Burnsville Court Records Lookup
Burnsville court records are kept and managed through the Dakota County District Court, which handles all civil, criminal, family, and traffic cases for Burnsville and the rest of Dakota County. Burnsville has a population of around 64,000 and is part of the 1st Judicial District. If you need to find a court case, get a certified copy of a judgment, or pull records from a past filing, the Dakota County court system is where you start. Online searches through the state's free public access tool give you case summaries and docket entries without having to visit a courthouse, while in-person visits let you access full case files and request certified copies.
Burnsville Overview
Dakota County Court Locations for Burnsville Cases
Burnsville is in Dakota County, and court cases from the city go through the Dakota County District Court system. The county operates multiple locations. The main courthouse, known as the Dakota County Judicial Center, is in Hastings. This is where felony cases, gross misdemeanors, and all juvenile matters are heard. For Burnsville residents, the closest court location is the Western Service Center in Apple Valley, about five miles away.
| Court | Dakota County District Court (1st Judicial District) |
|---|---|
| Judicial Center | 1560 Highway 55, Hastings, MN 55033 |
| Judicial Center Phone | (651) 438-8100 |
| Western Service Center | 14955 Galaxie Ave. West, Apple Valley, MN 55124 |
| Western Center Phone | (952) 891-7256 |
Misdemeanor and traffic cases may be handled at either Hastings or the Apple Valley service center. Juvenile and felony cases are Hastings only. If you are unsure which location handles your case type, call the main courthouse at (651) 438-8100 before making the trip. You can also check the Dakota County District Courts page for current routing information by case type.
The image below is taken from the Dakota County District Courts page, which provides court location details and guidance for Burnsville residents seeking court records.
The Dakota County website also shows the Dakota County Sheriff's Office location at 1580 Highway 55, Hastings, MN 55033, phone (651) 438-4700, which handles jail bookings and certain law enforcement records.
Search Burnsville Court Records Online
The free Minnesota Court Records Online system (MCRO) covers all Dakota County District Court cases, including those from Burnsville. Access it at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. The portal is available 24 hours a day and does not require a login or account. Search by a party's name or a case number. Results display party names, case type, filing date, case status, and docket history. Some case documents are available as downloadable PDFs directly in the portal.
Most civil, criminal, and traffic records are visible through MCRO. Juvenile records are sealed and won't appear. Some family court files have restricted access under Minnesota law. If you are looking for recent criminal complaints, Dakota County's own complaint search covers filings from the past 12 months at co.dakota.mn.us/LawJustice/CriminalComplaint.
Note: MCRO provides case summaries and docket entries. If you need a full copy of documents in the case file, contact the court administrator's office or visit in person.
Burnsville Police Department Records
The Burnsville Police Department is located at 100 Civic Center Pkwy., Burnsville, MN 55337. For records-related questions, contact the Records Unit at 952-895-4600. The Records Unit is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can learn more about the department and access their public data request form at burnsvillemn.gov/124/Police.
The police department handles public data requests online. You can submit a request through the department's website for incident reports, arrest records, and other police data. The department follows the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, which requires agencies to respond to data requests within statutory timeframes. Non-urgent police contacts and report verifications can also be handled by calling the Records Unit directly during business hours.
For accident reports specifically, you have the option to request them through the Minnesota Department of Public Safety's Driver and Vehicle Services division in addition to the Burnsville Police Department. The DVS route is useful if you need a crash report for an insurance or legal matter and prefer to go directly to the state agency.
The image below comes from the Burnsville Police Department's official page, which outlines how to request public records and what services the Records Unit provides.
The department page walks through the different ways to reach the Records Unit and what types of documents you can request under the state data practices law.
Burnsville Police also issues letters of clearance, which are sometimes needed for immigration filings, citizenship applications, adoption proceedings, or visa requests. The fee for a letter of clearance is $35, paid by cash or check only. You must provide proof of identification to receive the completed letter. Call the Records Unit in advance at 952-895-4600 to confirm what you need to bring.
Under Minn. Stat. § 13.82, law enforcement agencies in Minnesota are required to make certain arrest and incident data public. This includes the name of the arrested person, time and location of the arrest, the charge, and bail information. The Burnsville Police Department must release this data upon request.
Criminal Cases from Burnsville
If someone is arrested in Burnsville, they are booked at the Dakota County Jail and their case is filed at the Dakota County District Court. The case type determines which courthouse location handles the matter. Felonies and gross misdemeanors go to the Hastings courthouse. Misdemeanor and traffic cases may go to Hastings or the Apple Valley Service Center. Juvenile cases are always handled in Hastings.
For a statewide criminal history check, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) runs the central criminal history database. You can request a background check at chs.state.mn.us. This covers convictions and case dispositions from all Minnesota counties, including Dakota. The BCA check and a court records search through MCRO serve different purposes. The BCA gives you a broad picture of someone's criminal history across the state. MCRO lets you look at the details of a specific court case filed in Dakota County.
Burnsville residents can also check for any active warrants or recent criminal complaints filed against someone through the county resources described on this page. The Dakota County criminal complaint search and the MCRO system together provide solid public access to active and recent court cases tied to Burnsville.
Dakota County Court Records
Burnsville is in Dakota County, and all court cases from the city are filed at the Dakota County District Court. The Dakota County page has more information on courthouse locations, how to request records, the criminal complaint search tool, and other resources for Burnsville and Dakota County residents.
Nearby Cities
These nearby cities are also served by the Dakota County court system and have their own court records pages.