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Click on your state to view detailed FOIA guidance
Click on your state to view detailed FOIA guidance
Each state page includes: response deadlines, fee structures, special rights, exemptions, enforcement options, and success strategies
- Statute
- Minn. Statutes 13.01 et seq.
- Year Enacted
- 1970 (amended 2024)
- Response Deadline
- 10 business days
- Who Can Request
- Anyone
- Fees
- Yes
- Attorney Fees
- Recoverable if you win
- Enforcement
- Multiple mechanisms
Last verified: February 18, 2026
Use Minnesota FOIA TemplateDefinition of Public Record
Public records are defined as all data collected, created, received, maintained or disseminated by any government entity regardless of its physical form, storage media or conditions of use.
Exemptions to Public Records
Exempt: Juvenile court records; and some personnel information.
🔍 Search Common Exemptions
Exemption database for MN is being compiled. Check back soon!
Who Can Make a Request?
Anyone.
Response Timeframe
No timeframe is specified.
📅 Calculate Your Response Deadline
Information on Fees
The MGDPA is unclear on many of the facets of FOIA fees. In person inspection carries no charge, and government records that are electronic can be charged for the time spent searching for and duplicating the records electronically, but may not charge for redaction or legal review. Agencies in Minnesota have begun charging for search time and labor costs on lengthy requests and this practice has been held up on appeal. Paying for FOIA has been a growing issue for records requesters in Minnesota, and looks to be getting worse not better.
Enforcement Mechanisms
$300 fine can be levied by a court ordering an agency to grant access. It may also be classified as a misdemeanor depending if it was a willful violation or not. If it is filed as a misdemeanor the offending FOIA officer could be suspended without pay, or lose their job.
Attorney Fees
Yes, you can win attorney’s fees. # 35 Goldwater Institute OPEN MY GOVERNMENT
🚀 Ready to Request Records?
Choose how you want to proceed with your MN public records request:
💡 Both options provide comprehensive, well-formatted requests based on MN transparency law.