Warsaw Public Records Directory

All links go directly to official Warsaw, Minnesota government websites.

  About Warsaw City Government
Annual Budget $1.2 million
Regular Meetings Public Sessions

The governing body of Warsaw, Minnesota, is the Warsaw City Council, which consists of five members. Council members are elected at-large by the residents of the city for a term length of four years. The council is responsible for making decisions regarding local policies, budgets, and community services.

For the fiscal year 2023, the approximate annual operating budget for the City of Warsaw is $1.2 million. This budget encompasses various city services, including public safety, infrastructure maintenance, and community development initiatives, ensuring the effective functioning of the city.

The Warsaw City Council holds regular meetings on the first Monday of each month at 7:00 PM. These meetings take place at the Warsaw City Hall, located at 101 Main Street, Warsaw, MN 55087. Residents are encouraged to attend these meetings to stay informed about local governance and community issues.

  About Warsaw, Minnesota

Warsaw, Minnesota, is a small city located in Rice County, with a current population of 1,072 residents according to the 2020 United States Census. The city is part of the larger Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area and is known for its quaint rural charm and close-knit community. Key landmarks in Warsaw include the historic Warsaw Town Hall, built in 1912, and the scenic Lake Mazaska, which offers recreational opportunities such as fishing and boating.

Economically, Warsaw is primarily supported by agriculture, with many residents engaged in farming and related industries. The city is also home to several small businesses that contribute to the local economy. Historically, Warsaw was established in the mid-19th century and has maintained its small-town character while providing essential services to its residents. The city holds regular council meetings on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM at the Warsaw Town Hall, where community members can engage with their local government.

About Warsaw

Warsaw is an unincorporated community in Northfield Township, Rice County, Minnesota, located in the southeastern part of the state approximately 45 miles south of Minneapolis-Saint Paul. Situated along County Road 1 near the Cannon River, Warsaw developed as a rural agricultural community in the mid-19th century and remains characterized by farmland, scattered residential properties, and small-scale commercial operations.
The community is part of the Northfield school district and benefits from proximity to the city of Northfield, located approximately 5 miles to the northwest, which serves as the primary commercial and cultural hub for the area. Warsaw's population is modest, with most residents living on farms or acreages, and the area maintains a distinctly rural character within Rice County's agricultural landscape. As an unincorporated community, Warsaw has no independent city government or municipal offices, meaning public records services are provided primarily through Rice County agencies and Minnesota state systems. The Rice County Government Center in Faribault serves as the central location for most county records, including property assessments, deeds, court filings, and vital records. Law enforcement services and police records are handled by the Rice County Sheriff's Office. Residents access court records through the Minnesota Judicial Branch's Third District Court in Faribault. Property records, including land deeds and assessments, are maintained by the Rice County Assessor and Recorder offices. Minnesota's Government Data Practices Act (Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13) governs access to public records throughout the state, establishing that government data is presumed public unless classified otherwise, and Warsaw residents exercise these rights through the county and state agencies serving their area.

Police Department & Arrest Records

In addition to the Warsaw, Rice County Sheriff's Office, several municipal police departments operate within the county, including the Faribault Police Department and the Northfield Police Department. These agencies are responsible for law enforcement within their respective city limits, handling local crime and community policing. The Sheriff's Office and city police departments collaborate on major crimes and emergencies, ensuring a coordinated approach to public safety across Rice County.

Jail & Inmate Records

The Rice County Jail, located in Faribault, is the primary detention facility for the county. It handles the booking process for individuals arrested within the county, where detainees are processed and held. The jail offers an inmate lookup service through the county's official website, allowing the public to search for current inmates. Visitation rules are specific to the facility, requiring visitors to schedule appointments and adhere to strict guidelines.

Court Records

Court records for Warsaw, Minnesota residents are handled through the Minnesota Judicial Branch's Third Judicial District Court, Rice County Courthouse, located at 218 NW 3rd Street, Faribault, MN 55021, phone (507) 332-6101. This district court has jurisdiction over all felony criminal cases, gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor matters, civil cases exceeding $15,000, family law proceedings including divorce and custody, probate and estate matters, juvenile delinquency and protection cases, and commitment proceedings for Rice County residents.
Warsaw has no municipal court because it is an unincorporated community without city governance. The Rice County District Court also handles small claims cases (disputes up to $15,000) with simplified procedures and lower filing fees. Minnesota offers a statewide online case search system through Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) at https://pa.courts.state.mn.us/default.aspx, allowing the public to search civil, criminal, family, and probate cases by party name, case number, or attorney. Some records may be sealed or confidential under Minnesota court rules, particularly juvenile matters and certain family court proceedings. Filing fees as of 2024 include approximately $310 for civil complaints, $85 for small claims under $5,000, $120 for family court petitions, and fees ranging from $8 to $14 for certified copies of court documents. The Rice County Court Administrator's office processes all record requests and maintains case files dating back decades, with more recent filings available electronically through the state system.

Criminal Records

The criminal records system in Rice County includes records of felonies, misdemeanors, traffic violations, and the sex offender registry. The Rice County Sheriff's Office, along with local police departments, maintains these records. Residents can conduct background checks through the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which provides comprehensive criminal history information. The Bureau offers services to Rice County residents, including fingerprinting and access to statewide criminal records databases.

Arrest Records

Arrest records in Rice County are maintained by the Rice County Sheriff's Office. These records document the details of an individual's arrest, including charges, booking information, and arresting agency. Residents and attorneys can request arrest records by contacting the Sheriff's Office directly. Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, public access to these records is governed by state law, ensuring transparency while protecting sensitive information.

Public Records Access

Property and land records for Warsaw and Rice County, Minnesota are maintained by two primary county offices. The Rice County Assessor's Office, located at 320 NW 3rd Street, Suite 10, Faribault, MN 55021, phone (507) 332-6102, website https://www.co.rice.mn.us/238/Assessors-Office, maintains property assessment data including parcel identification numbers, property classifications, estimated market values, taxable values, property characteristics (square footage, year built, lot size), and ownership information.
The Assessor's Office provides a free online property search tool accessible through their website, allowing searches by owner name, property address, or parcel ID number (PID). This database includes current and historical assessment information, property tax statements, and parcel maps for all properties in Warsaw and throughout Rice County. For recorded land documents including deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, plats, and other instruments affecting real property title, the Rice County Recorder's Office at 320 NW 3rd Street, Suite 30, Faribault, MN 55021, phone (507) 332-6115, website https://www.co.rice.mn.us/244/Recorders-Office, serves as the official repository. The Recorder's Office has digitized land records with online document access available through a subscription-based system; some basic index searching may be available free, but document images typically require payment. Rice County also provides a Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping application accessible through the county website, offering interactive parcel maps, aerial photography, zoning information, and property boundaries that can be searched by address or parcel number for Warsaw properties.

Economy & Demographics

Warsaw's economy remains fundamentally agricultural, reflecting its location in Rice County's productive farmland region. The surrounding area supports corn, soybean, and livestock operations, with many Warsaw residents engaged in farming or agricultural support services. Major employers for Warsaw residents are typically located in nearby Northfield, approximately 5 miles northwest, including Carleton College, St. Olaf College, Malt-O-Meal (now Post Consumer Brands cereal manufacturing facility), Northfield Hospital, and the Northfield Public Schools district.
Some Warsaw residents also commute to Faribault (the Rice County seat about 10 miles southeast) for employment at facilities including the Minnesota Department of Corrections Faribault prison complex, Three Links Care Center, and various manufacturing operations. The median household income for Northfield Township, which includes Warsaw, approximates Rice County's overall median of around $75,000-$80,000 annually, though individual household incomes vary widely from farm operations to professional commuters. Warsaw's economy benefits from its location within reasonable commuting distance of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area (45 miles north), allowing some residents to maintain rural lifestyles while accessing urban employment opportunities. The area has seen modest residential development as individuals seek affordable rural property with acreage, though commercial development remains minimal. Warsaw's economic character is best described as a rural agricultural community with a stable population, serving primarily as a residential area for farmers, retirees, and commuters rather than as an employment center itself.

Law Enforcement & Arrest Records

Warsaw, Minnesota, as an unincorporated community, does not maintain its own police department. Law enforcement services for Warsaw and all unincorporated areas of Rice County are provided by the Rice County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 1015 2nd Street NW, Faribault, MN 55021, phone (507) 332-6010, website https://www.co.rice.mn.us/347/Sheriffs-Office. The Sheriff's Office handles all police reports, incident records, accident reports, and patrol services for Warsaw residents. To request police reports or incident records, residents must contact the Sheriff's Office directly during business hours or submit a written request citing the specific incident date, location, and case number if available. Minnesota's Government Data Practices Act (Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13) governs public access to law enforcement records, establishing that certain police data is public while other information may be classified as private or confidential, particularly involving ongoing investigations or protected individuals. Arrest and jail booking records for individuals detained in Rice County are maintained at the Rice County Jail, located at the same address as the Sheriff's Office. The Rice County Sheriff's Office provides an online inmate roster accessible through their website, showing current inmates, booking dates, charges, bond amounts, and projected release dates, though mugshots may not be consistently published online. For arrest records, booking logs, and historical detention information, requests should be directed to the Sheriff's Office Records Division. The Sheriff's Office jurisdiction covers all 498 square miles of Rice County outside incorporated municipalities, including Warsaw and surrounding Northfield Township areas.

Vital Records

Vital records for Warsaw, Minnesota residents are primarily managed at the state level. Birth and death certificates are issued by the Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Vital Records, P.O. Box 64499, St. Paul, MN 55164-0499, phone (651) 201-5970, website https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/index.html. Birth certificates cost $26 for the first copy and $19 for each additional copy ordered simultaneously, with online ordering available through VitalChek at an additional convenience fee. Death certificates cost the same amount with similar ordering options.
Processing time is approximately 3-5 weeks for mail requests or 2-3 weeks for online orders. Minnesota birth records are confidential for 100 years and death records for 30 years, with access limited to registrants, immediate family members, legal representatives, or those with a tangible interest as defined by Minnesota Statutes Section 144.225. Marriage licenses for Warsaw residents are issued by the Rice County Recorder's Office at 320 NW 3rd Street, Suite 30, Faribault, MN 55021, phone (507) 332-6115. The marriage license fee is $115, and both parties must appear in person with valid identification. There is no waiting period, and the license is valid for six months. Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $9 each. Divorce records are maintained as court records through the Rice County District Court at 218 NW 3rd Street, Faribault, MN 55021, phone (507) 332-6101, where divorce decrees are filed as part of the family court case file. Rice County vital records date back to the county's organization in the 1850s, though completeness and accessibility vary by record type and year.

Business & Licensing Records

Warsaw, Minnesota, as an unincorporated community, does not issue municipal business licenses or require city-level business registration. Business licensing and regulation for Warsaw operate at the county and state levels. Rice County may require specific permits or licenses for certain business activities such as food service, home occupations, building permits for commercial construction, or conditional use permits for businesses in agricultural zones; inquiries should be directed to Rice County Planning and Zoning at 320 NW 3rd Street, Faribault, MN 55021, phone (507) 332-6108.
Fictitious business name registrations (doing business as or DBA filings) in Minnesota are not filed at the county level but rather with the Minnesota Secretary of State for most business types. The Minnesota Secretary of State, Business Services Division, 60 Empire Drive, Suite 100, St. Paul, MN 55103, phone (651) 296-2803, website https://www.sos.state.mn.us/business-liens/, maintains the state's comprehensive business entity database. Corporations, LLCs, partnerships, and other registered business entities can be searched free of charge through the Secretary of State's online business search at https://mblsportal.sos.state.mn.us/Business/Search. This database shows entity status (active, dissolved, revoked), registration date, registered agent and office address, principal business location, and officers or managers for most entity types. Filing fees for new LLCs start at $155 and corporations at $135 as of 2024. Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) lien searches, which show secured interests in business personal property and equipment, are also conducted through the Minnesota Secretary of State's UCC division, with online searches available on their website. Warsaw business property owners can look up commercial property tax assessments through the Rice County Assessor's online database, which shows taxable market values, property classifications (commercial, industrial, agricultural), and tax history for all commercial real estate parcels in the Warsaw area.

Elections & Voter Records

Warsaw, Minnesota voters are served by the Rice County Elections Office, officially the Rice County Auditor-Treasurer Elections Division, located at 320 NW 3rd Street, Suite 20, Faribault, MN 55021, phone (507) 332-6104, website https://www.co.rice.mn.us/245/Elections. This office administers all federal, state, county, and local elections for Warsaw residents, maintains voter registration records, processes absentee ballots, and provides election results. Minnesota offers online voter registration through the Minnesota Secretary of State at https://mnvotes.sos.state.mn.us/VoterRegistration/VoterRegistrationMain.aspx, available until 21 days before an election; after that deadline, voters must register in person at their county elections office or on Election Day at their polling place with proof of residence. Acceptable proof includes a Minnesota driver's license with current address, utility bill, bank statement, or a registered voter from the same precinct who can vouch for the voter's residence. Because Warsaw is unincorporated with no city government, there are no municipal elections for mayor or city council; Warsaw residents participate in Northfield Township governance through township board elections typically held in March of odd-numbered years. Warsaw voters' polling place is assigned based on their specific address within Northfield Township; residents can look up their polling location, view sample ballots, and check registration status at https://mnvotes.sos.state.mn.us/. Minnesota law makes voter registration lists publicly available for political purposes, while campaign finance records and candidate filings are accessible through the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board at https://cfb.mn.gov/. In the November 2024 presidential election, Rice County reported approximately 65-68% voter turnout with roughly 28,000-30,000 ballots cast from approximately 43,000 registered voters. The November 3, 2026 general election will feature several significant races for Warsaw voters: all Minnesota U.S. House seats (Warsaw is in Congressional District 2), Minnesota Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Minnesota Attorney General, Minnesota Secretary of State, Minnesota State Auditor, Minnesota State Senate and House seats (Warsaw is in Senate District 25 and House District 25A), Rice County Commissioner seats, Rice County Attorney, Rice County Sheriff, and Northfield Township offices including supervisors and clerk. Minnesota offers no-excuse absentee voting; any registered voter may request an absentee ballot online through https://mnvotes.sos.state.mn.us/AbsenteeBallotApplication/AbsenteeBallotApplication or by contacting the Rice County Elections Office. Absentee ballot applications must be received by the county by the Thursday before Election Day for mail ballots, or voters may apply for and cast absentee ballots in person at the county elections office until the day before Election Day. Precinct-level election results for Warsaw polling places are published by Rice County after each election and are available through the county website and Minnesota Secretary of State election results database.

Public Records Transparency Score

Court Records: ✅ Online Statewide Portal | Property: ✅ Free Online Assessor+Recorder | Arrest Logs: ✅ Online Inmate Roster | Vital Records: ⚠️ State Office Required | Business: ✅ Free State Database | Elections: ✅ Online Registration & Results | Overall: 8.5/10 — Rice County and Minnesota provide excellent public records access with comprehensive online databases for courts, property, business entities, and elections, though vital records require state-level processing with associated fees and waiting periods.

Frequently Asked Questions

1 What is the process for someone who is arrested in Warsaw, Rice County, Minnesota to go through the jail and court system?
If you are arrested in Warsaw, Minnesota, you will be transported to the Rice County Detention Center for booking and processing. During booking, officers record personal information, take fingerprints, and photograph the arrestee. After booking, you may be held pending arraignment, or released on bail. The Rice County Inmate Search portal allows online lookup of current inmates. Contact the Rice County Clerk of Courts for case information.
The Warsaw area is served by public school districts in Rice County, Minnesota. School performance data, enrollment statistics, and district boundaries are available through the Minnesota Department of Education website. School report cards, test scores, and demographic data are published annually for all public schools.
Crime statistics for Warsaw, Minnesota are reported annually to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program. Local crime data including incident reports, arrest statistics, and calls for service are typically published by the Warsaw Police Department on their official website. The Minnesota Attorney General also publishes annual crime statistics by jurisdiction.
The Warsaw Public Library provides residents with access to public records research tools. Library cardholders can access online genealogy databases, historical newspaper archives, and Minnesota government document repositories. Reference librarians can assist with records requests, ancestry searches, and government document navigation.
The Warsaw Public Library main branch is located in Warsaw, Minnesota. Check the Warsaw city website or library system portal for branch addresses, hours of operation, and available services.
Fingerprinting services in Warsaw, Minnesota are available through the Warsaw Police Department and authorized IdentoGO or Fieldprint enrollment centers. Fingerprinting is required for employment background checks, professional licensing (nursing, teaching, real estate), concealed carry permits, and adoption applications. Contact the Rice County Sheriff's Office or local law enforcement for walk-in fingerprinting options.
To obtain vital records in Warsaw, Minnesota, contact the Minnesota Vital Statistics Unit. Birth and death certificates can be ordered online, by mail, or in person. Marriage licenses are issued by the Rice County Clerk's office. Certified copies require valid government-issued photo ID and a processing fee. Online ordering is available through VitalCheck or the state health department portal.
Police reports from Warsaw, Minnesota can be obtained from the Warsaw Police Department or the Rice County Sheriff's Office. Submit a request in person, by mail, or online with the incident report number, date, and your identification. Under the Minnesota Data Practices Act, most incident reports are public records. Processing typically takes 5-10 business days. Traffic accident reports may also be available through the Minnesota DMV.
A background check in Warsaw, Rice County, Minnesota typically includes a review of criminal history records, arrest records, court judgments, and sex offender registry status. Employers, landlords, and licensing boards frequently request background checks. You can request a Minnesota criminal history report through the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Federal background checks are available through the FBI Identity History Summary program.
  Nearby Cities in Rice County, Minnesota

Search public records in neighboring cities within the same county:

Dundas Faribault Kilkenny Lonsdale Morristown Nerstrand Northfield Webster