Minnesota public records law: how to make a request
Government Data Practices Act, Minn. Stat. chapter 13. Rules below are quoted or closely paraphrased from the linked official pages, and each shows the date it was last checked (2026-10-18). Jurisdiction code: MN.
Build a request letter Official source
Statute and who may ask
All government data collected, created, received, maintained or disseminated by a government entity is public unless classified by statute, a temporary classification, or federal law as nonpublic or protected nonpublic or, for data on individuals, as private or confidential. The responsible authority must keep records in an arrangement and condition that makes them easily accessible for convenient use. (Minn. Stat. § 13.03, subd. 1)
Source: Minn. Stat. § 13.03 (access to government data, Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes) · last verified 2026-10-18"Government data" means all data collected, created, received, maintained or disseminated by any government entity regardless of physical form, storage media or conditions of use. "Government entity" means a state agency, statewide system or political subdivision. The "responsible authority" is the official designated by law or by the commissioner (state agencies) or by the governing body (political subdivisions) to be responsible for the data. (Minn. Stat. § 13.02, subds. 7, 7a, 16)
Source: Minn. Stat. § 13.02 (definitions, Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes) · last verified 2026-10-18Each responsible authority must set procedures to ensure that requests for government data are received and complied with in an appropriate and prompt manner, and full convenience and comprehensive accessibility must be allowed to researchers including historians, genealogists and other scholars to carry out extensive research and complete copying of records, except as law expressly provides. (Minn. Stat. § 13.03, subd. 2)
Source: Minn. Stat. § 13.03 (access to government data, Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes) · last verified 2026-10-18Government entities may not require a person to identify themselves, state a reason for, or justify a request for public government data unless a statute specifically authorizes it; a person may be asked for identifying or clarifying information for the sole purpose of facilitating access. (Minn. Stat. § 13.05, subd. 12)
Source: Minn. Stat. § 13.05 (duties of responsible authority, Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes) · last verified 2026-10-18On request, a person must be allowed to inspect and copy public government data at reasonable times and places and, on request, be informed of the data's meaning. If the entity keeps data in electronic form, it must give a copy in electronic form if it can reasonably do so, though it need not convert to a different format or program. (Minn. Stat. § 13.03, subd. 3(a), (e))
Source: Minn. Stat. § 13.03 (access to government data, Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes) · last verified 2026-10-18
Response deadline
For data requested by members of the public, the statute sets no number of days: procedures must ensure requests are complied with in an "appropriate and prompt manner," and if copies cannot be supplied at the time of the request, they must be supplied "as soon as reasonably possible." (Minn. Stat. § 13.03, subds. 2(a), 3(c))
Source: Minn. Stat. § 13.03 (access to government data, Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes) · last verified 2026-10-18For an individual's request to see data about himself or herself, the entity must comply immediately, if possible, or within ten days of the request, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, if immediate compliance is not possible. (Minn. Stat. § 13.04, subd. 3)
Source: Minn. Stat. § 13.04 (rights of subjects of data, Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes) · last verified 2026-10-18If the entity determines the data is classified so as to deny access, it must tell the requester either orally at the time of the request or in writing as soon afterward as possible, and cite the specific statutory section, temporary classification, or federal-law provision on which the decision is based. On request it must certify the denial in writing with the same citation. (Minn. Stat. § 13.03, subd. 3(f))
Source: Minn. Stat. § 13.03 (access to government data, Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes) · last verified 2026-10-18If the entity has told you that data or copies are ready and you do not inspect or collect them within five business days, it may suspend any further response until you do. (Minn. Stat. § 13.03, subd. 3(g))
Source: Minn. Stat. § 13.03 (access to government data, Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes) · last verified 2026-10-18
Fee rules
The entity may not charge a fee, or require payment, to inspect data. (Minn. Stat. § 13.03, subd. 3(a))
Source: Minn. Stat. § 13.03 (access to government data, Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes) · last verified 2026-10-18For copies or electronic transmittal, the entity may require payment of the actual costs of searching for and retrieving the data (including employee time) and of making, certifying and electronically transmitting the copies, but may not charge for separating public from not public data. (Minn. Stat. § 13.03, subd. 3(c))
Source: Minn. Stat. § 13.03 (access to government data, Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes) · last verified 2026-10-18If 100 or fewer pages of black and white, letter or legal size copies are requested, actual costs are not used; the entity may charge no more than 25 cents per page copied. (Minn. Stat. § 13.03, subd. 3(c))
Source: Minn. Stat. § 13.03 (access to government data, Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes) · last verified 2026-10-18For a copy of data that has commercial value and is a substantial and discrete part of or an entire formula, pattern, compilation, program, database or system developed with significant public funds, the entity may charge a reasonable additional fee that it must be able to show relates to actual development costs, and it must explain and justify the fee on request. (Minn. Stat. § 13.03, subd. 3(d))
Source: Minn. Stat. § 13.03 (access to government data, Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes) · last verified 2026-10-18A person who is the subject of stored data may see it without charge and may be charged only the actual costs of making and certifying copies. (Minn. Stat. § 13.04, subd. 3)
Source: Minn. Stat. § 13.04 (rights of subjects of data, Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes) · last verified 2026-10-18
Appeal path and remedies
A person who disagrees with an entity's data practices determination may ask the Commissioner of Administration for a written opinion on the person's right of access. The commissioner must give notice within five business days if no opinion will be issued; otherwise the opinion is due within 50 days of receipt. Opinions are not binding but must be given deference by a court, and an entity that acts in conformity with an opinion is protected from damages, attorney fee awards and penalties under the Act. (Minn. Stat. § 13.072, subds. 1-2)
Source: Minn. Stat. § 13.072 (opinions by the commissioner, Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes) · last verified 2026-10-18The Data Practices Office of the Department of Administration lists the telephone 651-296-6733, the email [email protected] and the address 200 Administration Building, 50 Sherburne Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55155, and says it provides assistance and advice on data practices to the public and government.
Source: Minnesota Department of Administration: Data Practices Office · last verified 2026-10-18An aggrieved person may bring an action in district court to compel compliance and may recover costs, disbursements and reasonable attorney's fees; the court may impose a civil penalty of up to $1,000, must hear the matter as soon as possible, and may review the disputed data in camera. (Minn. Stat. § 13.08, subd. 4)
Source: Minn. Stat. § 13.08 (civil remedies, Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes) · last verified 2026-10-18A person damaged by a violation may sue for damages plus costs and reasonable attorney fees; for a willful violation the entity is also liable for exemplary damages of $1,000 to $15,000 for each violation, and the district court may enjoin violations. (Minn. Stat. § 13.08, subds. 1-2)
Source: Minn. Stat. § 13.08 (civil remedies, Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes) · last verified 2026-10-18As an alternative, a written complaint under oath may be filed with the Office of Administrative Hearings within two years of the violation to seek an order to compel compliance; the complaint must be accompanied by a $1,000 filing fee or a bond to guarantee payment, and the respondent has 15 business days to respond. A complaint is dismissed if a commissioner's opinion request was accepted on the matter before the complaint was filed. (Minn. Stat. § 13.085, subd. 2)
Source: Minn. Stat. § 13.085 (administrative remedy, Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes) · last verified 2026-10-18
Request-letter wording notes
Address the request to the entity's responsible authority or its designee, and say whether you want to inspect the data or receive copies. Historians and genealogists are expressly entitled to full convenience and comprehensive access to records, except as law provides. (Minn. Stat. § 13.03, subds. 2-3)
Source: Minn. Stat. § 13.03 (access to government data, Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes) · last verified 2026-10-18You do not have to give your name or a reason for a request for public data, though the entity may ask for contact or clarifying information to help provide access. (Minn. Stat. § 13.05, subd. 12)
Source: Minn. Stat. § 13.05 (duties of responsible authority, Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes) · last verified 2026-10-18Ask for electronic copies and for the cost basis in advance; for 100 or fewer black and white pages the charge is capped at 25 cents per page. (Minn. Stat. § 13.03, subd. 3(c), (e))
Source: Minn. Stat. § 13.03 (access to government data, Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes) · last verified 2026-10-18If data is withheld, ask the entity to cite the specific statute, temporary classification or federal provision and, if you wish, to certify the denial in writing. (Minn. Stat. § 13.03, subd. 3(f))
Source: Minn. Stat. § 13.03 (access to government data, Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes) · last verified 2026-10-18If you are asking for data about yourself, say so: the entity must comply immediately if possible or within ten days excluding weekends and holidays. (Minn. Stat. § 13.04, subd. 3)
Source: Minn. Stat. § 13.04 (rights of subjects of data, Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes) · last verified 2026-10-18
Not yet researched or not verified
- How specific kinds of data are classified (the many classification sections of chapter 13, for example sections 13.31 to 13.99, and the rest of the chapter's Minnesota law outside it)
- The procedures for contesting the accuracy of data about yourself (§ 13.04, subds. 4-4a) and the rest of the Data Practices Office's guidance on copy costs and response times
- Minnesota Rules chapter 1205 and published Commissioner opinions
- Individual entities' own request procedures, forms and contacts
This is legal information from public sources, not legal advice. Laws and agency practices change; read the linked official source and consult a lawyer about your situation. Local agencies may have their own forms and contacts.