Minn. Stat. § 484 § 484.014
HOUSING RECORDS; EXPUNGEMENT OF EVICTION INFORMATION.
Operative Text
Subdivision 1.Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following terms have the meanings given: (1) "expungement" means the removal of evidence of the court file's existence from the publicly accessible records; (2) "eviction case" means an action brought under sections 504B.281 to 504B.371; and (3) "court file" means the court file created when an eviction case is filed with the court. Subd. 2.Discretionary expungement. The court may order expungement of an eviction case court file if the court finds the expungement is clearly in the interests of justice and those interests are not outweighed by the public's interest in knowing about the record. Subd. 3.Mandatory expungement. (a) The court shall, without motion by any party except for clauses (6) and (7), order expungement of an eviction case: (1) commenced solely on the grounds provided in section 504B.285, subdivision 1, clause (1), if the court finds that the defendant occupied real property that was subject to contract for deed cancellation or mortgage foreclosure and: (i) the time for contract cancellation or foreclosure redemption has expired and the defendant vacated the property prior to commencement of the eviction action; or (ii) the defendant was a tenant during the contract cancellation or foreclosure redemption period and did not receive a notice under section 504B.285, subdivision 1a, 1b, or 1c, to vacate on a date prior to commencement of the eviction case; (2) if the defendant prevailed on the merits; (3) if the complaint is dismissed for any reason; (4) if the parties to the action have agreed to an expungement; (5) three years after the eviction was ordered; (6) upon motion of a defendant, if an eviction action has been filed in violation of section 504B.285, subdivision 1, paragraph (b); or (7) upon motion of a defendant, if the case is settled and the defendant fulfills the terms of the settlement. (b) If a tenant brings a motion for the expungement of an eviction, the court shall order the expungement of an eviction case that was commenced on the grounds of a violation of section 504B.171 or any other claim of breach regardless of when the original eviction was ordered, if the tenant could receive an automatic expungement under section 609A.055, or if the breach was based solely on the possession of marijuana or tetrahydrocannabinols.
Minnesota Statute § 484.014 establishes rules for when eviction records can be removed from publicly accessible court files, a process called expungement. Some expungements are discretionary, meaning a judge may grant them when justice clearly favors removal and the public interest does not outweigh that. Others are mandatory, meaning the court must order expungement automatically in specific circumstances—such as when the case was dismissed, the tenant won on the merits, three years have passed since an eviction order, or the parties agreed to expungement—without requiring either party to file a motion in most instances.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Minn. Stat. § 484.014, landlords should be aware that eviction case records they initiate may be subject to mandatory expungement in a range of situations, including case dismissal, a tenant prevailing on the merits, or the passage of three years after an eviction order. Operators who reach settlement agreements with tenants should understand that those agreements may include expungement terms, and that a tenant who fulfills settlement conditions can move for expungement under subdivision 3(a)(7). Maintaining accurate internal records of tenancy history is a common practice among compliant operators, since court records may not remain publicly accessible indefinitely under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Minn. Stat. § 484.014 gives tenants meaningful rights to have eviction records cleared from public court files under a variety of circumstances, including when a case is dismissed, when the tenant prevailed, when a settlement is fulfilled, or when three years have elapsed since an eviction order. Tenants whose eviction was based solely on marijuana or THC possession, or who qualify for automatic expungement under Minn. Stat. § 609A.055, may bring a motion for expungement regardless of when the original eviction occurred. Tenants seeking to exercise these rights may benefit from contacting a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand which pathway under § 484.014 may apply to their circumstances.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 30, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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