Dakota County Public Records
Dakota County public records span court filings, property documents, criminal history data, and vital records maintained by county offices and state agencies serving the south metro area. Whether you are looking up a court case, checking property ownership, or searching criminal history, most records are reachable through free online tools, in-person visits to county service centers, or written requests. This guide covers the key offices and how to use them.
Dakota County Overview
Dakota County Court Records
Court records in Dakota County are filed with the 1st Judicial District Court. The main Court Administrator's office is at 1560 Highway 55, Hastings, MN 55033. You can reach them at 651-377-7180. The court handles civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic cases. Dakota County also operates service centers across the county for added convenience. The Western Service Center is at 14955 Galaxie Avenue, Apple Valley, MN 55124, and the Northern Service Center is at 1 Mendota Road West, West St. Paul, MN 55118.
The Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) portal is the fastest way to search Dakota County court records. MCRO is free and does not require registration. You can search by name, case number, or citation. The portal shows case type, filing date, hearing schedule, and basic docket entries. Full document images are not always available, but you get enough detail to confirm what was filed and who was involved. For certified copies or full document packets, contact the Court Administrator in Hastings or one of the service centers.
Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, Chapter 13, most court case data is public. Juvenile records and certain family court documents are restricted. A court order or demonstrated legal standing is required to access those records.
Note: Dakota County has multiple court locations. Call 651-377-7180 to confirm which location holds the specific case records you need before making a trip.
Dakota County Property Records
Property Records and Taxation handles assessment and recorded documents in Dakota County. The main office is at 1590 Highway 55, Hastings, MN 55033. You can reach the property records and taxation line at 651-438-4200 and the Recorder's office at 651-438-4350. The Recorder maintains deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, plat maps, and other instruments affecting real property in the county.
Recorded documents are indexed by party name and parcel number and go back many years. The Dakota County website provides online access to property information, GIS maps, and parcel data. You can look up ownership, assessed value, and tax records without visiting the office. For certified copies of recorded documents, contact the Recorder's line or submit a written request with the document type and approximate date. Fees vary by document length.
The county also maintains an online property records search tool that lets you search by owner name, address, or parcel ID. This is a good starting point for researching ownership history, liens, or recorded easements. For tax delinquency information or special assessment records, the property records and taxation office can assist during business hours.
Criminal History in Dakota County
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension maintains the state's primary criminal history database. A BCA criminal history search costs $8 and covers convictions from across Minnesota, including Dakota County. This is the most complete source for background checks on individuals anywhere in the state.
For local arrest records and incident reports, contact the Dakota County Sheriff's Office at 651-438-4700. The Sheriff is located at 1580 Highway 55, Hastings, MN 55033. Arrest data is public under Minnesota Statute 13.82, which requires law enforcement agencies to release certain data on request. This includes the name and address of the person arrested, the time and place of arrest, and the charges. Not every part of a report is public. Be specific about what you need when you make a request.
The Predatory Offender Registry, maintained under Minnesota Statute 243.166, is a free online tool that lets you search registered offenders by name or address in Dakota County and statewide. For people currently in state custody, the Department of Corrections inmate search is also free and available online.
Vital Records in Dakota County
Birth and death certificates are issued by the Minnesota Department of Health Vital Records office, not by Dakota County directly. You must request them from MDH, either online, by mail, or in person in St. Paul. However, Dakota County does issue certified copies of birth, death, and marriage records through the county vital records office at 651-438-4362.
Current fees through the Dakota County vital records office are $26 for a birth certificate, $13 for a death certificate, and $9 for a marriage certificate. Marriage licenses in Dakota County are issued by the Court Administrator. Once the ceremony is performed, the completed license is returned to the court. Copies can be requested from the Court Administrator or from MDH for older records. Divorce decrees are court records. Search for them through MCRO and request copies from the Court Administrator's office in Hastings or at a service center.
Note: Minnesota birth records are restricted for 100 years and death records for 50 years from the event date. Only eligible parties can request certified copies during those periods.
How to Access Dakota County Public Records
Most Dakota County public records are accessible online, in person at county locations in Hastings, Apple Valley, or West St. Paul, or through a written request. MCRO covers most court searches for free. Property records are searchable online through the county portal. Criminal history goes through the BCA. Vital records are handled through MDH or the Dakota County vital records office.
If a record is not available online, county offices are open during regular business hours. Staff can help you identify the right record type and what you need to bring or include in a request. Written requests should name the subject, give a date range, and specify the type of record. Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, every government agency must respond to a data request within a set timeframe and explain any denial in writing. For help navigating a records request, LawHelpMN offers free resources and referrals for eligible Minnesotans.
Fees differ by record type and office. Court copy fees, Recorder document fees, and vital record fees are each set separately. Ask the relevant office for the current fee schedule before you send payment.
| Office | Dakota County Court Administrator |
|---|---|
| Court Address | 1560 Highway 55, Hastings, MN 55033 |
| Court Phone | 651-377-7180 |
| Western Service Center | 14955 Galaxie Avenue, Apple Valley, MN 55124 |
| Northern Service Center | 1 Mendota Road West, West St. Paul, MN 55118 |
| Property Records & Taxation | 651-438-4200 |
| Recorder | 651-438-4350 |
| Sheriff | 651-438-4700 |
| Vital Records | 651-438-4362 |
| Judicial District | 1st District |
The Dakota County website at co.dakota.mn.us links to all county departments, online search tools, and contact information. It is the best place to start when you are not sure which office handles the records you need.
Below is a screenshot of the Dakota County official website, showing the main portal for departments, services, and public records access.
The county site is regularly updated and provides direct links to property search, vital records, the Sheriff, and the Court Administrator.
The screenshot below shows the Dakota County property records search tool, which you can use to look up ownership, assessed values, and recorded instruments by parcel or owner name.
Use the property search tool to find deeds, liens, and ownership history for parcels throughout Dakota County without visiting the Recorder's office in person.
Cities in Dakota County
Dakota County is one of the most populous counties in Minnesota and includes several large cities with their own public records pages on this site.
Nearby Counties
Dakota County borders several other Minnesota counties, each with their own court and records offices.