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How to Find Public Records in Todd County in 2026

Members of the public seeking government documents in Todd County, Minnesota may access publicly available information through ToddRecords.us, which aggregates data related to a range of official record categories maintained by county and state agencies. Public records in Todd County encompass documents created, collected, or maintained by government bodies in the course of official business, and availability is subject to applicable state law and individual record classifications.

Records that may be accessible through official channels include:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family)
Property deeds, mortgages, and liens
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce)
Tax assessment and property tax records
Business licenses and permits
Voter registration and election records
County board meeting minutes and agendas
Budget and financial documents
Law enforcement incident reports (where permitted)
Land use and zoning records

Records may be searched through official court resources, county clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools maintained by Todd County and the Minnesota Judicial Branch.

Online Access:

The Todd County official website provides access to property information portals, archived documents, interactive mapping, and voter information.
Court case records are searchable through Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO), a statewide database maintained by the Minnesota Judicial Branch. MCRO does not require registration for basic case searches, though certain record types may require additional authorization.
Property and land records are accessible through the Todd County Recorder's office portal.

In-Person Requests:

Members of the public may visit the Todd County Government Center to inspect records in person. The Recorder's Office, Auditor-Treasurer, and other departments maintain public counters during regular business hours. Requestors should identify the specific record type and approximate date range when presenting a 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 time.

Phone/Email:

Todd County Government Center main line: (320) 732-4469
Department-specific contacts are listed on the county departments directory.

What Are Public Records in Todd County?

Public records in Todd County are defined under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA), codified at Minnesota Statutes § 13.01 et seq., as all data collected, created, received, maintained, or disseminated by a government entity, regardless of physical form or storage medium. The MGDPA establishes a presumption that government data is public unless classified otherwise by statute, federal law, or temporary classification.

The following record types are maintained by Todd County departments and accessible to the public:

Record Type	Maintaining Office
Civil, criminal, probate, family court records	Todd County District Court
Property deeds, mortgages, liens	Todd County Recorder
Vital records (birth, death, marriage)	Todd County Recorder / MN Dept. of Health
Tax and assessment records	Todd County Auditor-Treasurer
Business licenses and permits	Todd County Administration
Voter registration records	Todd County Auditor-Treasurer
Meeting minutes and agendas	Todd County Administration
Budget and financial documents	Todd County Administration
Law enforcement records	Todd County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records	Todd County Planning & Zoning

The Todd County Recorder's office serves as the custodian of unregistered (Abstract) real estate records, including documents such as deeds, mortgages, and other instruments affecting title to real property. Court records are maintained separately by the Todd County District Court, which has original jurisdiction in all civil, criminal, probate, and family matters within the county.

Is Todd County an Open Records County?

Todd County operates in full compliance with Minnesota's open records framework. Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, § 13.03, all government data is presumed public and must be made available to any person upon request, unless a specific statutory exception applies. The Act states that "all government data collected, created, received, maintained or disseminated by a government entity shall be public unless classified by statute, or temporary classification pursuant to section 13.06, or federal law, as nonpublic or protected nonpublic, or with respect to data on individuals, as private or confidential."

Todd County does not maintain a separate county-level open records ordinance; the MGDPA governs all data practices for county departments. The Minnesota Department of Administration's Information Policy Analysis Division (IPAD) provides guidance on compliance with the Act and serves as the primary interpretive authority for data practices questions statewide. As IPAD notes, "the Act applies to all government entities, including counties, cities, school districts, and state agencies."

County departments are required to designate a Responsible Authority who oversees data practices compliance and responds to data requests in accordance with state law.

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

Todd County assesses fees for public records in accordance with the cost limitations established under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. The standard fee structure for records copies is as follows:

Fee Type	Amount
Black-and-white paper copies (letter/legal)	$0.25 per page
Certified document copies	Varies by record type
Electronic copies (where available)	Actual cost of reproduction
Search fees	Not permitted for standard data requests
Inspection of records	No charge

Certification fees for vital records and recorded documents may differ from standard copy fees and are set by the relevant department.
The Todd County Recorder charges statutory fees for certified copies of recorded instruments, consistent with Minnesota Statutes § 357.021, which governs fees for court administrators and county recorders.
Accepted payment methods at county offices include cash, check, and money order. Individual departments may also accept credit or debit cards; members of the public should confirm accepted payment methods with the specific office prior to submitting a request.
Fee waivers are not broadly available under Minnesota law, though government entities and certain nonprofit organizations may qualify for reduced fees in specific circumstances.
Fees for court records obtained through Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) are governed separately by the Minnesota Judicial Branch fee schedule.

Does Todd County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available in Todd County. Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, government entities may not charge a fee for allowing a person to inspect data. The right to inspect records at no cost is a foundational provision of the Act and applies to all public data maintained by county departments.

The following resources provide free access to public records:

The Todd County property information portal allows members of the public to search property records, view archived documents, and access interactive mapping tools at no charge.
Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) provides free basic case searches for court records statewide, including Todd County District Court cases.
Public access terminals are available at the Todd County Government Center for in-person inspection of records without charge.
Voter registration status and election information are available through the Todd County Auditor-Treasurer's office at no cost.

The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while inspection carries no fee, obtaining physical or electronic copies of records is subject to the county's standard copy fee schedule.

Who Can Request Public Records in Todd County?

Any person may request access to public records in Todd County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act does not restrict data requests to Minnesota residents, nor does it require requestors to provide identification or explain the reason for their request when seeking public data.

Specific eligibility considerations include:

Residency: Not required. Non-residents have the same right of access as county residents.
Identification: Not required for inspection of public data. Certain record types, such as certified copies of vital records, may require proof of identity or relationship to the subject.
Purpose: Requestors are not required to state a purpose when requesting public data. Government entities may not condition access on disclosure of the requestor's intended use.
Requesting your own records: Individuals requesting data about themselves (private data) have additional rights under § 13.04 of the MGDPA, including the right to access, challenge, and correct their own data.
Restrictions for specific record types: Access to certain categories of data, such as law enforcement investigative data or child welfare records, is restricted to authorized parties as defined by statute.

Members of the public seeking court records may conduct searches through the Todd County District Court or through MCRO, subject to any access restrictions imposed by court order or statute.

What Records Are Confidential in Todd County?

Not all government data in Todd County is available to the public. The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act classifies certain data as nonpublic, private, or confidential, restricting access to authorized individuals or entities. The following categories of records are exempt from public disclosure under Minnesota law:

Sealed court records: Records sealed by court order are not accessible to the general public.
Juvenile records: Data relating to juvenile offenders is classified as private or confidential under Minnesota Statutes § 260B.171.
Ongoing law enforcement investigation data: Active investigative data is classified as protected nonpublic during the course of an investigation.
Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are classified as private data.
Medical and health records: Protected under both the MGDPA and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Adoption records: Sealed by statute and accessible only under specific legal circumstances.
Child welfare and protective services records: Classified as private or confidential under Minnesota child protection statutes.
Personnel records: Employee data is classified as private, with limited exceptions for certain public officials.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Exempt from disclosure where disclosure would cause competitive harm.
Security plans and critical infrastructure details: Classified as nonpublic to protect public safety.

Government entities in Todd County apply a balancing framework when data does not fall neatly within a statutory classification, weighing the public interest in disclosure against the privacy interests of affected individuals.

Todd County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Todd County Recorder's Office
215 1st Ave S, Long Prairie, MN 56347
(320) 732-4469
Todd County Recorder

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays.

The Todd County Recorder serves as the custodian of unregistered (Abstract) real estate records, including deeds, mortgages, liens, and other instruments affecting title to real property within the county. The office also maintains records of vital events registered in Todd County.

Additional Offices:

Todd County District Court
221 1st Ave S, Long Prairie, MN 56347
(320) 732-7800
Todd County District Court – Minnesota Judicial Branch

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Todd County Administration (Departments)
215 1st Ave S, Long Prairie, MN 56347
(320) 732-4469
Todd County Departments