Beltrami County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Beltrami County?

Public records in Beltrami County are government-generated or government-maintained documents that are presumed open to inspection by any member of the public under Minnesota law. Under Minnesota Statutes § 13.03, all government data collected, created, received, maintained, or disseminated by a government entity is public unless classified otherwise by statute, federal law, or temporary classification. Beltrami County, as a political subdivision of the State of Minnesota, is fully subject to these provisions.

The following categories of records are currently maintained and available through various Beltrami County offices:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court case files are maintained by the Beltrami County District Court. Members of the public may search district court case records through Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO), the state's official case search portal.
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments are maintained by the Beltrami County Recorder's Office and the County Assessor.
Vital records — Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are held by the Beltrami County Vital Records Office and the Minnesota Department of Health.
Business records — Licenses, permits, and assumed name (fictitious business name) filings are maintained by the County Administrator and the Minnesota Secretary of State.
Tax records — Property tax and assessment records are maintained by the Beltrami County Auditor-Treasurer.
Voting and election records — Voter registration data and election results are maintained by the Beltrami County Auditor-Treasurer, which serves as the county's election authority.
Meeting minutes and agendas — County Board of Commissioners meeting minutes, agendas, and resolutions are maintained by the County Administrator's Office.
Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, audits, and expenditure reports are available through the Auditor-Treasurer's Office.
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, are maintained by the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office.
Land use and zoning records — Zoning maps, conditional use permits, and variance applications are maintained by the Beltrami County Planning and Zoning Department.

Is Beltrami County an Open Records County?

Beltrami County fully complies with Minnesota's open records framework, which is among the most comprehensive government transparency statutes in the United States. Under Minnesota Government Data Practices Act § 13.01, all government data is public unless a specific statutory exception applies. This law establishes a strong presumption of openness and places the burden on the government entity — not the requester — to justify any withholding of data.

Key provisions of the Act include:

Government entities must respond to data requests in a prompt and timely manner.
Entities may not require requesters to explain the purpose of their request for public data.
Responsible authorities within each government entity must designate a data practices compliance official.

Beltrami County operates in accordance with these requirements. The county's Board of Commissioners and all county departments are subject to Minnesota's open meeting law, codified at Minnesota Statutes § 13D.01, which requires that meetings of public bodies be open to the public and that advance notice be provided. County-specific data practices policies are administered through the County Administrator's Office.

How to Find Public Records in Beltrami County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Beltrami County public records through several official channels, depending on the record type sought.

To request records in person:

Identify the office responsible for the record type (e.g., Recorder's Office for property records, District Court for case files).
Visit the appropriate office during public counter hours with a valid government-issued photo ID, if required for the specific record type.
Submit a written or verbal data request to the responsible authority.

To request records by mail or email:

Prepare a written request identifying the specific data or documents sought.
Address the request to the responsible authority at the relevant county office.
Include return contact information for response delivery.

To search records online:

Civil, criminal, and probate case records may be searched through the Beltrami County District Court portal maintained by the Minnesota Judicial Branch.
Property and tax records may be accessed through the Beltrami County online property search tool available via the county's official website.
Guidance on locating district court documents, including pleadings and orders, is available through the Minnesota State Law Library's court records resource.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Beltrami County?

Current fees for public records in Beltrami County are governed by Minnesota Statutes and may vary by record type and the office providing the records.

Standard paper copies: Fees are typically assessed at a per-page rate, commonly $0.25 per page for black-and-white copies, consistent with state guidelines.
Certified copies of vital records: Birth and death certificates carry a standard fee set by the Minnesota Department of Health, currently $13.00 per certified copy.
Certified copies of court records: Fees for certified court documents are set by the Minnesota Judicial Branch and vary by document type.
Electronic records: Where records are maintained electronically, the fee may not exceed the actual cost of retrieval and transmission.
Research fees: If a request requires more than minimal staff time to fulfill, the responsible authority may charge for the actual cost of employee time spent locating and compiling data, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 13.03, subdivision 3.

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and money order. Fee waivers may be available in limited circumstances, such as for indigent requesters or nonprofit organizations, at the discretion of the responsible authority.

Does Beltrami County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available in Beltrami County, as Minnesota law requires government entities to permit members of the public to inspect public data at no charge. Fees may only be assessed when copies are requested.

The following free resources are currently available:

In-person inspection: Any member of the public may inspect public government data at the relevant county office during regular business hours at no cost.
Online court case search: Civil, criminal, probate, and family court case information may be searched at no charge through Minnesota Court Records Online, the official state case search system.
Online property and tax data: Beltrami County property assessment and tax information is accessible at no cost through the county's online property portal.
Court records guidance: The Minnesota Judicial Branch provides free guidance on how to access case records, including instructions for both in-person and remote access.
Legal referrals and library resources: The Beltrami County legal referrals page maintained by the Minnesota State Law Library provides free access to legal information, court forms, and referral services for county residents.

Who Can Request Public Records in Beltrami County?

Any person may request access to public government data in Beltrami County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Minnesota's Government Data Practices Act does not restrict access to public data based on the identity or affiliation of the requester.

Specific eligibility provisions include:

Residency: Requesters are not required to be Minnesota residents or Beltrami County residents to access public records.
Identification: Government entities may not require identification as a condition of accessing public data, except in limited circumstances where the identity of the requester is relevant to determining the classification of the data (e.g., when a subject of data requests their own private data).
Purpose: Requesters are not required to state the purpose of their request for public data.
Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking access to private data about themselves must provide sufficient identifying information to allow the responsible authority to verify their identity. Upon verification, individuals have the right to inspect and receive copies of their own private data.
Restrictions for specific record types: Certain records, such as juvenile court records, adoption records, and law enforcement investigative data, are subject to access restrictions regardless of the requester's identity.

Non-residents retain the same rights as residents with respect to public data under current Minnesota law.

What Records Are Confidential in Beltrami County?

Not all government records in Beltrami County are open to public inspection. Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13 classifies certain categories of government data as private, confidential, or protected nonpublic, thereby restricting or prohibiting public access.

The following record types are currently exempt from public disclosure:

Sealed court records: Records sealed by court order are not accessible to the general public.
Juvenile records: Records pertaining to juvenile delinquency proceedings are restricted under Minnesota law.
Ongoing investigation records: Active law enforcement investigative data is classified as protected nonpublic or confidential data under Minnesota Statutes § 13.82.
Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are classified as private data.
Medical and health records: Protected under both Minnesota data practices law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Adoption records: Adoption files are sealed by statute and accessible only under specific legal circumstances.
Child welfare and protective services records: Records maintained by child protection agencies are classified as private or confidential.
Personnel records: Employee personnel data is classified as private, with limited exceptions for certain public employee information such as name, position, and salary.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Submitted as part of licensing or permit applications, such data may be protected from disclosure.
Security plans and critical infrastructure details: Government security assessments and infrastructure vulnerability data are classified as nonpublic.

When a government entity withholds data, it must inform the requester of the specific statutory basis for the classification, consistent with the requirements of Minnesota Statutes § 13.03.

Beltrami County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Beltrami County Recorder's Office is the principal repository for property-related public records, including deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and related instruments. The office also maintains records of assumed business names filed within the county.

Beltrami County Recorder's Office 701 Minnesota Ave NW, Suite 220, Bemidji, MN 56601 (218) 333-4166 Beltrami County Recorder

Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding state and federal holidays.

Beltrami County Auditor-Treasurer's Office (property tax, elections, and voter records) 701 Minnesota Ave NW, Suite 130, Bemidji, MN 56601 (218) 333-4158 Beltrami County Auditor-Treasurer

Beltrami County Sheriff's Office (law enforcement records) 615 Beltrami Ave NW, Bemidji, MN 56601 (218) 333-9111 Beltrami County Sheriff

Beltrami County Vital Records Office 701 Minnesota Ave NW, Bemidji, MN 56601 (218) 333-8400 Beltrami County Public Health

Beltrami County District Court 619 Beltrami Ave NW, Bemidji, MN 56601 (218) 333-4100 Beltrami County District Court – Minnesota Judicial Branch

Public counter hours for the District Court are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding court holidays.