Benton County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Benton County in 2026

BentonMNRecords.us provides access to publicly available information related to public records maintained by government agencies in Benton County, Minnesota. Members of the public seeking court documents, property data, vital records, or other government-held information may locate relevant records through official county offices, state repositories, and authorized online platforms. The categories of records that may be available include:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family)
Property records and real estate assessments
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce)
Tax and assessment records
Business licenses and permits
Land use and zoning documents
Meeting minutes and county board agendas
Law enforcement records, where permitted by law

Records can be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools.

Online Access: Members of the public may conduct electronic searches through several official platforms. The Minnesota Court Records Online portal allows users to search district court case records statewide, including those filed in Benton County. Property assessment data is accessible through the Benton County Property and Taxpayer Services portal. No registration is required to perform basic searches on these platforms, though certified copies require in-person or written requests.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Benton County Government Center to inspect or request records. The Court Administrator's Office handles court record requests, while the Recorder's Office maintains property and vital records. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests must include the requester's name, a description of the records sought, and a preferred method of delivery. Under Minnesota Statutes § 13.03, government entities are required to respond to data requests within a reasonable time, not to exceed ten business days.

Phone/Email: The Benton County Government Center main line is (320) 968-5000. Departmental email contacts are available through the official county website at bentoncountymn.gov.

What Are Public Records in Benton County?

Public records in Benton County are government-held documents and data that are accessible to the public under Minnesota law. Under Minnesota Statutes § 13.01, the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA) establishes that all government data is public unless classified otherwise by statute, federal law, or temporary classification. The following record types are maintained by Benton County agencies:

Record Type	Maintaining Office
Civil, criminal, probate, family court records	Court Administrator's Office
Property deeds, mortgages, liens	Recorder's Office
Real estate assessments	Property and Taxpayer Services
Birth, death, marriage records	Recorder's Office / MN Dept. of Health
Divorce records	Court Administrator's Office
Business licenses and permits	County Administrator
Property tax records	Property and Taxpayer Services
Voting and election records	County Auditor
Meeting minutes and agendas	County Administrator
Budget and financial documents	County Auditor
Arrest logs and incident reports	Benton County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records	Planning and Zoning Department

Divorce records and dissolution proceedings are accessible through the Minnesota Court Records Online system or by contacting the Court Administrator directly. The Minnesota State Law Library provides guidance on locating divorce decrees, noting that plain copies of recent divorce records may be found using the MCRO platform.

Is Benton County an Open Records County?

Benton County operates in full compliance with Minnesota's open records framework. The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, codified at Minnesota Statutes § 13.01 et seq., governs public access to government data held by all Minnesota counties, including Benton County. The Act establishes a presumption of openness: all government data is public unless a specific statutory exception applies.

As stated by the Minnesota Department of Administration, "The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA) governs how government entities collect, create, receive, maintain, use, and disseminate data about individuals and organizations." This framework ensures that Benton County residents and non-residents alike retain the right to inspect and obtain copies of public government data.

The county is also subject to Minnesota's Open Meeting Law, Minnesota Statutes § 13D.01, which requires that meetings of governmental bodies be open to the public. Meeting minutes, agendas, and related documents are maintained as public records. Benton County does not maintain a separate county-level public records ordinance that supersedes state law; the MGDPA serves as the controlling authority.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Benton County?

The cost to obtain public records in Benton County varies by record type and the office maintaining the records. Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, government entities may charge for the actual cost of searching, retrieving, and copying records, but fees must not exceed the actual cost incurred.

Standard Fee Schedule:

Service	Standard Fee
Paper copies (black and white)	$0.25 per page
Certified copies of court records	$14.00 per document
Certified copies of vital records	$13.00 per certified copy
Electronic copies	Actual cost of reproduction
Record inspection	No charge

Inspection of public records is provided at no cost to the requester.
Certification fees apply when an official seal or attestation is required.
Fees for electronic records are limited to the actual cost of duplication.
Payment is accepted by cash, check, or money order at county offices; some online portals accept credit card payments.
Fee waivers may be available for indigent requesters or in cases where disclosure is determined to be in the public interest, at the discretion of the responsible authority.

The Minnesota Judicial Branch notes that courthouse public access terminals provide the most complete access to electronic district court case records and are available at no charge for in-person inspection.

Does Benton County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available in Benton County. Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, any person has the right to inspect public government data at no charge. The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while viewing records in person carries no fee, obtaining physical or certified copies involves standard duplication charges.

The following resources provide free access to public records:

Minnesota Court Records Online: Members of the public may conduct free searches of district court case records, including those from Benton County, through the court case search portal.
Benton County Property Portal: Real property assessment data, ownership information, and tax records are available at no cost through the Benton County property information system.
Courthouse Public Access Terminals: The Minnesota Judicial Branch maintains public access terminals at courthouse locations, providing free electronic access to district court records.
County Offices: Members of the public may inspect records in person at the Benton County Government Center without charge during regular business hours.

Who Can Request Public Records in Benton County?

Any person may request access to public government data held by Benton County. Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, there is no residency requirement, and requesters are not required to state a purpose or provide identification to inspect public data. This right extends equally to Minnesota residents, non-residents, organizations, and members of the press.

Specific provisions apply in the following circumstances:

Identification: Requesters are not required to identify themselves when seeking access to public data. However, identification may be required when requesting data about oneself (private data) to verify the requester's identity.
Purpose: No statement of purpose is required for access to public data.
Non-residents: Non-residents of Minnesota retain the same rights to access public government data as residents.
Personal records: Individuals requesting data about themselves are classified as "subjects of data" under the MGDPA and have the right to access their own private data upon verification of identity.
Restricted record types: Certain records, such as juvenile court records, sealed files, and active investigation data, are subject to access restrictions regardless of the requester's identity or purpose.

The responsible authority at each Benton County department is designated to receive and respond to data requests in accordance with state law.

What Records Are Confidential in Benton County?

Not all government-held records in Benton County are accessible to the public. Minnesota Statutes § 13.02 and related provisions classify certain categories of data as private, confidential, or protected nonpublic, restricting access to authorized parties only. The following record types are exempt from public disclosure under current law:

Sealed court records: Records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public.
Juvenile records: Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are protected under Minnesota Statutes § 260B.171 and are not available for public inspection.
Active investigation records: Law enforcement data related to ongoing criminal investigations is classified as protected nonpublic data.
Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are protected from disclosure.
Medical and health records: Protected under both the MGDPA and federal HIPAA regulations.
Adoption records: Adoption proceedings and related documents are sealed by statute.
Child welfare and protective services records: Records maintained by child protection agencies are classified as private data.
Personnel records: Employee data held by government agencies is private, with limited exceptions for certain public employee information such as name, position, and salary.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Submitted in the course of licensing or permitting processes and protected from disclosure.
Security plans and critical infrastructure details: Exempt to protect public safety.

As the Minnesota Department of Administration states, "Data that is not public may be shared only as provided by the MGDPA or other applicable law." The responsible authority at each county department is required to inform requesters of the applicable classification when denying access to data.

Benton County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Benton County Recorder's Office
531 Dewey Street, Foley, MN 56329
(320) 968-5065
Benton County Recorder

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

Benton County Court Administrator's Office
615 Highway 23 West, Foley, MN 56329
(320) 968-5005
Benton County Court Administration

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

Benton County Property and Taxpayer Services
531 Dewey Street, Foley, MN 56329
(320) 968-5051
Benton County Property and Taxpayer Services