Search Duluth Public Records
Duluth public records include court filings, police reports, property documents, and vital records maintained by St. Louis County and state agencies. Duluth is the largest city in northern Minnesota and serves as the seat of St. Louis County, which means most public records for the city are held at the county level. This guide covers the main sources for Duluth public records and explains how to find and request them online, in person, or through a written request.
Duluth Overview
Duluth Court Records
Court records for Duluth are filed with St. Louis County District Court, part of the 6th Judicial District. The Court Administrator handles all civil, criminal, family, probate, and housing cases for Duluth and the rest of St. Louis County. The Duluth courthouse is located at 100 N 5th Avenue W, Duluth, MN 55802. You can call the court administrator at 218-726-2460 for case information and document requests.
The free Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) portal covers all Minnesota district courts, including St. Louis County. You can search by name, case number, or citation and see case type, filing dates, hearing schedules, and docket entries. No account is needed for basic searches. For certified copies or access to documents not shown in MCRO, contact the St. Louis County court directly or visit in person during business hours.
The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, Chapter 13, makes most court records public. Juvenile records and certain family court matters are restricted. If any records request is denied, the court must provide a written reason.
Note: St. Louis County is the largest county in Minnesota by area, so Duluth court staff can help narrow down which Duluth-area records you need before you visit.
Duluth Property Records
Property records for Duluth are held by St. Louis County. The County Assessor handles property valuations and tax assessment data. The County Recorder maintains recorded documents including deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and plat maps. Both offices are part of St. Louis County government and are located in the county courthouse area in Duluth. You can search property records through the St. Louis County online property search portal by address, owner name, or parcel ID.
The online portal shows ownership details, assessed value, tax history, and recorded document summaries. Certified copies of deeds or other recorded documents are available from the Recorder's office for a per-page fee. Most property records are public and do not require a formal approval process for standard lookups. For chain-of-title research on a Duluth property, the Recorder can provide documents going back many years, which is useful for estate work, title searches, or legal disputes.
Police Records in Duluth
The Duluth Police Department handles public records requests for police reports, arrest records, incident data, and related law enforcement documents. The department is located at 2030 Arlington Avenue, Duluth, MN 55811. The non-emergency line is 218-730-5400. Requests can be submitted in person at the department during regular business hours. The department operates under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act and must respond within the timeframes required by state law.
Under Minnesota Statute 13.82, law enforcement agencies must make certain data publicly available on request. This includes the name and address of the person arrested, the time and place of the arrest, and the charges filed. Portions of police reports may be classified as private depending on the case type. Call the department before filing a formal request if you want to know what will be released.
For a statewide criminal history search, the BCA criminal history search is $8 per name and returns Minnesota conviction data. The Predatory Offender Registry is free online and searchable by name or address under Minnesota Statute 243.166. The Department of Corrections inmate search is also free for people currently in state custody.
The screenshot below shows the official Duluth city website, which links to city departments including the police department and provides contact information for public records requests.
The city site at duluthmn.gov is a useful first stop for finding the right department contact before you submit a records request.
Vital Records in Duluth
Birth and death certificates for events in Duluth are issued by the Minnesota Department of Health Vital Records office. These records are not held by the city or St. Louis County. Requests are made online, by mail, or in person at the MDH office in St. Paul. Fees and processing times vary depending on the record type and the service option you choose.
Marriage licenses in Duluth are issued by the St. Louis County Court Administrator's office. Once the ceremony is performed, the officiant files the completed license with the court. Copies of marriage records can be requested from the court or from MDH for older records. Divorce records are court filings handled by St. Louis County District Court and are searchable through MCRO.
Note: Minnesota birth records are restricted for 100 years and death records for 50 years, meaning only eligible parties can request certified copies during those periods.
How to Access Duluth Public Records
Duluth public records sit across city and county offices. Court records go through St. Louis County District Court or the free MCRO portal. Police records go through the Duluth Police Department. Property records go through St. Louis County. Vital records go through the Minnesota Department of Health. For most searches, free online tools get you the basic information you need before making any calls or visits.
For records not online, you can visit city offices at City Hall, 411 W 1st Street, Duluth, MN 55802. The City Clerk can be reached at 218-730-5500 and handles city government documents, council records, and official filings. For county records, St. Louis County offices in Duluth are the primary source for court and property documents.
Written requests should include the subject's full name, the type of record needed, and the approximate date range. Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, agencies must respond within a set timeframe and provide a written reason for any records withheld. If you need help navigating a denial or have questions about your rights, LawHelpMN offers free resources and referrals for low-income Minnesotans.
| City Police | 218-730-5400 |
|---|---|
| Police Address | 2030 Arlington Avenue, Duluth, MN 55811 |
| City Clerk | 218-730-5500 |
| County Court | 218-726-2460 |
| County | St. Louis County |
The Duluth city website at duluthmn.gov provides links to city departments and is the right first stop when you are not sure which office holds the records you need.
Nearby Cities
Duluth is the only qualifying city in northern Minnesota. No other cities in the region meet the population threshold for a dedicated public records page on this site. The nearest qualifying cities are in the Twin Cities metro, approximately 150 miles to the south.