Steele County Public Records
Steele County public records include court filings, property documents, criminal history data, and vital records held by county offices and state agencies in and around Owatonna. Minnesota law gives the public broad access to most government records, and this guide covers the key sources for Steele County along with the steps to request or search each type.
Steele County Overview
Steele County Court Records
Court records in Steele County are filed with the 3rd Judicial District Court. The Court Administrator's office is at 111 E Main Street, Owatonna, MN 55060. You can reach them at 507-444-7700. The office handles civil, criminal, family, probate, and small claims cases. Staff can confirm what is on file for a specific case and let you know the cost for certified copies before you make a formal request.
The Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) portal is the primary free tool for searching Steele County court cases. You can search by name, case number, or citation and view case types, filing dates, and hearing information without creating an account. MCRO does not give you every document in a file, but it tells you what was filed and when. For full documents, you can visit the courthouse in Owatonna or send a written request by mail. Certified copies have a per-page fee. In-person requests are typically processed the same day when staff is available.
Under Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, Chapter 13, most case data in Steele County is public unless a judge has ordered it sealed. If your request is denied, the court must explain the reason in writing.
Note: Juvenile records and certain family court files in Steele County are restricted and require a court order or specific legal standing to access.
Steele County Property Records
Property records in Steele County are handled by two offices, both located at 111 E Main Street, Owatonna, MN 55060. The County Assessor, at 507-444-7440, manages property valuations and tax assessment data. The County Recorder, at 507-444-7450, maintains recorded documents such as deeds, mortgages, liens, and plat maps.
The Recorder's office indexes documents by party name and parcel number. Recorded documents go back many years and are used for title research, legal filings, and ownership verification. Copies of recorded instruments carry a per-page fee. The Steele County official website provides access to the county's online property search and GIS tools. You can look up parcels by address or owner name to get assessed values, legal descriptions, and boundary information. For certified copies, contact the Recorder's office directly.
Tax records and assessment notices are also public. If you need to trace ownership history on a specific parcel, Recorder staff can pull chain-of-title documents. Most property records in Steele County are public and do not require a formal approval process to view.
Criminal History in Steele County
The main source for criminal history in Minnesota is the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. A BCA criminal history search costs $8 and returns conviction records from across the state, including cases from Steele County. This is the most complete option for background checks because it draws from a statewide system rather than a single county's records.
For local arrest records and incident reports in Steele County, contact the Sheriff's Office at 507-444-3800. Under Minnesota Statute 13.82, law enforcement agencies must make certain arrest data available to the public. This includes the name and address of the person arrested, the time and place of arrest, and the charges. Some details may be withheld if they relate to an active investigation. For incidents within Owatonna's city limits, the Owatonna Police Department may hold the relevant records instead of the Sheriff.
The Predatory Offender Registry, maintained under Minnesota Statute 243.166, lets you search by name or address to find registered offenders in Steele County at no cost. For people currently in state facilities, the Department of Corrections inmate search is free and available online.
Vital Records in Steele County
Birth and death certificates for events that happened in Minnesota are issued by the Minnesota Department of Health Vital Records office. These are not held at the county level. Requests go directly to MDH by mail, online, or in person at the St. Paul office. Fees apply and depend on the record type and processing speed you choose.
Marriage licenses in Steele County are issued by the Court Administrator's office at 111 E Main Street in Owatonna. After the ceremony, the officiant returns the completed license to the court, where it is filed. Copies of marriage records can be requested from the Court Administrator or from MDH for older records. Divorce decrees are filed with the Steele County Court Administrator. You can check for a divorce case through MCRO and then request a certified copy from the 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 Steele County Public Records
Most Steele County public records are reachable in one of three ways: state and county online portals, in-person visits to the courthouse in Owatonna, or written requests submitted by mail. MCRO covers court searches online for free. Property records are available through the county's GIS and search tools. Criminal history requires a $8 BCA request. Vital records go through MDH in St. Paul.
For records that are not online, the Steele County Courthouse at 111 E Main Street in Owatonna is open during regular business hours. Bring the full name of the subject, relevant dates, and a valid photo ID for requests that need identity verification. Written requests should include the same details along with a return address and payment for any applicable fees. The county has multiple offices in the same building, so you can often handle several requests in one trip.
The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act gives everyone the right to ask any government agency what records it holds and to get a timely response. Denials must be explained in writing. If you need free legal help with a records issue, LawHelpMN provides resources and referrals for low-income residents across Minnesota.
Fees vary by office and record type. Court copies, Recorder documents, and vital records each have separate schedules. There is no single cost for all public records, so check with each office before you submit.
| Office | Steele County Court Administrator |
|---|---|
| Address | 111 E Main Street, Owatonna, MN 55060 |
| Phone | 507-444-7700 |
| Sheriff | 507-444-3800 |
| Assessor | 507-444-7440 |
| Recorder | 507-444-7450 |
| Judicial District | 3rd District |
The Steele County website at co.steele.mn.us has links to all county departments, online search tools, and contact information for each records office. It is a good first stop if you are not sure which office holds the documents you need.
Below is a screenshot from the Steele County official website, which provides access to county departments and public records contacts.
The county site is updated regularly and includes links to the Assessor, Recorder, Court Administrator, and Sheriff's office, making it easy to find the right contact for your request.
Cities in Steele County
Steele County's largest city is Owatonna, the county seat. Other communities in the county include Blooming Prairie and Medford. None of these cities meet the 100,000-population threshold for a dedicated public records page on this site.
Nearby Counties
Steele County borders several other Minnesota counties, each with their own court and records offices.