At your service

At your service

Where to go for permits, licenses and passports

Your life is busy — that’s why we offer service and license centers at six different locations throughout Dakota County, so you’re always just minutes away from the services you need.

But each of our locations offers slightly different services, which can cause a little bit of confusion. This isn’t because we want to make it tougher for you, but because federal law requires the services be separated. The U.S. Department of State requires all passport facilities to be physically apart from counters that issue birth records and driver’s licenses and identification cards.

Our license centers — located in Burnsville, Lakeville and Rosemount — act as an agent of the state on behalf of Driver and Vehicle Services. Those locations specialize in providing motor vehicle and other state licenses. This can include driver’s license and vehicle tab renewals, transfers of vehicle titles, and state licenses for fish and game, snowmobiles, ATVs, and boats.

Service centers in Hastings, West St. Paul and Apple Valley have a different purpose. They act as an agent of the county. This may include accepting and reviewing passport applications, issuing marriage licenses and certificates, and registering notaries and ministers of marriage ceremonies.

All of our locations offer voter registration, homesteading application and property tax payment. All except for the Western Service Center in Apple Valley provide birth and death certificates.

For a full list of what’s available and hours of business, go to www.dakotacounty.us, search service centers.

No need to get in line

Although the services we provide differ among our locations, we’re working to make your visits as convenient and efficient as possible.

For example, by the end of 2019, your passport and passport photo appointments can be scheduled online, so you won’t have to wait in line. We’ll still take walk-in applications, but this will be another option for people on a tight schedule.

You also have the option to complete marriage license applications and driver’s license renewal forms online.

Pack a lot of patience

Our service and license centers are some of the busiest in the state — and even nation. The Western Service Center reviewed more than 14,200 passport applications from June 2015–June 2016, making it the busiest passport location in the country. In 2018, it accepted 12,200 applications.

With that amount of traffic, it’s important to stay patient and have all of your paperwork ready.

Passports and REAL ID driver’s licenses require an application and multiple documents proving citizenship and identity. Check the Dakota County website to see what’s accepted. Passport applications can take as much as 30 minutes to process. Wait times for other services vary.

Locations

Northern Service Center (NSC), West St. Paul

Administration Center (ADC), Hastings

Western Service Center (WSC), Apple Valley

Burnsville License Center (Burnhaven Library), Burnsville

Lakeville License Center (Heritage Library), Lakeville

Robert Trail License Center (Robert Trail Library), Rosemount

Available at Service Centers

• Passports and passport photos (WSC and ADC only)

• Marriage licenses

• Marriage certificates

• Notary registration

• Ministerial registration

• Document recording

• County park passes (archery, dog park, cross-country skiing)

Available at Both

• Birth certificates (except WSC)

• Death certificates (except WSC)

• Property tax payment (license centers have drop boxes — no receipts)

• Homesteading

• Voter registration

Available at License Centers

• Driver’s license renewals and duplicates (also available at ADC, only duplicates at Rosemount)

• Vehicle tab renewals

• Vehicle title transfers

• Dealer title work

• Trailer licenses

• Recreational vehicle licenses

• Fish & game licenses