Informational, not legal advice. Statute citations and eligibility windows reflect research as of the “last verified” date on this page. Always confirm with a licensed attorney in your state of conviction before acting.
California Clean Slate eligibility.
California runs an automatic record-sealing process. If your record meets the criteria below, the state should seal it without you filing a petition. The verification path covers what to do if it didn't.
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Eligibility quiz
Answer 4 short questions and we'll tell you whether your California record qualifies — and under which statute.
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Form checklist
Printable PDF: every form, fee, and document you need to file in California.
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Wait periods by offense category
Years required between completion of all sentence requirements and the earliest date relief is available.
| Offense category | Wait period | Eligible after |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | 1 yr | Year 1 after sentence completion |
| Non-violent felony | 2 yr | Year 2 after sentence completion |
| Violent felony | Excluded | — |
| Sex offense | Excluded | — |
| DUI | 1 yr | Year 1 after sentence completion |
| Drug offense | 1 yr | Year 1 after sentence completion |
Wait periods are counted from the latest of: release from custody, end of probation/parole, or final restitution payment. Statute citation applies. Confirm with a licensed attorney before relying.
Compute your earliest eligible date
Enter your sentence-completion date and offense category to compute the earliest petition date.
Wait-period calculator
Cal. Penal Code § 1203.425Enter the date all sentence requirements were fully completed (release date, end of probation, or final restitution payment — whichever is latest). We'll compute the earliest date you can file.
Wait period satisfied
You're past the 2-year wait. You can file or — in this Clean Slate state — your record may already have been sealed automatically.
Verify your record was actually sealed
- Pull a personal copy of your state record from California's criminal history repository. Most states charge $15–$30 for an individual review request.
- Check that the records meeting eligibility are flagged sealed. Automatic sealing is processed in batches. If your record meets the criteria but isn't sealed yet, the most likely reason is that the next batch hasn't run.
- Run a public background check on yourself. Free options exist (state portal); paid options match what most employers see.
- If the seal didn't happen and you believe it should have, an expungement attorney can file a motion to correct the record. We can match you with a California expungement attorney →
Recent amendments
Major statutory changes affecting record relief in California.
- 2022
SB 731 (Durazo, Ch. 814)
Expanded automatic arrest-record relief to most felonies (operative July 1, 2023) and authorized petition-based relief for felony convictions 2 years after sentence completion (excluding registrable sex offenses).
Primary source: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov ↗
California-specific carve-outs
Categories the law treats differently in this state.
Sex offender registrants
Persons required to register under PC 290 are excluded from petition-based relief expansion under SB 731.
Source: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov ↗
Common mistakes to avoid
Reasons California petitions get bounced or sealings fail to land.
- Probation must be successfully completed (or terminated early) before petitioning under PC 1203.4 — open probation will get the petition denied.
- Outstanding restitution shown on the criminal docket must be satisfied; civil-side payment isn't enough.
Excluded categories
These categories are typically excluded from automatic sealing in California based on our research. An attorney may still see options.
Sex offenses
Excluded from automatic and petition relief in nearly every state. A few narrow carve-outs exist for older non-registerable offenses.
See state-by-state pagesViolent felonies
Generally excluded from automatic Clean Slate sealing; some states allow petition relief after long wait periods.
DUI / DWI
Treatment varies widely. Some states (e.g. Michigan, Virginia) carve out DUIs entirely; others treat them as standard misdemeanors.
Pending cases or unpaid restitution
Most states require all sentence requirements — including restitution to victims — to be fully discharged before the clock starts.
Federal convictions
Federal expungement is functionally non-existent. There is no statutory federal expungement remedy for most offenses.
Related reading
When the eligibility clock starts
What 'completion of sentence' really means and why batch sealing can lag the clock.
What most states leave out
Categories of offenses excluded from automatic sealing and petition relief.
Unpaid restitution as a silent block
How an open balance on the criminal docket blocks an otherwise eligible record.
Sealing and professional licensing
Why FBI-fingerprint background checks see records that consumer reports don't.
California form checklist
What to assemble before you file. Even in a Clean Slate state, the verification checklist below tells you how to confirm your record was actually sealed and what to do if it wasn't.
- Pull a personal copy of your state criminal history record.
- Confirm all eligible records show as sealed.
- Verify with a free state-portal background check.
- If a seal is missing, gather the original case docket and file a motion to correct.
- Notify the prosecutor (the courts may also do this on your behalf).
- Keep a printed confirmation of the seal for future employers / landlords.
Find an expungement attorney in California
Tell us your state and offense category and we'll match you with a vetted expungement attorney through our partner network. Most local firms offer free 15-minute consultations.
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