Eviction record sealing by state is the difference between a court case that follows you for seven years and one that disappears from public view. An eviction filing can block apartment applications long after the case ended, and it does so even when you won, settled, or the landlord dropped it. Twenty-one states now let you clear that record; twenty-nine do not. This guide compares eviction record sealing by state for all 50 states and shows exactly what to do in either case.
Click any state below for its full guide, with the exact court, form, and steps that apply there.
Quick Facts — U.S. Eviction Record Sealing by State (2026)
- 21 states have an eviction record sealing law; 29 states have none
- In 8 states the sealing is automatic — the court does it and you file nothing
- In 13 states you must file a motion, usually in the same court that heard the eviction
- Georgia and South Carolina both start January 1, 2027 — the laws passed, but the protection is not live yet
- This is the newest area of tenant law in the country: Massachusetts, North Dakota, and Rhode Island all passed theirs within the last two years
- Even with no sealing law, the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act makes most negative items drop off screening reports after 7 years — and it lets you dispute anything inaccurate right now
- A dismissed case still shows as a filing on most tenant screening reports, which is why sealing matters even when you won
Eviction Record Sealing by State — All 50 States Compared
The table below shows the state of eviction record sealing by state right now. Here is what each column means:
Sealing Law? = whether the state has a statute that seals, shields, or expunges an eviction court record. “From Jan 2027” means the law is passed but not yet in force.
How It Works = whether the court handles it for you or you have to file something. This is the single most useful thing to know before you spend an afternoon on it.
| State | Sealing Law? | How It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No | Dispute errors under the FCRA |
| Alaska | No | Dispute errors under the FCRA |
| Arizona | Yes | Automatic — nothing to file |
| Arkansas | No | Dispute errors under the FCRA |
| California | Yes | Automatic — nothing to file |
| Colorado | Yes | Automatic — nothing to file |
| Connecticut | Yes | Automatic — nothing to file |
| Delaware | Yes | File a motion to seal |
| Florida | No | Dispute errors under the FCRA |
| Georgia | Yes, from Jan 2027 | File a motion once in force |
| Hawaii | No | Dispute errors under the FCRA |
| Idaho | Yes | Automatic — nothing to file |
| Illinois | Yes | File a motion to seal |
| Indiana | Yes | File a motion to seal |
| Iowa | No | Dispute errors under the FCRA |
| Kansas | Yes | File a motion to seal |
| Kentucky | No | Dispute errors under the FCRA |
| Louisiana | No | Dispute errors under the FCRA |
| Maine | No | Dispute errors under the FCRA |
| Maryland | Yes | File a motion to seal |
| Massachusetts | Yes | File a motion to seal |
| Michigan | No | Dispute errors under the FCRA |
| Minnesota | No | Dispute errors under the FCRA |
| Mississippi | No | Dispute errors under the FCRA |
| Missouri | No | Dispute errors under the FCRA |
| Montana | No | Dispute errors under the FCRA |
| Nebraska | No | Dispute errors under the FCRA |
| Nevada | Yes | File a motion to seal |
| New Hampshire | No | Dispute errors under the FCRA |
| New Jersey | Yes | Automatic — nothing to file |
| New Mexico | No | Dispute errors under the FCRA |
| New York | No | Dispute errors under the FCRA |
| North Carolina | No | Dispute errors under the FCRA |
| North Dakota | Yes | File a motion to seal |
| Ohio | No | Dispute errors under the FCRA |
| Oklahoma | No | Dispute errors under the FCRA |
| Oregon | Yes | File a motion to seal |
| Pennsylvania | No | Dispute errors under the FCRA |
| Rhode Island | Yes | File a motion to seal |
| South Carolina | Yes, from Jan 2027 | Automatic once in force |
| South Dakota | No | Dispute errors under the FCRA |
| Tennessee | No | Dispute errors under the FCRA |
| Texas | No | Dispute errors under the FCRA |
| Utah | Yes | File a motion to seal |
| Vermont | No | Dispute errors under the FCRA |
| Virginia | Yes | Automatic — nothing to file |
| Washington | Yes | File a motion to seal |
| West Virginia | No | Dispute errors under the FCRA |
| Wisconsin | No | Dispute errors under the FCRA |
| Wyoming | No | Dispute errors under the FCRA |
Eligibility rules differ even among states that have a law. Some seal only dismissed cases or tenant wins, others seal after a waiting period, and a few seal at filing so the case is never public unless the landlord prevails. Your state guide has the specific test.
Eviction Record Sealing by State — Automatic vs Filing a Motion
The most practical split in eviction record sealing by state is who does the work. In eight states the court seals or suppresses the record on its own. California masks eviction cases from public view at filing. Colorado suppresses at filing too. Connecticut removes them through the Judicial Branch without any tenant request.
In thirteen states, nothing happens until you ask. You file a motion in the same court that heard the eviction, and a judge decides. That usually means finding your docket number, confirming the case is fully concluded, and filing a short form. It is normally free or low-cost, and many courts publish the form online.
Automatic does not always mean complete, however. Records that were public before a law took effect can linger in private databases even after the court seals them. That is why the second half of this work is federal, not state.
Eviction Record Sealing by State — What to Do in the 29 States With No Law
If your state is in the “No” column, eviction record sealing by state law is not an option for you yet, but you are not out of moves. Tenant screening companies are regulated by the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, and that applies in all 50 states.
Three things work everywhere. First, most negative records must drop off a screening report after seven years. Second, you can demand a free copy of your report after any denial and dispute anything inaccurate, and the company generally has 30 days to investigate. Third, a case that was dismissed but reported as an eviction is an error you can force them to correct.
Our guides on an eviction on your record and disputing a tenant screening report walk through both routes in detail.
Check the record before you assume the worst. Many renters never look up their own case and never learn it was reported wrongly. Search your state court’s public case records by name, then pull your free screening report after any denial. You cannot fix what you have not read.
Find Your State Eviction Record Sealing Guide
Ready to check eviction record sealing by state for your own state? Click any state name in the table above, or browse the full category below.
Browse All 50 State Eviction Record Guides →
Related reading: what is in a tenant screening report, renting with no rental history, and what to do after a denied application.
Official Sources
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: consumerfinance.gov — your rights over tenant screening and consumer reports
- Cornell Legal Information Institute: law.cornell.edu — the FCRA seven-year reporting limit, in plain text
- State courts & statutes: each state’s sealing statute, forms, and case-lookup portal, linked inside the individual state guides
- Legal Services Corporation: lsc.gov — find free local legal aid to help with a sealing motion
Eviction record sealing by state data compiled from state sealing statutes, court rules, and each state’s verified guide on this site. This is the fastest-moving area of tenant law in the country and several states have passed laws within the last two years, so confirm the current rule in your state guide before you file. Last reviewed August 2026.
Disclaimer: This page is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading it. Sealing eligibility, forms, and effective dates vary by state and by court. For advice about your specific case, consult a licensed attorney or your local tenant-rights or legal-aid organization.