Colorado Record Sealing: The Complete 2026 Guide

Here is the first thing you need to know about Colorado: the state does not call it expungement. It calls it sealing. And that difference matters more than you might think. When a record is sealed in Colorado, it is hidden from public view — employers and landlords running standard background checks will not see it. But the record is not destroyed. Law enforcement can still access it, and so can certain licensing boards. If you were hoping for a clean slate where the record simply disappears, that is only available in very narrow situations in Colorado. Most people get sealing. This guide explains what that means, who qualifies, and how to do it.

Not legal advice

This guide explains how the law works in general terms. Whether you qualify depends on your specific record, and a judge makes the final call. If your situation is complicated — multiple convictions, charges in multiple states, or a previous denial — consulting a lawyer who handles expungement is worth the cost of a consultation.

Sealing vs. expungement in Colorado

Most people use "expungement" as a catch-all word for clearing a record. In many states, that works fine. In Colorado, using the wrong word with a court clerk will get you confused very quickly.

Sealing means the record is marked confidential. The public cannot see it. When you apply for a job, rent an apartment, or fill out a housing application, a standard background check will not find it. You can legally answer "no" to most questions about past convictions — with some exceptions (more on that below). But the record still exists in the system. Law enforcement agencies, criminal courts, and some professional licensing boards retain access.

Expungement in Colorado means the record is actually destroyed — it is gone. This sounds better, and it is. But Colorado only allows true expungement in very limited situations:

You were arrested but charges were never filed, and you petition for expungement
You completed a qualified diversion program
Your only conviction was a marijuana offense that has since been decriminalized
You have a juvenile record (juvenile expungement is handled separately under a different law)

Everyone else — people with adult misdemeanor or felony convictions — is working toward sealing, not expungement. That is still meaningful. A sealed record does not show up on the background checks that most employers and landlords run. For most people, sealing opens real doors.

What the 2022 Clean Slate Act changed

In 2022, Colorado passed House Bill 22-1266, known as the Clean Slate Act. It was a significant expansion of who can seal their record, and it added something new: automatic sealing — meaning some records get sealed without you having to file anything.

Here is what the Clean Slate Act did:

Added automatic-sealing discussions and rollout work for some lower-level cases, reducing how often people have to rely only on a petition
Expanded petition-based eligibility — more felony drug offenses became eligible, and the process for certain misdemeanors was streamlined
Reduced waiting periods for some offense categories compared to prior law
Created a new drug offense pathway under C.R.S. § 24-72-706(1)(f) specifically for drug felonies (Class 4, 5, and 6)

Colorado's newer automatic-sealing discussions sit alongside the petition process, not in place of it. If you think an automatic path may apply, verify the current court guidance. If you need action sooner or want more control over the timing, compare that path against the petition-based process and current Colorado judicial forms.

Read carefully

Automatic sealing vs. petition sealing — what you need to know

Colorado's automatic-sealing rollout has changed over time, so confirm the current scope on the court self-help site before relying on it.
Some records may still require a petition even when there is broader discussion of automatic relief.
If timing matters, compare any possible automatic path against the petition route and current Colorado judicial forms.
The Colorado courts website is the best place to verify portal availability and current implementation details.
Drug cases and more serious convictions often need a separate petition-based analysis.

The Colorado courts website (courts.state.co.us) has the most current information on when the automatic sealing portal is operational.

Who qualifies — and who does not

Colorado is more generous than many states when it comes to sealing, but there are still hard limits. Violent crimes, sex offenses, and the most serious felonies are not sealable. Here is the overview:

May qualify

Arrests with no charges filed
Cases dismissed or declined to prosecute
Acquittals (found not guilty)
Deferred judgments upon successful completion
Some lower-level convictions may qualify after the required waiting period
Some marijuana-related records and juvenile matters follow separate relief rules

Generally does not qualify

Class 1 and 2 Felonies
Sex Offenses
Child Abuse Offenses
DUI/DWAI Offenses
Domestic Violence Offenses
Traffic Offenses
Open or pending charges can delay or prevent relief

Eligibility depends on the specific charges, not just the general offense type. A criminal defense attorney or legal aid organization can review your specific record. DUI has a separate, complicated sealing analysis — if that is your situation, get specific advice.

Waiting periods

The waiting period is how long you have to wait after finishing your sentence before you can file a petition. "Finishing your sentence" means completing everything — jail time, probation, parole, fines, and any other conditions. The clock does not start until all of that is done.

Waiting periods

The clock starts on the date shown below — not your arrest date.

Petty offenses