Brown County Public Records
How to Find Public Records in Brown County in 2026
BrownCountyRecords.us provides access to publicly available information related to public records maintained by government agencies in Brown County, Minnesota. Members of the public seeking official documentation may find data pertaining to court proceedings, property transactions, vital statistics, and other government-generated records through this resource. The information presented reflects what is available through public channels and may not represent a complete or real-time dataset.
Record categories that may be accessible include:
- Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family)
- Property deeds, mortgages, and assessment records
- Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce)
- Business licenses and permits
- Tax and financial records
- Voting and election records
- Law enforcement incident reports (where permitted)
- Land use and zoning documents
- County commission meeting minutes and agendas
Records in Brown County can be searched through official court resources, county clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools maintained by state and county agencies.
Online Access:
- The Minnesota Judicial Branch provides online case record search tools for district court filings statewide.
- The Brown County Assessor and Recorder maintain property-related records accessible through the county's official web portal.
- Some records require user registration or in-person verification before full digital access is granted.
In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Brown County Courthouse to inspect records at public access terminals. The Brown County District Court is located at 14 South State Street, New Ulm, MN 56073. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Requestors should identify the specific record type and approximate date range when submitting an in-person request.
Written/Mail Requests: Written requests must include the requestor's name, contact information, a description of the records sought, and the preferred format for delivery. Under Minnesota Statutes § 13.03, government entities are required to respond to data requests within a reasonable timeframe. Requests may be mailed to the relevant county office at the address listed in the contact section below.
Phone/Email:
- Brown County District Court: (507) 441-7020
- Brown County Recorder's Office: (507) 233-6600
What Are Public Records in Brown County?
Public records in Brown County are government-generated or government-held documents that are accessible to the public under Minnesota law. Under Minnesota Statutes § 13.01, the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA) establishes that government data is presumed public unless classified otherwise by statute or federal law.
The following record types are maintained by various county offices:
| Record Type | Maintaining Office |
|---|---|
| Civil, criminal, probate, family court records | Brown County District Court |
| Property deeds, mortgages, liens | Brown County Recorder |
| Vital records (birth, death, marriage) | Brown County Vital Records / MN Dept. of Health |
| Business licenses and permits | Brown County Auditor-Treasurer |
| Property tax and assessment records | Brown County Assessor |
| Voting and election records | Brown County Auditor-Treasurer |
| Meeting minutes and agendas | Brown County Administrator |
| Law enforcement records | Brown County Sheriff's Office |
| Land use and zoning records | Brown County Planning & Zoning |
The Brown County Recorder's Office maintains land records, while the Minnesota Department of Health holds certified copies of statewide vital records. Court records are accessible through the district court or via the Minnesota Judicial Branch's case record access tools.
Is Brown County an Open Records County?
Brown County follows Minnesota's statewide open records framework and is governed by the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA). Under Minnesota Statutes § 13.03, subdivision 1, "all government data collected, created, received, maintained, or disseminated by a government entity shall be public unless classified by statute, federal law, or temporary classification as nonpublic or protected nonpublic."
As the Minnesota Department of Administration notes, "The MGDPA presumes that government data is public and accessible to any person unless a specific law classifies the data as not public." This presumption of openness applies to all county departments, including the Sheriff's Office, Recorder, Assessor, and District Court.
Brown County does not maintain a separate county-level open records ordinance; the MGDPA serves as the governing framework for all data access requests. The Minnesota Department of Administration's Information Policy Analysis Division provides guidance on compliance with the MGDPA and assists both requestors and government entities in navigating data access questions.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Brown County?
The cost to obtain public records in Brown County varies by record type, format, and the office responsible for maintaining the records. Under the MGDPA, government entities may charge fees for providing copies of public data, but those fees are subject to statutory limitations.
Standard Fee Schedule:
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Black-and-white paper copies | $0.25 per page (standard) |
| Certified document copies | $10.00–$14.00 per document (varies by office) |
| Electronic copies | Actual cost of reproduction |
| Vital record certified copies | $13.00 per copy (MN Dept. of Health) |
| Property record copies | Varies by document length |
- Inspection of public records at a government office is available at no charge.
- Fees for electronic data may reflect the actual cost of retrieving and compiling the data.
- Certification fees apply when a document requires an official seal or signature.
- Accepted payment methods at the Brown County Courthouse include cash, check, and credit card (where available).
- Fee waivers are not broadly mandated under Minnesota law, though individual offices may exercise discretion in specific circumstances.
The Minnesota Revisor of Statutes provides the current statutory text governing permissible fees for government data requests.
Does Brown County Have Free Public Records?
Free inspection of public records is available in Brown County. Members of the public may review public documents in person at the relevant government office without incurring a fee. The right to inspect records at no cost is a foundational element of the MGDPA.
Free access is available through the following channels:
- In-person inspection at the Brown County Courthouse, the Recorder's Office, and other county departments — no charge to view records on-site.
- Public access terminals at the Brown County District Court allow members of the public to search and view electronic case records. As the Minnesota Judicial Branch notes, "Courthouse public access terminals provide the most complete access to electronic district court case records."
- Online case search tools provided by the Minnesota Judicial Branch allow free searches of district court case information without registration for basic queries.
- Property tax and assessment data is accessible through the Brown County online portal at no charge for viewing purposes.
The distinction between free inspection and free copies is important: while viewing records is free, obtaining physical or certified copies involves the fees described in the preceding section.
Who Can Request Public Records in Brown County?
Any person may request access to public records in Brown County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. The MGDPA does not require requestors to be Minnesota residents or to explain why they are seeking government data.
Key eligibility provisions include:
- No residency requirement: Non-residents of Brown County and non-residents of Minnesota retain full rights to request public data.
- No purpose requirement: Requestors are not required to state a reason for their request when seeking public data.
- Identification: Government entities may ask for a name and contact information to facilitate the response, but identification is not a prerequisite for accessing public data.
- Requesting your own records: Individuals requesting data about themselves (known as "data subjects" under the MGDPA) have additional rights, including the right to receive a summary of what data is held and how it is used.
- Restrictions for specific record types: Certain records — such as juvenile court files, sealed records, and protected personnel data — are accessible only to authorized parties as defined by statute.
Members of the public seeking records about another individual may access only the portions of those records classified as public. Protected or private data about third parties is not releasable to the general public.
What Records Are Confidential in Brown County?
Not all government records in Brown County are available to the public. The MGDPA classifies certain categories of data as private, confidential, or protected nonpublic, restricting access to authorized individuals or entities.
Records that are exempt from public disclosure include:
- Sealed court records — accessible only by court order
- Juvenile records — protected under Minnesota juvenile justice statutes
- Active criminal investigation data — withheld to protect investigative integrity
- Social Security numbers and financial account data — classified as private under the MGDPA
- Medical and health records — protected under both the MGDPA and federal HIPAA regulations
- Adoption records — sealed by statute and accessible only to parties with legal standing
- Child welfare and protective services records — classified as private to protect minors
- Personnel records — private with limited exceptions for certain public employee data
- Trade secrets and proprietary business information — exempt when submitted to government agencies
- Security plans and critical infrastructure details — withheld to protect public safety
As stated in the MGDPA, government entities must inform requestors when data is classified as not public and must cite the specific statutory authority for withholding it. The Minnesota Department of Administration maintains guidance documents on data classifications and exemptions applicable to county-level records.
Brown County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Brown County Recorder's Office
14 South State Street, New Ulm, MN 56073
Phone: (507) 233-6600
Brown County Recorder
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays
Brown County District Court
14 South State Street, New Ulm, MN 56073
Phone: (507) 441-7020
Brown County District Court
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Brown County Auditor-Treasurer
14 South State Street, New Ulm, MN 56073
Phone: (507) 233-6615
Brown County Auditor-Treasurer
Brown County Sheriff's Office
15 South State Street, New Ulm, MN 56073
Phone: (507) 233-6680
Brown County Sheriff
Minnesota Department of Health – Vital Records
P.O. Box 64882, St. Paul, MN 55164-0882
Phone: (651) 201-5970
Minnesota Vital Records