Houston County Public Records
Houston County public records include court filings, property documents, criminal history data, and vital records held by county offices and state agencies in Minnesota's southeastern corner. Most records are accessible through free online portals, by phone, or in person at the courthouse in Caledonia. This guide covers the main sources, how each one works, and who to contact when you need copies of specific documents.
Houston County Overview
Houston County Court Records
Court records in Houston County are maintained by the 3rd Judicial District Court. The Court Administrator's office is at 304 S Marshall Street, Caledonia, MN 55921. You can call them at 507-725-5806. The office handles civil, criminal, family, and probate filings. Staff can tell you what documents exist for a case and what the copy fee will be for each page.
The quickest way to find Houston County court records is through the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) portal. This free tool lets you search by name, case number, or citation number. You can see case types, filed charges, hearing dates, and basic docket entries without signing up for an account. MCRO does not show every document inside a case file, but it gives you enough detail to know what was filed and when. If a record is sealed or restricted, you need to submit a written request to the court or appear in person with proper identification.
Certified copies of court documents carry a per-page fee set by state law. In-person requests are often handled the same day if staff are available. Mailed requests take additional time. Under Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, Chapter 13, most court case data is public unless a judge has ordered it restricted.
Note: Juvenile records and certain family court matters in Houston County are not public. You need a court order or specific legal standing to access those files.
Houston County Property Records
Property records in Houston County are split between two offices at 304 S Marshall Street in Caledonia. The County Assessor, reachable at 507-725-5801, handles valuations and tax assessment data. The County Recorder, at 507-725-5802, keeps official documents like deeds, mortgages, liens, and plat maps. Both offices are in the same building, which makes it easy to check both sources in one visit.
Recorded documents go back many decades and are indexed by party name and parcel number. You can search property records using tools on the Houston County official website. The online viewer lets you look up parcel boundaries, ownership details, and assessed values. For certified copies of recorded documents, contact the Recorder directly. Fees depend on the number of pages. Most recorded documents are public under Minnesota law, so there is no approval required to view basic property records.
Tax records and assessment notices are also available to the public. If you need to trace the ownership history of a parcel, the Recorder's office can pull chain-of-title documents. This is useful for title research, legal work, or checking ownership claims on a piece of land.
Criminal History in Houston County
Minnesota keeps a statewide criminal history database through the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. A BCA criminal history search costs $8 and returns conviction data from across Minnesota, not just Houston County. This is the most thorough source for background checks on individuals in the state.
For local arrest records and incident reports in Houston County, contact the Houston County Sheriff's Office at 507-725-3379. Arrest data is generally public under Minnesota Statute 13.82, which requires law enforcement agencies to release certain information on request. This includes the name and address of the person arrested, the time and place of arrest, and the charges filed. Not all incident details are public, so it helps to be specific about what you are asking for when you submit a records request.
The state's Predatory Offender Registry, maintained under Minnesota Statute 243.166, shows registered offenders by name or address. You can search it free online to find offenders living or working in Houston County. For people currently held in state facilities, the Department of Corrections inmate search is available at no cost.
Vital Records in Houston County
Birth and death certificates for events that took place in Minnesota are issued by the Minnesota Department of Health Vital Records office. These records are not held at the county level. You must request them directly from MDH, either online, by mail, or in person at the state office in St. Paul. Fees apply and vary by record type.
Marriage licenses in Houston County are issued by the County Court Administrator's office at 304 S Marshall Street in Caledonia. After the ceremony, the officiant returns the license to the court. Copies of marriage records can be requested from the court office or from MDH for older records. Divorce decrees are court records and are filed with the Court Administrator. You can search for divorce case information through MCRO and then request copies from the Houston County court office.
Note: Birth records in Minnesota are restricted for 100 years and death records for 50 years. Only eligible parties can request certified copies during those periods.
How to Access Houston County Public Records
Most Houston County public records can be found in one of three ways: online through state and county portals, in person at the relevant office, or by submitting a written request. The MCRO portal handles most court record searches online for free. Property records are searchable through the county website. Criminal history goes through the BCA at the state level.
For records that are not online, visit the county offices at 304 S Marshall Street in Caledonia during regular business hours. Staff can help you identify the right record type and tell you what you need to bring or include in a request. Written requests should include the full name of the subject, the approximate date range, and the type of record you want. The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act gives you the right to ask any government agency about the data it holds and to receive a response within a set timeframe. If a request is denied, the agency must give you a written explanation. If you need help, LawHelpMN offers free resources and referrals for low-income Minnesotans.
There is no single fee for public records in Houston County. Costs depend on the record type and how many copies you need. Court copies, recorder documents, and vital records each have separate fee schedules set by state law or the individual office.
| Office | Houston County Court Administrator |
|---|---|
| Address | 304 S Marshall Street, Caledonia, MN 55921 |
| Phone | 507-725-5806 |
| Sheriff | 507-725-3379 |
| Assessor | 507-725-5801 |
| Recorder | 507-725-5802 |
| Judicial District | 3rd District |
The Houston County website at co.houston.mn.us has links to county departments, contact information, and public access tools. It is the best starting point if you are not sure which office holds what you need.
Below is a screenshot from the Houston County official website, which provides department listings and contact details for public records requests.
The county site lists all departments including the Assessor, Recorder, and Sheriff, which makes it easy to find the right contact for your specific request.
The Houston County portal below offers additional access points for records searches and department contact information.
This portal can be useful if the main county site does not have the specific department link or form you are looking for.
Cities in Houston County
Houston County is a rural county in southeastern Minnesota. The county seat, Caledonia, is the largest community in the county. Other communities include Houston, Spring Grove, and La Crescent. None of these cities meet the 100,000-population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.
Nearby Counties
Houston County borders other Minnesota counties, each with their own court and records offices.