General Records Retention Schedules Available Online
Provided below are links to various records retention schedules for Minnesota government entities. Those listed include: Counties, Cities, Townships, School Districts, District Courts, Human Resources for State Agencies, and Financial for State Agencies.
General Records Retention Schedule for Counties
The General Records Retention Schedule for Counties was issued in 1985, with additional printings in 1988 and 1989. A supplement for Community Corrections was issued in 1990, and an update for Human Services was issued in 2002.
The following documents are available in PDF format. 
Minnesota General Records Retention Schedule for Counties (entire schedule, 15 MB)
The General Records Retention Schedule for County (Local) Registrars is available on the Minnesota Department of Health's web site. For further information, contact the Office of the State Registrar.
General Records Retention Schedule for Minnesota Cities
The General Records Retention Schedule for Minnesota Cities is available in PDF on the Minnesota Clerks and Finance Officers Association (MCFOA) web site. The schedule was updated in April 2007 and approved by the Minnesota Records Disposition Panel. It is a revision of the general records retention schedule for Minnesota cities last issued in 2005. If you have not previously adopted the general records retention schedule, you must notify the State Archives. Use the Notification of Adoption form on page 4 of the schedule. For questions regarding the schedule, contact the MCFOA.
General Records Retention Schedule for Minnesota Townships
The General Records Retention Schedule for Minnesota Townships was issued in 1985, and is still valid and in use. The schedule is available in PDF on the Minnesota Association of Townships' (MAT) web site. If you have not previously adopted a general records retention schedule, you must notify the State Archives. To adopt a schedule, complete the Notification of Adoption form (PDF).
General Records Retention Schedule for Minnesota School Districts
The General Records Retention Schedule for Minnesota School Districts is available in PDF on the Region 1 (a regional computer service provider) web site. Approved in 2000 by the Minnesota Records Disposition Panel, this schedule is a revision and update of a general records retention schedule for Minnesota school districts last issued in 1985.
General Records Retention Schedule for Minnesota District Courts
The General Records Retention Schedule for Minnesota District Counts is available in PDF on the Minnesota Judicial Branch's web site.
Human Resources General Records Retention Schedule for State Agencies
The state agency Human Resources General Records Retention Schedule is available in PDF on the state Department of Employee Relations (DOER) web site. The schedule, approved by the Minnesota Records Disposition Panel, supersedes earlier personnel records general schedules issued in 1988 and 1990. An explanatory memo from DOER staff about using and updating the document precedes the actual schedule. DOER staff compiled the general schedule, which lists records concerning human resources, safety, affirmative action, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Financial General Records Retention Schedule for State Agencies
The state agency Financial General Records Retention Schedule is available in PDF on the state Finance Department web site. The schedule, approved by the Minnesota Records Disposition Panel, supersedes earlier financial records general schedules. Finance Department staff compiled the current schedule, which lists Statewide Accounting (SWA) records, budget records, and agency use forms common to Minnesota state agencies. Also included is the state Finance Department's internal records retention schedule for payroll records; other state agencies determine their own retention for payroll records.
Additional Resources
The Minnesota State Archives offers guidelines, informational leaflets, and forms to assist government entities in managing their paper and electronic records.
February 22, 2008
