diff --git a/python/lsst/daf/butler/_butler.py b/python/lsst/daf/butler/_butler.py
index 4611e6e556..54c25d84b9 100644
--- a/python/lsst/daf/butler/_butler.py
+++ b/python/lsst/daf/butler/_butler.py
@@ -800,13 +800,16 @@ def get_dataset_type(self, name: str) -> DatasetType:
         raise NotImplementedError()
 
     @abstractmethod
-    def get_dataset(self, id: DatasetId) -> DatasetRef | None:
+    def get_dataset(self, id: DatasetId, storage_class: str | StorageClass | None) -> DatasetRef | None:
         """Retrieve a Dataset entry.
 
         Parameters
         ----------
         id : `DatasetId`
             The unique identifier for the dataset.
+        storage_class : `str` or `StorageClass` or `None`
+            A storage class to use when creating the returned entry. If given
+            it must be compatible with the default storage class.
 
         Returns
         -------
@@ -824,6 +827,7 @@ def find_dataset(
         *,
         collections: str | Sequence[str] | None = None,
         timespan: Timespan | None = None,
+        storage_class: str | StorageClass | None = None,
         datastore_records: bool = False,
         **kwargs: Any,
     ) -> DatasetRef | None:
@@ -851,6 +855,9 @@ def find_dataset(
             A timespan that the validity range of the dataset must overlap.
             If not provided, any `~CollectionType.CALIBRATION` collections
             matched by the ``collections`` argument will not be searched.
+        storage_class : `str` or `StorageClass` or `None`
+            A storage class to use when creating the returned entry. If given
+            it must be compatible with the default storage class.
         **kwargs
             Additional keyword arguments passed to
             `DataCoordinate.standardize` to convert ``dataId`` to a true
diff --git a/python/lsst/daf/butler/direct_butler.py b/python/lsst/daf/butler/direct_butler.py
index 25817658a6..bd85516672 100644
--- a/python/lsst/daf/butler/direct_butler.py
+++ b/python/lsst/daf/butler/direct_butler.py
@@ -1321,8 +1321,13 @@ def getURI(
     def get_dataset_type(self, name: str) -> DatasetType:
         return self._registry.getDatasetType(name)
 
-    def get_dataset(self, id: DatasetId) -> DatasetRef | None:
-        return self._registry.getDataset(id)
+    def get_dataset(
+        self, id: DatasetId, storage_class: str | StorageClass | None = None
+    ) -> DatasetRef | None:
+        ref = self._registry.getDataset(id)
+        if ref is not None and storage_class:
+            ref = ref.overrideStorageClass(storage_class)
+        return ref
 
     def find_dataset(
         self,
@@ -1331,6 +1336,7 @@ def find_dataset(
         *,
         collections: str | Sequence[str] | None = None,
         timespan: Timespan | None = None,
+        storage_class: str | StorageClass | None = None,
         datastore_records: bool = False,
         **kwargs: Any,
     ) -> DatasetRef | None:
@@ -1342,7 +1348,7 @@ def find_dataset(
             actual_type = dataset_type
         data_id, kwargs = self._rewrite_data_id(data_id, actual_type, **kwargs)
 
-        return self._registry.findDataset(
+        ref = self._registry.findDataset(
             dataset_type,
             data_id,
             collections=collections,
@@ -1350,6 +1356,9 @@ def find_dataset(
             dataset_records=datastore_records,
             **kwargs,
         )
+        if ref is not None and storage_class is not None:
+            ref = ref.overrideStorageClass(storage_class)
+        return ref
 
     def retrieveArtifacts(
         self,
diff --git a/python/lsst/daf/butler/remote_butler/_remote_butler.py b/python/lsst/daf/butler/remote_butler/_remote_butler.py
index 6363591f83..8ba367bddf 100644
--- a/python/lsst/daf/butler/remote_butler/_remote_butler.py
+++ b/python/lsst/daf/butler/remote_butler/_remote_butler.py
@@ -219,9 +219,18 @@ def get_dataset_type(self, name: str) -> DatasetType:
         response.raise_for_status()
         return DatasetType.from_simple(SerializedDatasetType(**response.json()), universe=self.dimensions)
 
-    def get_dataset(self, id: DatasetId) -> DatasetRef | None:
+    def get_dataset(
+        self, id: DatasetId, storage_class: str | StorageClass | None = None
+    ) -> DatasetRef | None:
         path = f"dataset/{id}"
-        response = self._client.get(self._get_url(path))
+        if isinstance(storage_class, StorageClass):
+            storage_class_name = storage_class.name
+        elif storage_class:
+            storage_class_name = storage_class
+        params: dict[str, str] = {}
+        if storage_class:
+            params["storage_class"] = storage_class_name
+        response = self._client.get(self._get_url(path), params=params)
         response.raise_for_status()
         if response.json() is None:
             return None
@@ -234,6 +243,7 @@ def find_dataset(
         *,
         collections: str | Sequence[str] | None = None,
         timespan: Timespan | None = None,
+        storage_class: str | StorageClass | None = None,
         datastore_records: bool = False,
         **kwargs: Any,
     ) -> DatasetRef | None:
@@ -251,13 +261,18 @@ def find_dataset(
         if isinstance(dataset_type, DatasetType):
             dataset_type = dataset_type.name
 
+        if isinstance(storage_class, StorageClass):
+            storage_class = storage_class.name
+
         query = FindDatasetModel(
-            data_id=self._simplify_dataId(data_id, **kwargs), collections=wildcards.strings
+            data_id=self._simplify_dataId(data_id, **kwargs),
+            collections=wildcards.strings,
+            storage_class=storage_class,
         )
 
         path = f"find_dataset/{dataset_type}"
         response = self._client.post(
-            self._get_url(path), json=query.model_dump(mode="json", exclude_unset=True)
+            self._get_url(path), json=query.model_dump(mode="json", exclude_unset=True, exclude_defaults=True)
         )
         response.raise_for_status()
 
diff --git a/python/lsst/daf/butler/remote_butler/server/_server.py b/python/lsst/daf/butler/remote_butler/server/_server.py
index 0e036ab67a..92798b2628 100644
--- a/python/lsst/daf/butler/remote_butler/server/_server.py
+++ b/python/lsst/daf/butler/remote_butler/server/_server.py
@@ -116,10 +116,12 @@ def get_dataset_type(
     response_model_exclude_defaults=True,
     response_model_exclude_none=True,
 )
-def get_dataset(id: uuid.UUID, factory: Factory = Depends(factory_dependency)) -> SerializedDatasetRef | None:
+def get_dataset(
+    id: uuid.UUID, storage_class: str | None = None, factory: Factory = Depends(factory_dependency)
+) -> SerializedDatasetRef | None:
     """Return a single dataset reference."""
     butler = factory.create_butler()
-    ref = butler.get_dataset(id)
+    ref = butler.get_dataset(id, storage_class=storage_class)
     if ref is not None:
         return ref.to_simple()
     # This could raise a 404 since id is not found. The standard implementation
@@ -150,5 +152,7 @@ def find_dataset(
     data_id = query.data_id.dataId
 
     butler = factory.create_butler()
-    ref = butler.find_dataset(dataset_type, None, collections=collection_query, **data_id)
+    ref = butler.find_dataset(
+        dataset_type, None, collections=collection_query, storage_class=query.storage_class, **data_id
+    )
     return ref.to_simple() if ref else None
diff --git a/python/lsst/daf/butler/remote_butler/server/_server_models.py b/python/lsst/daf/butler/remote_butler/server/_server_models.py
index 24a20829e6..d9200976b1 100644
--- a/python/lsst/daf/butler/remote_butler/server/_server_models.py
+++ b/python/lsst/daf/butler/remote_butler/server/_server_models.py
@@ -37,3 +37,4 @@
 class FindDatasetModel(_BaseModelCompat):
     data_id: SerializedDataCoordinate
     collections: list[str]
+    storage_class: str | None
diff --git a/tests/test_server.py b/tests/test_server.py
index 05daac7e06..4622a5a203 100644
--- a/tests/test_server.py
+++ b/tests/test_server.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
     TestClient = None
     app = None
 
-from lsst.daf.butler import Butler, DataCoordinate, DatasetRef
+from lsst.daf.butler import Butler, DataCoordinate, DatasetRef, StorageClassFactory
 from lsst.daf.butler.tests import DatastoreMock
 from lsst.daf.butler.tests.utils import MetricTestRepo, makeTestTempDir, removeTestTempDir
 
@@ -64,6 +64,8 @@ class ButlerClientServerTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
 
     @classmethod
     def setUpClass(cls):
+        cls.storageClassFactory = StorageClassFactory()
+
         # First create a butler and populate it.
         cls.root = makeTestTempDir(TESTDIR)
         cls.repo = MetricTestRepo(root=cls.root, configFile=os.path.join(TESTDIR, "config/basic/butler.yaml"))
@@ -106,6 +108,8 @@ def test_get_dataset_type(self):
         self.assertEqual(bias_type.name, "bias")
 
     def test_find_dataset(self):
+        storage_class = self.storageClassFactory.getStorageClass("Exposure")
+
         ref = self.butler.find_dataset("bias", collections="imported_g", detector=1, instrument="Cam1")
         self.assertIsInstance(ref, DatasetRef)
         self.assertEqual(ref.id, uuid.UUID("e15ab039-bc8b-4135-87c5-90902a7c0b22"))
@@ -123,6 +127,7 @@ def test_find_dataset(self):
             ref.datasetType,
             DataCoordinate.standardize(detector=1, instrument="Cam1", universe=self.butler.dimensions),
             collections="imported_g",
+            storage_class=storage_class,
         )
         self.assertEqual(ref_new, ref)
 
@@ -138,8 +143,15 @@ def test_find_dataset(self):
         )
         self.assertEqual(ref2, ref3)
 
+        # The test datasets are all Exposure so storage class conversion
+        # can not be tested until we fix that. For now at least test the
+        # code paths.
+        bias = self.butler.get_dataset(ref.id, storage_class=storage_class)
+        self.assertEqual(bias.datasetType.storageClass, storage_class)
+
         # Unknown dataset should not fail.
         self.assertIsNone(self.butler.get_dataset(uuid.uuid4()))
+        self.assertIsNone(self.butler.get_dataset(uuid.uuid4(), storage_class="NumpyArray"))
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":