at Washington County government offices during regular business hours. Members of the public may review documents in person without charge at the relevant county office. The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while viewing records is free, obtaining physical or electronic copies is subject to the fee schedule described above.
The following free resources are available through official government channels:
- Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO): The MCRO case search portal provides free basic case information for district court records statewide, including Washington County civil, criminal, and probate matters.
- Washington County Property Records: The county's online property search tool allows free access to parcel data, assessment information, and recorded document indexes.
- County Board Meeting Minutes: Agendas and minutes from Washington County Board of Commissioners meetings are posted at no charge on the county's official website.
- Election and Voting Records: Voter registration data classified as public under the MGDPA is available through the Washington County Auditor/Treasurer's Office at no cost for inspection.
Who Can Request Public Records in Washington County?
Any person may request access to public government data in Washington County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act does not restrict data requests to Minnesota residents, nor does it require requestors to provide identification or explain the reason for their request when seeking public data. As IPAD has noted, "A government entity cannot require a person to identify themselves or state a reason for requesting public data."
Specific considerations apply in the following circumstances:
- Identification: Requestors are not required to provide identification when requesting public data. However, identification may be required when requesting private data about oneself.
- Purpose: No stated purpose is required for public data requests. Requests for private data about oneself require verification of identity.
- Non-residents: Non-residents of Minnesota and Washington County retain full rights to request public data under the MGDPA.
- Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking private data about themselves must verify their identity to the responsible authority. Upon verification, the individual has the right to access their own private data under Minn. Stat. § 13.04.
- Requesting records about others: Private or confidential data about other individuals is not accessible to the general public unless a specific statutory exception applies.
What Records Are Confidential in Washington County?
Not all government data maintained by Washington County is accessible to the public. The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act classifies certain data as private, confidential, or protected, restricting access to authorized parties only. Minn. Stat. § 13.02 defines the classification tiers and establishes the framework for determining what data may be withheld.
Records and data categories that are not public in Washington County include:
- Sealed court records: Records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the public.
- Juvenile records: Records pertaining to juvenile court proceedings are protected under Minn. Stat. § 260B.171.
- Active law enforcement investigation data: Data compiled in connection with an active criminal investigation is classified as confidential until the investigation is inactive.
- 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 proceedings and related records are sealed under Minnesota law.
- Child welfare and protective services records: Data collected by child protection agencies is classified as private or confidential.
- Personnel records: Employee data is classified as private, with limited exceptions for certain public employee information such as name, position, and salary.
- Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Submitted in connection with licensing or permitting may be protected.
- Security plans and critical infrastructure details: Exempt from disclosure to protect public safety.
The balancing of public access against individual privacy interests is a core principle of the MGDPA. Government entities are required to provide the maximum amount of information possible while protecting data that the legislature has determined warrants privacy protection.
Washington County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Washington County Recorder's Office
14949 62nd Street North
Stillwater, MN 55082
Phone: (651) 430-6175
Washington County Recorder's Office
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on federal and state holidays.
Washington County Government Center (Main)
14949 62nd Street North
Stillwater, MN 55082
Phone: (651) 430-6000
Washington County Government
Washington County District Court
Washington County Courthouse
14949 62nd Street North, P.O. Box 3802
Stillwater, MN 55082
Phone: (651) 413-8030
Washington County District Court
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays.
Washington County Assessor's Office
14949 62nd Street North
Stillwater, MN 55082
Phone: (651) 430-6175
Washington County Assessor
Washington County Auditor/Treasurer (Elections & Voting Records)
14949 62nd Street North
Stillwater, MN 55082
Phone: (651) 430-6175
Washington County Auditor/Treasurer
Washington County Sheriff's Office (Law Enforcement Records)
15015 62nd Street North
Stillwater, MN 55082
Phone: (651) 439-9381
Washington County Sheriff's Office