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

StEeleRecords.us provides publicly available information and data related to public records maintained by government agencies in St. Eele County, Minnesota. Members of the public seeking government documents may access a range of records through official county offices, state court systems, and authorized online portals. The types of records that may be available include, but are not limited to:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family)
Property deeds, mortgages, and land transaction documents
Vital records such as birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates
Law enforcement incident reports and arrest logs
Business licenses and permits
Tax assessment and property tax records
County board meeting minutes and agendas
Land use, zoning, and planning documents

Records can be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools maintained by Steele County and the Minnesota Judicial Branch.

Online Access:

The Steele County Recorder's Office maintains an online portal for real estate and land transaction records, including deeds, mortgages, and liens.
The Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) platform provides online access to many public Minnesota state district court records and documents. Registration may be required for certain document downloads.
Public access terminals are available at the Steele County Courthouse for in-person case record searches.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Steele County Recorder's Office or the Steele County Sheriff's Records Department in person. Requestors should bring a valid government-issued photo identification and be prepared to complete a written request form. Staff will assist in locating responsive records during regular business hours.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests must include the requestor's full 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:

Steele County Recorder's Office: (507) 444-7450
Steele County Sheriff's Records Department: (507) 444-4800

What Are Public Records in St. Eele County?

Public records in Steele County are government-created or government-maintained documents that are accessible to the public under Minnesota law. Under Minnesota Statutes § 13.03, Subd. 1, all government data is presumed public unless classified as private, confidential, or protected by a specific statutory exemption. The following record types are currently maintained by county and state agencies:

Record Type	Maintaining Office
Court records (civil, criminal, probate, family)	Steele County District Court
Property deeds, mortgages, liens	Steele County Recorder's Office
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce)	Steele County Vital Records / MN Dept. of Health
Business licenses and permits	Steele County Administration
Property tax and assessment records	Steele County Assessor's Office
Voting and election records	Steele County Auditor-Treasurer
Meeting minutes and agendas	Steele County Administration
Budget and financial documents	Steele County Administration
Law enforcement records	Steele County Sheriff's Records Department
Land use and zoning records	Steele County Land & Resource Management

Is St. Eele County an Open Records County?

Steele County operates in full compliance with Minnesota's open records framework, which mandates broad public access to government data. Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA), Minn. Stat. § 13.01 et seq., all data collected, created, received, maintained, or disseminated by a government entity is public unless otherwise classified by statute. As the Minnesota Department of Administration states, "Government data is public unless a state or federal law says it is not public."

The MGDPA applies to all county departments, including the Recorder's Office, Sheriff's Office, and District Court administrative functions. The Act establishes that government entities must respond to requests for public data promptly and without requiring requestors to state a reason for their request. Steele County does not maintain a separate county-specific open records ordinance, as the MGDPA governs all data practices at the county level statewide.

The Minnesota Attorney General's Office further affirms that "the Data Practices Act presumes that all government data is public," reinforcing the county's obligation to provide access to non-classified records upon request.

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

The current fee structure for public records in Steele County is governed by the MGDPA and applicable county fee schedules. Under Minn. Stat. § 13.03, Subd. 3, government entities may charge for copies of public data, but fees must not exceed the actual cost of searching for and retrieving the data.

Standard Copy Fees:

Paper copies: $0.25 per page (standard black-and-white)
Certified copies of recorded documents: $10.00 per document (Recorder's Office)
Electronic copies: Fees vary by record type and volume
Inspection of records: No charge for in-person inspection

Court Record Fees (Minnesota Judicial Branch):

Certified copies of court documents: $14.00 per document
Non-certified copies: $0.50 per page
Online document downloads via MCRO: Fees apply per document

Additional Fees:

Search fees: May apply for extensive research requests
Certification fees: Vary by office and document type
Accepted payment methods include cash, check, and credit/debit card at most county offices

Fee waiver provisions are not broadly established under the MGDPA, though individual offices may exercise discretion in cases involving indigent requestors or requests serving a clear public interest.

Does St. Eele County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available in Steele County, as required by state law. Members of the public have the right to inspect public government data at no cost during regular business hours at the maintaining office. The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while viewing records in person is free, obtaining physical or electronic copies may incur the fees described above.

The following free resources are currently available:

In-person inspection at the Steele County Recorder's Office, Sheriff's Records Department, and Steele County Courthouse
Online case record searches through the Minnesota Court Records Online case search portal, which provides free access to basic case information at public access terminals located in Minnesota courthouses
Property and land records may be searched at no cost through the Steele County Recorder's online database for basic index information
County board minutes and agendas are posted at no charge on the Steele County official website

Who Can Request Public Records in St. Eele County?

Any person may request access to public government data in Steele County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. The MGDPA does not restrict access to public data based on the identity or affiliation of the requestor. Specifically:

Requestors are not required to be Minnesota residents
Requestors are not required to provide identification when requesting public data, though identification may be required for certain restricted or private data requests
Requestors are not required to state a reason or purpose for the request
Non-residents retain the same rights to public data as residents under state law

Certain record types carry additional access requirements. For example, individuals requesting their own private government data (such as personal records held by a county agency) must verify their identity before access is granted. Requests for data on other private individuals are subject to the classification of that data under the MGDPA. Law enforcement data, juvenile records, and other classified categories are subject to separate access rules as described in the following section.

What Records Are Confidential in St. Eele County?

Not all government records in Steele County are available to the public. The MGDPA and related Minnesota statutes establish specific categories of data that are classified as private, confidential, or protected. Under Minn. Stat. § 13.02, "private data on individuals" is accessible only to the subject of the data and authorized parties, while "confidential data" is inaccessible to both the public and the data subject.

The following categories of records are currently exempt from public disclosure:

Sealed court records — ordered sealed by a judge pursuant to court rules
Juvenile records — protected under Minn. Stat. § 260B and § 260C
Active criminal investigation data — exempt while an investigation is ongoing
Social Security numbers and financial account data — classified as private under the MGDPA
Medical and health records — protected under HIPAA and state health data statutes
Adoption records — sealed by statute in Minnesota
Child welfare and protective services records — classified as private or confidential
Personnel records — private with limited exceptions for certain public employee data
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — exempt from disclosure
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — protected under state and federal law

The MGDPA does not employ a general balancing test for most exemptions; rather, each category of non-public data is specifically classified by statute. Government entities are required to inform requestors of the specific statutory basis for any denial of access.

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

Steele County Recorder's Office
630 Florence Ave, Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-7450
Steele County Recorder's Office

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays

Steele County Sheriff's Records Department
204 Pearl St, Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-4800
Sheriff's Records Department

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Steele County District Court
111 E. Belle Plaine Ave, Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-7700
Steele County District Court