The total cost of an eviction in Minnesota for all filing, court, and service fees varies heavily on the county. For cases filed in District Court, the average cost is $495. For cases filed in Housing Court, the average cost is $557.
| Fee | Justice | Housing |
| Initial Court Filing | $285 | $297+ |
| Summons Service | ~$45+ | ~$80+ |
| Writ of Recovery Service | $55 | $55 |
| Writ of Recovery Execution | $110+ | $125+ |
| Notice of Appeal Filing (Optional) | $550 | $550 |
These filing, court, and service fees do not include outside costs such as legal fees or post-eviction fees (i.e., locksmith fees, storage costs for a tenant’s abandoned property, cleaning service fees, repair costs, or advertising costs for a vacant dwelling unit).
1. Initial Court Filing Fee
In Minnesota, if the eviction notice expires and the tenant remains on the property without correcting the issue, the landlord may file an eviction lawsuit (“Forcible Entry and Detainer”) with the court the following business day.
The filing fee for an initial Forcible Entry and Detainer is $285 [ttip number=’1′ icon=’popover-balance’] in District Court. If the dwelling unit is located in Hennepin and Ramsey counties, the landlord must file in Housing Court. The filing fee in Hennepin County is $297 and the filing fee in Ramsey County is $300.
2. Summons Service Fee
Once a Complaint is filed in Minnesota, the court will issue a Summons. The Summons is the tenant’s official notice of an eviction lawsuit and contains important information (i.e., when and where to appear in court). The landlord must arrange for a process server to deliver the Summons to the tenant.
Summons service fees vary by county and by process server. For example, a sheriff in Lake County can collect a service fee of $45, in Hennepin County the service fee is $80, and in Ramsey County the service fee is $90.
3. Writ of Recovery Service Fee
In Minnesota, if the court rules in favor of the landlord, the court shall issue a Writ of Recovery of Premises. The writ is the tenant’s final notice to vacate the premises.
A sheriff, licensed police officer, or a community crime prevention licensed police officer must serve the Writ of Recovery to the tenant. They may charge a service fee of $55. [ttip number=’2′ icon=’popover-balance’] Note, these fees also apply to Housing Court.
4. Writ of Recovery Execution Fee
If a tenant remains at the dwelling unit in Minnesota, an officer can execute the writ by forcibly removing the tenant and the tenant’s belongings.
Execution fees vary by county, for example in Carver County, there is a filing fee of $110 per hour per deputy with a minimum of one hour per deputy. In Hennepin County the execution fee is $125 and in Ramsey County, the fee is $150 (which includes the writ service and enforcement fee for 2 deputies for 30 minutes).
5. Notice of Appeal Filing Fee
If either party chooses to file an Appeal in Minnesota, they may do so as long as the Notice of Appeal is filed within 15 calendar days of the judgment. The filing fee is $550. Note, the Notice of Appeal fee is applicable to all counties in Minnesota.
Sources
- 1 Minn. Stat. § 357.021 (2022)
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(1) In every civil action or proceeding in said court, including any case arising under the tax laws of the state that could be transferred or appealed to the Tax Court, the plaintiff, petitioner, or other moving party shall pay, when the first paper is filed for that party in said action, a fee of $285…
- 2 Minn. Stat. § 357.021 (2022)
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(5) Issuing an execution and filing the return thereof; issuing a writ of attachment, injunction, habeas corpus, mandamus, quo warranto, certiorari, or other writs not specifically mentioned, $55.