North Dakota Public Records: A Complete Research Guide

Last Updated on March 21, 2026 by Editorial Staff

North Dakota public records are government-created documents, databases, filings, and communications maintained by state and local agencies that are broadly accessible under both the North Dakota Constitution and the state’s open records statutes, codified primarily at N.D.C.C. §§ 44-04-17.1 through 44-04-29. North Dakota’s constitution, Article XI, Section 6, and the Supreme Court’s Administrative Rule 41 for court records together establish one of the most sweeping presumptions of openness in the Great Plains region: all government records and meetings must be open to the public unless a specific law authorizes withholding.

Residents and nonresidents frequently perform a North Dakota public records search — sometimes called a North Dakota open records request, North Dakota NDCC 44-04 request, or North Dakota sunshine law request — to locate court filings, property ownership records, criminal history information, business registrations, vital records, and other documents held by agencies across North Dakota’s 53 counties.

Public records in North Dakota are distributed across state agencies, 53 county-level offices including district court clerks, county recorders, auditors, and county health departments, and municipal bodies. Understanding which agency maintains each record type is essential because marriage and divorce records, for example, are held at the county level rather than centrally.

On This Page

• Quick Answer: Where to Search North Dakota Public Records
• Legal Notice
• Why This Guide Is Reliable
• Why North Dakota Public Records Law Is Distinctive
• The Legal Framework
• North Dakota Court Records
• North Dakota Criminal Records
• North Dakota Property Records
• North Dakota Business Records
• North Dakota Vital Records
• North Dakota Inmate and Corrections Records
• Professional License Records
• Charity and Nonprofit Records
• How to Submit a North Dakota Public Records Request
• Free Government Databases for North Dakota Public Records
• Common Mistakes When Researching North Dakota Public Records
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Final Thoughts
• Related Guides
• Disclaimer

Quick Answer: Where to Search North Dakota Public Records

The most important free and low-cost government databases for researching North Dakota public records include:

• North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry — NDCRI (publicsearch.ndcourts.gov) — free statewide online search of district and some municipal court cases covering criminal, traffic, civil, and family matters
• North Dakota AG — Bureau of Criminal Investigation (attorneygeneral.nd.gov/public-safety/criminal-history-records) — criminal history record checks; name-based or fingerprint-based; $15 fee; 7–10 business days
• North Dakota AG — Sex Offender Registry (sexoffender.nd.gov) — free statewide sex offender search by name, city, county, or zip
• North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation — Resident Lookup (docr.nd.gov) — free state prison inmate search
• North Dakota Secretary of State — Business Entity Search (sos.nd.gov) — corporations, LLCs, partnerships, and UCC filings
• North Dakota DHHS — Division of Vital Records (hhs.nd.gov/vital-records) — birth and death certificates ($15 each); marriage and divorce records at county level
• North Dakota County Recorder — Marriage and Divorce Records — certified copies of marriage licenses and divorce decrees at the county recorder in the county where the event occurred
• North Dakota County Recorder / Auditor — Property Records — deeds, mortgages, and recorded instruments at county recorder; ownership and valuation at county auditor/director of tax equalization
• North Dakota AG — Open Records Guide (attorneygeneral.nd.gov/open-records-meetings) — authoritative condensed and full Open Records Manual; updated annually

These systems provide access to the majority of publicly searchable government records in North Dakota.

⚠️ Legal Notice

North Dakota public records law is grounded in N.D. Const. Art. XI, § 6 and the North Dakota Century Code, Chapter 44-04. All government records are open unless a specific statutory exemption applies. Key exemption categories include: law enforcement investigative records (exempt only until investigation complete or 75 days, whichever is first); personal privacy information including SSNs, day/month of birth, home addresses and phone numbers in law enforcement records; attorney work product and active litigation records; juvenile records; domestic violence protection order files (except final orders); applications for public employment until finalists are designated; medical records; and security system plans.

This guide explains lawful public records research methods and does not constitute legal advice.

Why This Guide Is Reliable

inet-investigation.com publishes research-based guides built on primary government sources, investigative research methods, and public records law. All databases referenced in this guide link to official government websites whenever possible.

For jurisdiction-specific legal questions, consult a licensed North Dakota attorney or the relevant government agency responsible for the record.

Why North Dakota Public Records Law Is Distinctive

North Dakota operates under one of the most comprehensive open records frameworks in the northern Great Plains — broadly covering all branches of government and all publicly funded entities, with a particularly notable treatment of court records and a time-limited exemption for law enforcement investigative files.

North Dakota’s open records law covers any entity receiving public funds — including private organizations. The definition of “public entity” under N.D.C.C. § 44-04-17.1(13) extends to any private organization that receives public funds exceeding the fair market value of goods or services it provides to the government. An organization that receives a government grant or subsidy — rather than a fair-market contract — qualifies as a public entity and is subject to the open records law. Even a private entity that merely performs a governmental function or holds records of public business on behalf of a government body may be covered. This is one of the broadest coverage definitions in any state.

Court records are explicitly excluded from the statute but governed by a separate, comparably open rule. The Century Code’s definition of “record” expressly excludes records in the possession of a court. Court records are instead governed by North Dakota Supreme Court Administrative Rule 41, which was substantially rewritten in 2022 and amended through 2025. Rule 41 expressly adopts the § 44-04-18 procedures — including the fee structure, reasonable-time standard, and confidential/exempt classification system — so the practical effect on public access is closely parallel to the statutory framework, but with the court retaining independent rulemaking authority over its own records.

Law enforcement investigative records are exempt only temporarily — they become public after 75 days or when the investigation closes, whichever comes first. Under N.D.C.C. § 44-04-18.1, criminal investigative records that are exempt during an active investigation automatically become open once the investigation is complete or after 75 days have passed — whichever occurs first. This time-limited exemption means that law enforcement records that might remain permanently closed in other states become publicly accessible in North Dakota on a defined schedule. Active criminal intelligence files have different handling rules, including a one-year list requirement.

The first hour of locating records is free; paper copies are capped at 25 cents per page. North Dakota’s fee structure is among the most standardized in the region. Under § 44-04-18(2), the first hour of staff time spent locating records (including electronic records) is provided at no charge. After the first hour, agencies may charge actual costs. Standard letter or legal-size paper copies are capped at 25 cents per page. For other record types, actual costs apply. Access to inspect records (without copying) is generally free. This combination of a free-hour threshold and a copy-fee cap provides meaningful protection against the kind of fee escalation seen in states like Wyoming.

Preliminary drafts and working papers are expressly included in the definition of “record.” The statutory definition of “record” specifically includes preliminary drafts and working papers — it does not exclude unfinished documents from public access. The only category excluded from the definition is “unrecorded thought processes or mental impressions.” This means draft memos, draft reports, preliminary analyses, and working notes that have been committed to a recorded form are subject to the open records law, not shielded by a deliberative process privilege.

Employee salary, job performance records, contracts, and travel vouchers are explicitly open. The AG’s Open Records Guide specifically identifies employee salary and job performance records, contracts, telephone records, and travel vouchers as open records that must be provided on request. North Dakota courts have confirmed that the public’s right to know how public funds are spent applies broadly to compensation and expenditure records, without requiring a showing of special need.

The open records law is construed liberally in favor of disclosure. North Dakota statute § 1-02-01 requires that statutes be construed liberally to further their purpose. The North Dakota Supreme Court has applied this principle consistently to the open records law, holding that exemptions must be narrowly construed. Any exemption forbidding disclosure of records related to public expenditures must be expressly textual — implied exemptions do not protect records from disclosure.

The Legal Framework

North Dakota Court Records

North Dakota’s court system consists of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, district courts with general jurisdiction in each of North Dakota’s 53 counties organized into 7 judicial districts, and approximately 87 municipal courts handling ordinance violations and minor matters.

North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry — NDCRI (publicsearch.ndcourts.gov). The NDCRI is a free online public access system covering North Dakota district court cases and some municipal court cases. Searches are available by party name, case number, citation number, attorney name, date filed, case status, and case type. Results include case type, parties, filing date, case status, and disposition. The system covers criminal, traffic, civil (including judgments and civil actions), and family/probate cases. Not all counties or all case types may be fully searchable online — check the NDCRI help documentation for current county coverage.

North Dakota Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. Supreme Court opinions, orders, and briefs are searchable at ndcourts.gov. The Supreme Court also provides a public docket search and a court calendar.

Court Records Governed by Admin Rule 41. Unlike most states where court records fall under the general public records statute, North Dakota courts are governed by a standalone Supreme Court Administrative Rule 41. This rule was substantially rewritten in November 2022 and has been amended through 2025. It classifies all court records into three categories: confidential records (prohibited from disclosure), exempt records (discretionary disclosure), and open records (presumptively required disclosure). The rule expressly adopts the fee structure and reasonable-time response standard from § 44-04-18.

Copies of Court Documents. For copies of specific filings — complaints, orders, transcripts, or exhibits not available through NDCRI — contact the clerk of district court in the county where the case was filed. Copy fees are set by court rule.

Federal Court Records. North Dakota has one federal judicial district — the District of North Dakota — with courthouses in Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks, and Minot. Federal case records are accessible through PACER (pacer.gov) at $0.10 per page.

North Dakota Criminal Records

The North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), within the Office of the Attorney General, maintains the state’s central criminal history repository. The BCI compiles arrest and prosecution records submitted by local law enforcement, state’s attorneys, courts, and parole and probation agencies.

Criminal History Record Check ($15). The public may request a criminal history record check from BCI by submitting the Request for Criminal History Record Information form with a $15 fee (check or money order). Name-based searches are available; fingerprint-based checks are also available for greater accuracy (fingerprints obtained through local law enforcement). Results are typically returned in 7–10 business days. North Dakota’s criminal history records include convictions, dismissed charges, not-guilty adjudications, and jail/prison custody records less than three years old — making the accessible universe of records broader than many states that restrict public access to convictions only.

NDCRI as a Supplemental Research Tool. The free online NDCRI portal provides court-level case information by party name, which can supplement or precede a BCI background check for many research purposes. Case-level charge and disposition information is often sufficient for preliminary research without paying the $15 BCI fee.

Time-Limited Investigative Records. North Dakota’s 75-day rule under § 44-04-18.1 means that law enforcement investigative records automatically become open records once the investigation closes or after 75 days — whichever is first. Researchers denied access to investigative records should track the 75-day window and refile after it expires.

Sex Offender Registry. The North Dakota Sex Offender Registry, maintained by the AG’s office, is searchable for free at sexoffender.nd.gov by name, city, county, or zip code.

Expungement. North Dakota provides limited expungement options for certain criminal offenses. Qualifying individuals may petition the district court in the county of conviction to have records sealed or expunged after completing their sentence and a required waiting period.

North Dakota Property Records

North Dakota property records are maintained at the county level by two offices: the County Recorder (deeds, mortgages, and recorded instruments establishing chain of title) and the County Auditor or Director of Tax Equalization (ownership and assessment data for property tax purposes). Some counties designate these functions differently — the County Clerk of Court may also play a role in some jurisdictions.

County Recorder. Each of North Dakota’s 53 counties has a recorder who files and indexes deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other instruments affecting real property. Access and online availability vary significantly by county; larger counties like Cass (Fargo), Burleigh (Bismarck), and Grand Forks have online deed search portals. Contact the county recorder in the county where the property is located for access details and copy fees.

County Auditor / Director of Tax Equalization. County auditors and directors of tax equalization maintain property assessment and ownership data for property tax purposes. Property tax records and assessments are open public records in North Dakota. Many county auditor offices provide online property tax search portals. The North Dakota Tax Department (nd.gov/tax) provides a gateway to county property tax resources.

North Dakota Business Records

Business entity records for corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and other registered entities are maintained by the North Dakota Secretary of State. The online Business Entity Search at sos.nd.gov allows free searches by entity name or registered agent and returns entity type, status, registered agent, and filing history. UCC financing statements are also filed with and searchable through the Secretary of State’s office. North Dakota’s Secretary of State also maintains records of notary commissions and trade name registrations.

North Dakota Vital Records

The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Division of Vital Records holds birth and death records for the state. Marriage and divorce records are maintained at the county level — not centrally — following the same pattern as Montana.

Birth Certificates ($15). The Division of Vital Records holds birth records from 1870 forward (with varying completeness for early years). Certified copies cost $15 each. Requests may be submitted online through the DHHS Vital Records secure web portal, by mail, or in person at the Bismarck office. Access is restricted to the person named on the record, parents, immediate family of a deceased person, and authorized legal representatives.

Death Certificates ($15). Certified copies cost $15 for the first copy and $10 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. An “information copy” (uncertified) of a death record is available to anyone. Requests may be submitted online, by mail, or in person.

Marriage Records — County Level Only. Marriage records are not held at the state level. Certified copies of marriage licenses must be obtained from the county recorder in the county where the marriage license was issued. Each county sets its own process and fees.

Divorce Records — County Level Only. Divorce records are not held at the state level. Certified copies of divorce decrees must be obtained from the clerk of district court in the county where the divorce was granted.

North Dakota Inmate and Corrections Records

The North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCR) manages the state prison system and provides a free Resident Lookup search at docr.nd.gov. The search returns current incarceration status, facility, offense information, and projected release information for state prison inmates. County jail information is maintained by county sheriff’s offices — many North Dakota county sheriffs publish jail rosters on their websites. Under North Dakota law, general registers including jail booking information are explicitly identified as open records.

Professional License Records

North Dakota professional licensing is administered through the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions, various health licensing boards under the DHHS structure, and independent occupational boards. The North Dakota Board of Medicine (ndbom.org) licenses physicians. The North Dakota State Bar Association (sband.org) maintains attorney licensing records. The North Dakota Nurse Aide Registry and nursing boards, engineering and surveying boards, real estate commission, and other occupation-specific bodies maintain their own online license verification portals. The Secretary of State’s website provides a directory of state boards and commissions.

Charity and Nonprofit Records

Charities soliciting contributions in North Dakota must register with the Secretary of State’s Charitable Organization unit. Registration records are searchable through the Secretary of State’s website. North Dakota’s broad definition of “public entity” — covering organizations receiving public funds beyond fair market value for goods/services — means that grant recipients and publicly subsidized nonprofits may be subject to open records requests for records relating to their publicly funded activities. Federal Form 990 filings for tax-exempt organizations are publicly available through ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer (projects.propublica.org/nonprofits) and the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (apps.irs.gov/app/eos).

How to Submit a North Dakota Public Records Request

1. Identify the custodian of the records. Public records requests must be submitted to the specific public entity that holds the records. There is no central state FOIA office, but the AG’s office provides a list of agency contacts and the condensed Open Records Guide at attorneygeneral.nd.gov/open-records-meetings. Requests may be made by any medium — email, in-person, phone, or mail — though written requests are strongly recommended to document the submission date and scope.
2. Understand what “record” means — and what it doesn’t. North Dakota’s definition of “record” is broad: all recorded information in any form that has a connection with how public funds are spent or with the entity’s governmental functions, including preliminary drafts and working papers. However, a request for information — asking an agency to answer questions, explain decisions, or compile data in a new format — is not a request for records. Agencies are not required to create new documents or answer questions in response to a records request.
3. Know the fee rules. The first hour of staff time spent locating records (including electronic records) is free. Paper copies are capped at 25 cents per page for standard letter or legal-size documents; other formats are charged at actual cost. Inspection of records without copying is generally free. Budget accordingly for large requests — after the first free hour, labor costs at actual rates apply.
4. Understand the response timeline — “reasonable time” with no statutory number. North Dakota law requires response within a “reasonable time,” which is not defined by statute. In practice, most agencies respond within a few business days for straightforward requests. Delays on complex requests are common. If you believe a response is unreasonably delayed, file a complaint with the Attorney General’s office, which investigates alleged violations of the open records law.
5. Pursue enforcement through the AG or district court. If your request is denied, the AG’s office will investigate alleged violations. A civil court action is also available — courts may award damages up to $1,000 and attorney fees for improper denials. The AG’s published Open Records Manual and annual opinion letters provide useful guidance on what must be disclosed and what may be withheld, and are often persuasive in resolving disputes without litigation.

Free Government Databases for North Dakota Public Records

Common Mistakes When Researching North Dakota Public Records

Searching for marriage or divorce records at the state vital records office. Like Montana, North Dakota does not centrally hold marriage or divorce records at the state level. The DHHS Division of Vital Records holds only birth and death records. Marriage records must be obtained from the county recorder in the county where the license was issued; divorce records must be obtained from the district court clerk in the county where the divorce was granted. Sending a marriage or divorce request to DHHS will result in a redirect, wasting time.

Assuming court records fall under the § 44-04-18 statutory framework directly. North Dakota expressly excludes court records from the statutory definition of “record” under § 44-04-17.1(16). Court records are instead governed by Supreme Court Administrative Rule 41, which adopts the § 44-04-18 procedures but is an independent court rule that the Supreme Court may amend without legislative action. Researchers seeking court records should reference Rule 41 (ndcourts.gov) and be aware that statutory amendments after the rule’s effective date do not automatically apply to court records unless the court expressly adopts them.

Thinking investigative records are permanently exempt once withheld. North Dakota’s 75-day rule means that law enforcement investigative records withheld during an active investigation automatically become open once the investigation closes or after 75 days — whichever comes first. If a law enforcement agency denies access to investigative records, track the 75-day window from the date the records were created or requested. After 75 days (or sooner if the investigation closes), the records must be provided on request.

Confusing a request for records with a request for information. North Dakota law does not require agencies to answer questions, explain their decisions, or compile data in new formats in response to a public records request. A request for “information about” an agency’s decision-making process, or a request for an explanation of a policy, is not a records request. To obtain this kind of information, researchers must identify specific existing records — reports, memos, meeting minutes, correspondence — that would contain the information sought.

Overlooking the broad coverage of publicly funded private organizations. North Dakota’s definition of “public entity” covers private organizations that receive public funds exceeding the fair market value of what they provide in return. Grant recipients, subsidized nonprofits, and organizations performing governmental functions are potentially subject to open records requests for their publicly funded activities. Researchers investigating nonprofits or private contractors with government relationships should consider whether North Dakota’s coverage extends to those entities before concluding that their records are private.

Expecting a free criminal history check at the state level. The BCI criminal history record check costs $15 regardless of outcome. The free NDCRI online portal provides court-level case information and is often sufficient for preliminary research, but it does not replace the comprehensive BCI repository which includes records from law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, and corrections. For thorough criminal history research, use NDCRI first to identify cases, then decide whether the $15 BCI check adds meaningful additional information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are North Dakota public records open to anyone?

Yes. Under N.D.C.C. § 44-04-18, anyone has the right to view or obtain copies of public records, regardless of their reason or where they live. There is no residency requirement and no purpose requirement. The law makes no distinction between journalists, residents, nonresidents, or members of the general public — all are equal in the eyes of the public records law. The only threshold is whether a specific statutory exemption applies to the record category.

Does North Dakota have a FOIA law?

North Dakota has its own open records law — the North Dakota Century Code, Chapter 44-04, with a constitutional basis in N.D. Const. Art. XI, § 6 — which is entirely separate from the federal Freedom of Information Act. The federal FOIA applies only to federal executive branch agencies. North Dakota’s law, originally enacted in 1957 and substantially amended multiple times, is one of the most comprehensive in the Great Plains region, covering all publicly funded entities and including preliminary drafts and working papers within the definition of accessible records.

Are North Dakota criminal records public?

Criminal history records maintained by the BCI are accessible to the public for a $15 fee per check. North Dakota includes dismissed charges, not-guilty adjudications, and jail/prison custody records less than three years old in the accessible universe — making its criminal history records broader than many states that restrict public access to convictions only. The free NDCRI online court search also provides case-level criminal information statewide. Law enforcement investigative records are exempt during active investigations but automatically become public after 75 days or when the investigation closes, whichever is first.

Where are North Dakota property records searched?

North Dakota property records are maintained at the county level by two offices: the County Recorder (recorded instruments including deeds, mortgages, and liens) and the County Auditor or Director of Tax Equalization (ownership and assessed value). Both offices exist in each of North Dakota’s 53 counties. Start with the North Dakota Tax Department (nd.gov/tax) for the statewide property tax data gateway and county assessor links, then contact the County Recorder in the relevant county for recorded instruments.

Are North Dakota arrest records public?

General registers including jail booking information are explicitly identified as open records under North Dakota law. Initial arrest information becomes available once charges are filed. Law enforcement investigative records are temporarily exempt but become public after 75 days or when the investigation closes. Personal information in law enforcement records — including home address (city/state/zip is open; street address is not), day/month of birth (year is open), and phone numbers — is exempt from the record. The BCI criminal history check includes dismissed charges and not-guilty adjudications in addition to convictions.

Can a North Dakota public agency charge fees for records?

Fees are capped and include a meaningful free threshold. The first hour of locating records is free for all requesters. Standard paper copies are capped at 25 cents per page for letter or legal-size documents; other formats are billed at actual cost. Inspection without copying is generally free. There is no statewide fee waiver program, but the combination of the free-hour threshold and the copy-fee cap provides substantially better protection than states like Wyoming or (pre-2025) Montana, where fee practices were largely unconstrained.

Final Thoughts

North Dakota’s open records framework is substantively strong — broadly covering all publicly funded entities, including drafts and working papers, with an explicit constitutional basis, a liberal-construction rule, and a meaningful fee structure that prevents prohibitive cost barriers. The 75-day rule for investigative records and the explicit treatment of employee salaries as open records are features that favor access more clearly than most neighboring states provide.

The main navigational challenge is the county-level fragmentation for certain record types — particularly marriage and divorce records, which must be obtained from county offices and are not available centrally. The free NDCRI online court search is a genuine asset, providing case-level criminal and civil information statewide without cost. The absence of a mandatory response deadline remains the key structural gap, though the AG’s enforcement role and civil damages remedy provide more practical accountability than simply waiting.

For the most common research tasks: use the free NDCRI portal for court-level criminal and civil case research before spending $15 on a BCI background check. For property records, identify the correct county and contact both the County Recorder (recorded instruments) and the County Auditor/Tax Equalization Director (ownership/valuation). For vital records, go to DHHS online for births and deaths — and directly to the county for marriages and divorces, which are not held at the state level.

Related Guides

• South Dakota Public Records: A Complete Research Guide
• Montana Public Records: A Complete Research Guide
• Minnesota Public Records: A Complete Research Guide
• Wyoming Public Records: A Complete Research Guide
• How to Search Property Records Step by Step
• How FOIA Requests Work
• Best Government Databases for Background Research

Disclaimer

This guide is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. Public records laws and agency procedures change over time. Always verify current law and agency requirements directly with the relevant government office or a licensed North Dakota attorney before relying on this information for legal or official purposes.