How do I file a public records request in Minnesota?

1. Statute. Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA), Minn. Stat. Ch. 13. Distinguishes between "public" and "private/confidential/nonpublic" data.

2. Who Can Request. Any person, including non-residents (§ 13.03, subd. 3). "Data subjects" have additional rights to their own private data.

3. Form of Request. Oral or written; many agencies require written for tracking. Must reasonably describe data sought.

4. Agency Response Deadline. Inspection during normal business hours; copies "within a reasonable time" (§ 13.03, subd. 3(a)). 10 business days is typical for responsive data sets. Failure to respond is actionable.

5. Fees. Inspection free (§ 13.03, subd. 3(c)). Copies: actual cost of searching, retrieving, and copying for requests of 100 or fewer pages—agency may charge $0.25 per page or actual cost. For larger or specialized requests, hourly labor + materials, with written estimate.

6. Exemptions. Hundreds of provisions classify data as "private" (limited to data subject and agency) or "confidential" (not even to subject): personnel data (limited), investigative data, attorney work product, attorney-client, trade secrets, medical data, educational data, welfare data, juvenile data, victim data.

7. Redaction. Agency must separate not-public data and produce public portions (§ 13.03, subd. 3(c)).

8. Denial & Appeal. Written notice citing the specific statutory provision required (§ 13.03, subd. 3(f)). Requester may seek an advisory opinion from the Commissioner of Administration's Information Policy Analysis Division (IPAD) (§ 13.072)—non-binding but persuasive.

9. Court Action. Civil action in district court (§ 13.08, subd. 4). De novo review.

10. Penalties. Actual damages, costs, and disbursements (§ 13.08, subd. 1). Court may award exemplary damages of $1,000-$15,000 for willful violation. Attorney fees recoverable if requester prevails.

This is legal information, not legal advice.