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.
Colorado Clean Slate eligibility.
Colorado 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.
Note: SB22-099 created the automated sealing process effective July 2024. § 24-72-706 sets eligibility; § 13-3-117 governs the automation.
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Eligibility quiz
Answer 4 short questions and we'll tell you whether your Colorado record qualifies — and under which statute.
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Form checklist
Printable PDF: every form, fee, and document you need to file in Colorado.
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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 | 4 yr | Year 4 after sentence completion |
| Non-violent felony | 7 yr | Year 7 after sentence completion |
| Violent felony | Excluded | — |
| Sex offense | Excluded | — |
| DUI | 7 yr | Year 7 after sentence completion |
| Drug offense | 7 yr | Year 7 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
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-72-706 (eligibility) + § 13-3-117 (process)Enter 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.
Earliest eligible date: May 4, 2030
About 48 months remaining (wait period: 7 years).
Verify your record was actually sealed
- Pull a personal copy of your state record from Colorado'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 Colorado expungement attorney →
Recent amendments
Major statutory changes affecting record relief in Colorado.
- 2022
SB22-099 (codified at C.R.S. §§ 24-72-706 and 13-3-117), effective Aug 10, 2022
Expanded automatic sealing beyond drug offenses to all offenses currently eligible for petition-based sealing, including civil infractions, misdemeanors, and most felonies. Implementation of the automatic process began July 2024. DAs may object specifically to automatic sealing of non-drug felonies.
Primary source: leg.colorado.gov ↗
Colorado-specific carve-outs
Categories the law treats differently in this state.
DA-objection window for non-drug felonies
District attorneys retain authority to object to automatic sealing of non-drug felonies; an objection triggers a court hearing on whether to seal.
Source: leg.colorado.gov ↗Diversion records auto-sealed without court order
DAs are required to seal pre-charge diversion records upon successful completion without any court order — the most automated path in the statute.
Source: leg.colorado.gov ↗
Common mistakes to avoid
Reasons Colorado petitions get bounced or sealings fail to land.
- Sealed records can still be considered by employers/users of consumer reports if the user is required by law to consider the underlying information — sealing is not erasure.
- Outstanding restitution will pause both petition-based and automatic sealing under §24-72-706's eligibility prongs.
Excluded categories
These categories are typically excluded from automatic sealing in Colorado 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.
Colorado 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 Colorado
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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