Expunging a Criminal Record in Arizona (2026)
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Arizona · Last updated August 19, 2026
Arizona does not offer general expungement of adult convictions, so the correct relief depends on what you want to clear. A set-aside under ARS 13-905 vacates the judgment and releases you from most penalties, but the conviction stays visible to the public with an annotation. A newer record sealing law, ARS 13-911, took effect January 1, 2023 and lets eligible people petition to seal arrest and conviction records from public view after a waiting period of two to ten years by offense class. Marijuana records legalized under Proposition 207 can be expunged under ARS 36-2862. Petitions are filed in the Arizona Superior Court, and the Arizona Department of Public Safety maintains the state criminal history repository.
Find out where you stand in Arizona
What are you trying to clear?
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What criminal record relief does Arizona offer and what is it called?
Arizona has no general expungement. It offers a set-aside under ARS 13-905, which vacates the judgment but leaves the conviction publicly visible; record sealing under ARS 13-911, which hides eligible records from public view; and true expungement under ARS 36-2862 for marijuana offenses legalized by Proposition 207.
Can you seal or expunge a felony conviction in Arizona?
Often yes, through sealing under ARS 13-911. Class 4, 5, and 6 felonies can be sealed five years after you complete all sentence terms, and Class 2 and 3 felonies after ten years. Dangerous offenses, sex-offender-registration offenses, and crimes against victims under 15 are excluded and cannot be sealed.
What is the waiting period to seal a record in Arizona under ARS 13-911?
Waiting periods run from completion of all sentence terms, including fines and restitution: two years for Class 2 or 3 misdemeanors, three years for Class 1 misdemeanors, five years for Class 4 through 6 felonies, and ten years for Class 2 or 3 felonies. Arrests without charges may be sealed sooner.
Does Arizona have automatic clean-slate sealing of criminal records?
No. Arizona has no automatic clean-slate system. Sealing under ARS 13-911, set-aside under ARS 13-905, and marijuana expungement under ARS 36-2862 are all petition-based, so you must file a request with the Superior Court in the county of conviction. Records are not cleared automatically once you become eligible.
Who is eligible to seal a criminal record in Arizona under ARS 13-911?
People arrested with no charges filed, charged but dismissed or acquitted, or convicted who completed all sentence terms and waited the required two to ten years may petition. Dangerous offenses, offenses with a victim under 15, sex-offender-registration or sexual-motivation offenses, and sex trafficking are excluded and cannot be sealed.
Arizona's Set-Aside, New ARS 13-911 Record Sealing, and Marijuana Expungement
Arizona offers three distinct forms of relief, and choosing the wrong one wastes a filing. A set-aside under ARS 13-905 vacates the judgment of guilt and releases you from most penalties and disabilities, but the conviction remains part of the public record with a 'set aside' annotation, so it still appears on background checks. The bigger change is ARS 13-911, effective January 1, 2023, which lets eligible people petition to seal arrest and conviction records from public view; once sealed, you may lawfully deny the arrest or conviction in most situations. Sealing waiting periods run from completion of all sentence terms: two years for Class 2 or 3 misdemeanors, three years for Class 1 misdemeanors, five years for Class 4, 5, or 6 felonies, and ten years for Class 2 or 3 felonies. SB 1639, effective September 13, 2024, removed the prior rule that added five years when the petitioner had an earlier felony. Dangerous offenses, offenses with a victim under 15, sex-offender-registration or sexual-motivation offenses, and sex trafficking are excluded. Marijuana offenses made legal by Proposition 207 can be truly expunged under ARS 36-2862, with petitions available since July 12, 2021. All three remedies are petition-based; there is no automatic clean-slate relief. Petitions go to the Arizona Superior Court in the county of conviction, and the Arizona Department of Public Safety updates the central criminal history record.
Relevant Laws
Record Sealing (ARS 13-911)
Effective January 1, 2023, this statute lets eligible people petition to seal arrest, charge, and conviction records from public view, and to lawfully deny them in most situations. Waiting periods run two to ten years from completion of all sentence terms, by offense class.
Setting Aside a Judgment (ARS 13-905)
Allows a person who completed probation or a sentence to have the judgment of guilt set aside, vacating the conviction and releasing them from most penalties. The conviction remains publicly visible with a 'set aside' annotation, so it is not an erasure or a sealing.
Marijuana Expungement (ARS 36-2862)
Created by Proposition 207, this is Arizona's only true expungement. It lets a person petition to expunge arrests, charges, and convictions for possessing or transporting small amounts of marijuana or a limited number of plants. Petitions have been available since July 12, 2021.
No General Federal Expungement of State Records
There is no general federal law to expunge or seal an Arizona state conviction; that relief comes only from Arizona statutes. Arizona also has no automatic clean-slate sealing, so set-aside, sealing, and marijuana expungement all require a petition to the Superior Court.
Regional Variances
Arizona Criminal Record Relief and Sealing Eligibility Table
Set-aside under ARS 13-905
Vacates the judgment of guilt and releases you from most penalties and disabilities after you complete probation or the sentence. The conviction is NOT erased or hidden; it stays on the public record with a 'set aside' annotation and still appears on background checks. It is not the same as sealing or expungement.
Record sealing under ARS 13-911 (effective Jan 1, 2023)
Seals eligible arrest, charge, and conviction records from public view and lets you deny them in most situations. Covers arrests without charges, dismissals and acquittals, and convictions once the waiting period passes. Law enforcement, prosecutors, and some licensing agencies may still access sealed records.
Sealing waiting periods by offense class (ARS 13-911)
Measured from completion of all sentence terms including fines and restitution: two years for a Class 2 or 3 misdemeanor, three years for a Class 1 misdemeanor, five years for a Class 4, 5, or 6 felony, and ten years for a Class 2 or 3 felony. SB 1639 (effective Sept 13, 2024) removed the extra five years formerly added for a prior felony.
Excluded offenses (cannot be sealed under ARS 13-911)
Dangerous offenses involving a deadly weapon or serious physical injury, offenses with a victim under 15 years of age, offenses requiring sex-offender registration, offenses with a finding of sexual motivation, and sex trafficking offenses are not eligible for sealing. These convictions cannot be cleared through ARS 13-911.
Marijuana expungement under ARS 36-2862
Under Proposition 207, arrests, charges, and convictions for possessing or transporting small amounts of marijuana or a limited number of plants can be truly expunged, not just sealed. Petitions have been available since July 12, 2021. This is the only pathway in Arizona that erases the record rather than hiding it.
Clean-slate status: petition-only, no automatic sealing
Arizona has no automatic clean-slate relief. Set-aside, ARS 13-911 sealing, and ARS 36-2862 marijuana expungement all require you to file a petition in the Arizona Superior Court in the county of the case. Records are not cleared automatically when you become eligible, and the Department of Public Safety maintains the state repository.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
Identify the right Arizona remedy and confirm eligibility
Before you file anything days after startingDecide among set-aside (ARS 13-905), sealing (ARS 13-911), and marijuana expungement (ARS 36-2862). For sealing, confirm the offense class, that the two-to-ten-year waiting period from sentence completion has passed, and that the offense is not an excluded dangerous, sex, or victim-under-15 offense.
Obtain your Arizona criminal history record
Before drafting the petition days after startingRequest your criminal history record review packet from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, which holds the central repository. Verify each case number, offense class, and sentence-completion date so you apply the correct relief and the correct waiting period to every entry.
Prepare the correct Superior Court petition
Once eligibility is confirmed days after startingComplete the specific petition for the remedy you seek: seal records under ARS 13-911, set aside a judgment under ARS 13-905, or expunge marijuana records under ARS 36-2862. Use the current Arizona Judicial Branch or county Superior Court self-help forms and confirm all fines, fees, and restitution are paid.
File in the county Superior Court and address the fee
When the petition is ready days after startingFile with the Superior Court in the county where the case was decided, pay the filing fee, or request a fee waiver or deferral if you cannot afford it. The prosecutor receives notice and may object, and the court may set a hearing before ruling.
Confirm the record is updated after the order
After the court rules days after startingIf relief is granted, ensure the order reaches the Arizona Department of Public Safety so the central record reflects the sealing, set-aside, or expungement, and keep a certified copy. An attorney can help if a petition is contested or spans multiple offenses or counties.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identify the right Arizona remedy and confirm eligibility | Decide among set-aside (ARS 13-905), sealing (ARS 13-911), and marijuana expungement (ARS 36-2862). For sealing, confirm the offense class, that the two-to-ten-year waiting period from sentence completion has passed, and that the offense is not an excluded dangerous, sex, or victim-under-15 offense. | - | Before you file anything |
| Obtain your Arizona criminal history record | Request your criminal history record review packet from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, which holds the central repository. Verify each case number, offense class, and sentence-completion date so you apply the correct relief and the correct waiting period to every entry. | - | Before drafting the petition |
| Prepare the correct Superior Court petition | Complete the specific petition for the remedy you seek: seal records under ARS 13-911, set aside a judgment under ARS 13-905, or expunge marijuana records under ARS 36-2862. Use the current Arizona Judicial Branch or county Superior Court self-help forms and confirm all fines, fees, and restitution are paid. | - | Once eligibility is confirmed |
| File in the county Superior Court and address the fee | File with the Superior Court in the county where the case was decided, pay the filing fee, or request a fee waiver or deferral if you cannot afford it. The prosecutor receives notice and may object, and the court may set a hearing before ruling. | - | When the petition is ready |
| Confirm the record is updated after the order | If relief is granted, ensure the order reaches the Arizona Department of Public Safety so the central record reflects the sealing, set-aside, or expungement, and keep a certified copy. An attorney can help if a petition is contested or spans multiple offenses or counties. | - | After the court rules |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costs vary by county and by how many cases you file. You pay a Superior Court filing fee, plus any fee to obtain your Arizona criminal history record from the Department of Public Safety. If you cannot afford the fee, you can ask the court for a fee waiver or deferral. Check the current amount with the clerk in your county.
After you file, the prosecutor has time to respond and may object, and the court may decide on the papers or hold a hearing, so a petition commonly takes a few months. Timelines vary by county and caseload. If the court grants sealing, additional time passes while the order is transmitted so the state repository can update the record.
Sometimes. Sealing under ARS 13-911 hides the record from most public background checks and lets you deny the arrest or conviction in most settings. But law enforcement, prosecutors, and certain regulatory or licensing agencies may still access sealed records in defined situations, and a later criminal case can unseal them. Sealing is not a complete erasure.
It depends on the remedy. After sealing under ARS 13-911 or marijuana expungement under ARS 36-2862, you may generally deny the arrest or conviction in most situations. A set-aside under ARS 13-905 does not let you deny it, because the conviction remains public with a 'set aside' notation. Certain licensing and firearm questions still require disclosure.
Yes. Under ARS 36-2862, enacted through Proposition 207, you can petition to expunge arrests, charges, and convictions for possessing, consuming, or transporting small amounts of marijuana or a limited number of plants. Petitions have been available since July 12, 2021. This is Arizona's only true expungement pathway; the record is cleared rather than merely sealed.
Other Arizona guides
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