Cass County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Cass County?

Public records in Cass County, North Dakota, are documents, data, and information created or received by government agencies in the course of official business and made available for public inspection under state law. Pursuant to North Dakota Century Code § 44-04-18, all records made or received by a public entity in connection with the transaction of public business are presumed open unless specifically exempted by statute.

The following categories of records are currently maintained and accessible through various Cass County offices:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court case files are maintained by the Cass County District Court and are searchable through the North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry portal
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments are held by the Cass County Recorder's Office and the Cass County Assessor's Office
Vital records — Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are administered at the state level through North Dakota Vital Records and locally through the Cass County District Court for marriage and divorce filings
Business records — Business licenses, permits, and fictitious name registrations are maintained by the Cass County Auditor's Office and the North Dakota Secretary of State
Tax records — Property tax and assessment records are held by the Cass County Treasurer's Office and the Assessor's Office
Voting and election records — Voter registration data and election results are maintained by the Cass County Auditor's Office
Meeting minutes and agendas — County Commission meeting minutes, board agendas, and related documents are available through the Cass County Auditor's Office
Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, expenditure reports, and financial statements are maintained by the Cass County Auditor's Office
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, are available through the Cass County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — Zoning maps, permits, and land use decisions are maintained by the Cass County Planning and Zoning Department

Is Cass County an Open Records County?

Cass County fully adheres to North Dakota's open records framework, which establishes a broad public right of access to government documents. Under North Dakota Century Code § 44-04-18, all records of public entities are open and accessible to members of the public unless a specific statutory exemption applies. The law affirms that openness in government is the default position, and any denial of access must be grounded in a recognized legal exemption.

Key provisions of the statute include the following:

Public entities must allow inspection and copying of records during normal business hours
Agencies are required to respond to records requests promptly and without unreasonable delay
The burden of justifying any denial of access rests with the government agency, not the requester

North Dakota's open records law operates in conjunction with the state's open meetings statute, codified at § 44-04-19, which requires that deliberations and actions of public bodies be conducted in open session. Cass County government offices are bound by both provisions. At present, no county-specific ordinance restricts or expands upon the rights established under state law, meaning the state statute governs all public records requests submitted to Cass County agencies.

How to Find Public Records in Cass County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Cass County public records through several official channels, depending on the record type sought. The following steps outline the standard process:

Identify the record type and the custodial office — Determine which county department maintains the record. Court records are held by the District Court; property and tax records by the Assessor and Treasurer; vital records through the state health department or District Court.
Search online portals first — Many records are available without a formal request. The Cass County District Court case search and the statewide courts inquiry system allow online lookups at no cost.
Submit a written or in-person request — For records not available online, members of the public may submit a written request to the appropriate office. Requests should identify the record with sufficient specificity to allow staff to locate it.
Use the North Dakota Open Records portal — The state does not currently maintain a centralized online request form; requests are submitted directly to the custodial agency by mail, email, or in person.
Allow for agency response time — Agencies are required to respond promptly. If a request cannot be fulfilled immediately, the agency must provide a timeline for production.
Appeal a denial — If a request is denied, the requester may seek review through the North Dakota Attorney General's Office, which issues advisory opinions on open records disputes.

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

Standard fees apply to the reproduction of public records in Cass County, consistent with the cost-recovery framework established under North Dakota law. Current fees vary by office and record type, and agencies are authorized to charge only the actual cost of reproduction and, where applicable, staff time for extensive searches.

Typical fee structures include the following:

Standard paper copies — Generally $0.25 per page for black-and-white reproductions, though individual offices may set their own rates within statutory limits
Certified copies — Vital records certified copies carry fees set by the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services; birth and death certificates are currently $7.00 per copy
Court record copies — Fees for court document copies are established by the North Dakota Supreme Court and are payable to the Clerk of District Court
Electronic records — Where records are provided in electronic format, agencies may charge for the actual cost of the medium or transmission
Extensive research fees — Agencies may charge for staff time when a request requires more than a reasonable threshold of search effort, as permitted under § 44-04-18

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and money order. Some offices accept credit or debit cards. Fee waivers are not broadly codified under North Dakota law, though agencies retain discretion to waive fees in appropriate circumstances, such as requests made by nonprofit organizations or members of the media.

Does Cass County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to members of the public under North Dakota law, which requires agencies to permit on-site review of records without charge. Copying fees apply only when a requester seeks physical or electronic reproductions.

The following government resources currently provide free access to Cass County public records:

North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry — Members of the public may search North Dakota court case records online at no cost, including civil, criminal, and probate matters filed in Cass County District Court
Criminal case record searches — The North Dakota Court System provides a dedicated criminal case records search tool that allows searches by defendant name, case number, citation number, and other identifiers without charge
Cass County Assessor's Office — Property assessment data and tax records are available for free inspection during regular business hours
Cass County Auditor's Office — Meeting minutes, agendas, election results, and financial documents are available for public review at no cost
North Dakota Secretary of State — Business entity records and fictitious name registrations are searchable online at no charge through the Secretary of State's business search portal

Who Can Request Public Records in Cass County?

Any person may request public records in Cass County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. North Dakota's open records statute does not restrict access based on the identity or affiliation of the requester. The following conditions apply under current law:

Residency — Requesters are not required to be North Dakota residents or Cass County residents to access public records
Identification — Agencies generally do not require requesters to provide identification as a condition of access, except for certain restricted record categories
Purpose — Requesters are not required to state a reason for their request under § 44-04-18; agencies may not condition access on the disclosure of intended use
Non-residents — Non-residents hold the same access rights as residents under state law
Requesting one's own records — Individuals seeking their own records, such as personal court files or vital records, may be required to provide proof of identity to protect against unauthorized disclosure
Restricted record types — Certain categories, including juvenile records, sealed court files, and adoption records, carry additional access restrictions regardless of who is requesting them

Organizations, businesses, attorneys, and members of the media are all entitled to submit public records requests on the same basis as individual members of the public.

What Records Are Confidential in Cass County?

Certain categories of government records are exempt from public disclosure under North Dakota law. Pursuant to North Dakota Century Code § 44-04-18.1, the following types of records are currently classified as confidential or restricted:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under North Dakota law and accessible only to authorized parties
Ongoing investigation records — Law enforcement records related to active criminal investigations may be withheld to protect the integrity of the investigation
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from publicly released documents
Medical records — Health information is protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records — Adoption files are sealed and accessible only through a court order or specific statutory process
Child welfare and protective services records — Records maintained by child protective services agencies are confidential by statute
Personnel records — Employee records are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for information such as an employee's name, title, and compensation
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Commercially sensitive information submitted to government agencies in the course of licensing or permitting may be withheld
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — Documents related to public safety infrastructure and security protocols are exempt from disclosure

When an agency withholds a record, it is required to identify the specific statutory exemption relied upon. North Dakota law does not currently codify a formal balancing test, but courts have recognized that exemptions are to be construed narrowly in favor of disclosure.

Cass County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Cass County Recorder's Office serves as the primary repository for property-related documents, including deeds, mortgages, liens, and other instruments affecting real property in the county. Members of the public may inspect and obtain copies of recorded documents during regular business hours.

Cass County Recorder's Office 211 9th Street South, Fargo, ND 58103 (701) 241-5620 Cass County Recorder's Office

Public counter hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Cass County Auditor's Office 211 9th Street South, Fargo, ND 58103 (701) 241-5600 Cass County Auditor's Office