{
  "name": "Eviction record sealing and expungement by US state",
  "description": "State-by-state comparison of eviction-record relief statutes \u2014 the mechanisms that keep an eviction filing off a tenant screening report. An eviction case is a public court record the moment it is filed, whether or not the landlord wins, and tenant-screening companies routinely report the filing itself, not just the outcome. A small but growing number of states now write relief into statute, and it takes three different legal forms, not one: sealing or setting aside the court file (Nevada, Oregon), delaying or restricting public access to it (California), and leaving the file open but barring tenant-screening companies from reporting it (Washington's 'limited dissemination'). This dataset covers all three, because from a tenant's point of view they answer the same question. The trigger varies as sharply as the remedy. California (CCP 1161.2) restricts access to every unlawful detainer file for 60 days from filing with no motion required, and it opens to the public only if the landlord wins. Nevada (NRS 40.2545) seals automatically on dismissal, ten judicial days after a denied eviction order, or 31 days after landlord inaction on a tenant's affidavit \u2014 and separately allows a tenant to move for sealing. Oregon runs two tracks at once: a tenant-filed motion under ORS 105.163, and a court-initiated annual sweep under ORS 105.164 that seals old judgments with no tenant action at all. Washington (RCW 59.18.367) is motion-only, on one of three named grounds, with no waiting period stated. Illinois (735 ILCS 5/9-121) puts both tracks in one section \u2014 discretionary sealing where the court finds the landlord's action 'sufficiently without a basis in fact or law', and mandatory sealing for three named categories of case. Colorado (CRS 13-40-110.5) has the earliest trigger of any state here: the record is suppressed on commencement of the action, before anything is decided. One record per relief route, not per state, because a state's automatic and motion tracks have different triggers and different waiting periods \u2014 collapsing them into one 'does this state allow eviction sealing' answer loses exactly the distinction a tenant needs. Each record quotes the state's own current statute. Answers 'can you get an eviction expunged in [state]', 'does [state] automatically seal eviction records', 'how long until an eviction falls off my record'.",
  "url": "https://referencesource.org/eviction-record-sealing-and-expungement-by-state/",
  "licence": "unknown",
  "last_verified": "2026-09-02",
  "stale_after": "2027-09-02",
  "sources": [
    "https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=073500050K9-121",
    "https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors105.html",
    "https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=59.18.367",
    "https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-040.html",
    "https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2024-title-13.pdf",
    "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP&sectionNum=1161.2."
  ],
  "records": [
    {
      "state": "Illinois",
      "relief_mechanism": "automatic",
      "triggering_event": "an eviction action brought against a tenant under Section 9-207.5 of this Code or as set forth in subdivision (h)(6) of Section 15-1701 of this Code or that has been dismissed under Section 9-106 of this Code",
      "relief_effect": "shall be placed under seal",
      "statute_citation": "735 ILCS 5/9-121",
      "id": "an-eviction-action-brought-against-a-tenant-under-section-9-207-5-of-this-code-o-illinois",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/eviction-record-sealing-and-expungement-by-state/an-eviction-action-brought-against-a-tenant-under-section-9-207-5-of-this-code-o-illinois/",
      "source": "https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=073500050K9-121",
      "source_quote": "(c) Mandatory sealing of court file. The court file relating to an eviction action brought against a tenant under Section 9-207.5 of this Code or as set forth in subdivision (h)(6) of Section 15-1701 of this Code or that has been dismissed under Section 9-106 of this Code shall be placed under seal.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "relief_effect",
        "triggering_event"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "relief_mechanism",
        "state",
        "statute_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "Oregon",
      "relief_mechanism": "automatic",
      "triggering_event": "(B) The judgment was a judgment of dismissal or otherwise in favor of the defendant and at least 12 months have passed from the date of the entry of the judgment",
      "waiting_period": "12 months",
      "relief_effect": "each justice and circuit court shall enter an order setting aside a judgment and sealing the official records",
      "statute_citation": "ORS 105.164",
      "id": "b-the-judgment-was-a-judgment-of-dismissal-or-otherwise-in-favor-of-the-defendan-oregon",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/eviction-record-sealing-and-expungement-by-state/b-the-judgment-was-a-judgment-of-dismissal-or-otherwise-in-favor-of-the-defendan-oregon/",
      "source": "https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors105.html",
      "source_quote": "(a) The judgment does not contain a money award or that any money award has expired or been satisfied or discharged; and (b)(A) The judgment was a judgment of restitution entered for the plaintiff and at least five years have passed from the date of the judgment; or (B) The judgment was a judgment of dismissal or otherwise in favor of the defendant and at least 12 months have passed from the date of the entry of the judgment.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "relief_effect",
        "triggering_event",
        "waiting_period"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "relief_mechanism",
        "state",
        "statute_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "Oregon",
      "relief_mechanism": "by motion",
      "triggering_event": "(B) The judgment was based on claims that arose on or after April 1, 2020, and before March 1, 2022",
      "relief_effect": "an appropriate order setting aside the judgment and sealing the official records of the action pertaining to the applicant",
      "statute_citation": "ORS 105.163",
      "id": "b-the-judgment-was-based-on-claims-that-arose-on-or-after-april-1-2020-and-befor-oregon",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/eviction-record-sealing-and-expungement-by-state/b-the-judgment-was-based-on-claims-that-arose-on-or-after-april-1-2020-and-befor-oregon/",
      "source": "https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors105.html",
      "source_quote": "(a) The judgment was a judgment of restitution entered against the applicant, the applicant has satisfied any money award included in the judgment and: (A) At least five years have passed from the date of the judgment; or (B) The judgment was based on claims that arose on or after April 1, 2020, and before March 1, 2022;",
      "verified_fields": [
        "relief_effect",
        "triggering_event"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "relief_mechanism",
        "state",
        "statute_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "Washington",
      "relief_mechanism": "by motion",
      "triggering_event": "other good cause exists for limiting dissemination of the unlawful detainer action",
      "relief_effect": "a tenant screening service provider must not: (a) Disclose the existence of that unlawful detainer action in a tenant screening report",
      "statute_citation": "RCW 59.18.367",
      "id": "other-good-cause-exists-for-limiting-dissemination-of-the-unlawful-detainer-acti-washington",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/eviction-record-sealing-and-expungement-by-state/other-good-cause-exists-for-limiting-dissemination-of-the-unlawful-detainer-acti-washington/",
      "source": "https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=59.18.367",
      "source_quote": "(c) other good cause exists for limiting dissemination of the unlawful detainer action.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "relief_effect",
        "triggering_event"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "relief_mechanism",
        "state",
        "statute_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "Nevada",
      "relief_mechanism": "automatic",
      "triggering_event": "Ten judicial days after the entry of a court order which denies the action for summary eviction",
      "waiting_period": "Ten judicial days",
      "relief_effect": "the eviction case court file is sealed automatically and not open to inspection",
      "statute_citation": "NRS 40.2545",
      "id": "ten-judicial-days-after-the-entry-of-a-court-order-which-denies-the-action-for-s-nevada",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/eviction-record-sealing-and-expungement-by-state/ten-judicial-days-after-the-entry-of-a-court-order-which-denies-the-action-for-s-nevada/",
      "source": "https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-040.html",
      "source_quote": "(b) Ten judicial days after the entry of a court order which denies the action for summary eviction; or",
      "verified_fields": [
        "relief_effect",
        "triggering_event",
        "waiting_period"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "relief_mechanism",
        "state",
        "statute_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "Washington",
      "relief_mechanism": "by motion",
      "triggering_event": "The court finds that the plaintiff's case was sufficiently without basis in fact or law",
      "relief_effect": "a tenant screening service provider must not: (a) Disclose the existence of that unlawful detainer action in a tenant screening report",
      "statute_citation": "RCW 59.18.367",
      "id": "the-court-finds-that-the-plaintiff-s-case-was-sufficiently-without-basis-in-fact-washington",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/eviction-record-sealing-and-expungement-by-state/the-court-finds-that-the-plaintiff-s-case-was-sufficiently-without-basis-in-fact-washington/",
      "source": "https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=59.18.367",
      "source_quote": "(1) A court may order an unlawful detainer action to be of limited dissemination for one or more persons if: (a) The court finds that the plaintiff's case was sufficiently without basis in fact or law;",
      "verified_fields": [
        "relief_effect",
        "triggering_event"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "relief_mechanism",
        "state",
        "statute_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "Oregon",
      "relief_mechanism": "by motion",
      "triggering_event": "The judgment was a judgment by stipulation of the parties under ORS 105.145 (2) and the applicant has complied with the terms of the stipulated agreement and satisfied any money award included in the judgment",
      "relief_effect": "an appropriate order setting aside the judgment and sealing the official records of the action pertaining to the applicant",
      "statute_citation": "ORS 105.163",
      "id": "the-judgment-was-a-judgment-by-stipulation-of-the-parties-under-ors-105-145-2-an-oregon",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/eviction-record-sealing-and-expungement-by-state/the-judgment-was-a-judgment-by-stipulation-of-the-parties-under-ors-105-145-2-an-oregon/",
      "source": "https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors105.html",
      "source_quote": "(b) The judgment was a judgment by stipulation of the parties under ORS 105.145 (2) and the applicant has complied with the terms of the stipulated agreement and satisfied any money award included in the judgment; or",
      "verified_fields": [
        "relief_effect",
        "triggering_event"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "relief_mechanism",
        "state",
        "statute_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "Oregon",
      "relief_mechanism": "by motion",
      "triggering_event": "The judgment was a judgment of restitution entered against the applicant, the applicant has satisfied any money award included in the judgment and: (A) At least five years have passed from the date of the judgment",
      "waiting_period": "five years",
      "relief_effect": "an appropriate order setting aside the judgment and sealing the official records of the action pertaining to the applicant",
      "statute_citation": "ORS 105.163",
      "id": "the-judgment-was-a-judgment-of-restitution-entered-against-the-applicant-the-app-oregon",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/eviction-record-sealing-and-expungement-by-state/the-judgment-was-a-judgment-of-restitution-entered-against-the-applicant-the-app-oregon/",
      "source": "https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors105.html",
      "source_quote": "(a) The judgment was a judgment of restitution entered against the applicant, the applicant has satisfied any money award included in the judgment and: (A) At least five years have passed from the date of the judgment; or",
      "verified_fields": [
        "relief_effect",
        "triggering_event",
        "waiting_period"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "relief_mechanism",
        "state",
        "statute_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "Oregon",
      "relief_mechanism": "automatic",
      "triggering_event": "The judgment was a judgment of restitution entered for the plaintiff and at least five years have passed from the date of the judgment",
      "waiting_period": "five years",
      "relief_effect": "each justice and circuit court shall enter an order setting aside a judgment and sealing the official records",
      "statute_citation": "ORS 105.164",
      "id": "the-judgment-was-a-judgment-of-restitution-entered-for-the-plaintiff-and-at-leas-oregon",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/eviction-record-sealing-and-expungement-by-state/the-judgment-was-a-judgment-of-restitution-entered-for-the-plaintiff-and-at-leas-oregon/",
      "source": "https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors105.html",
      "source_quote": "(a) The judgment does not contain a money award or that any money award has expired or been satisfied or discharged; and (b)(A) The judgment was a judgment of restitution entered for the plaintiff and at least five years have passed from the date of the judgment; or",
      "verified_fields": [
        "relief_effect",
        "triggering_event",
        "waiting_period"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "relief_mechanism",
        "state",
        "statute_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "Oregon",
      "relief_mechanism": "by motion",
      "triggering_event": "The judgment was a judgment or judgment of dismissal entered in the applicant\u2019s favor",
      "relief_effect": "an appropriate order setting aside the judgment and sealing the official records of the action pertaining to the applicant",
      "statute_citation": "ORS 105.163",
      "id": "the-judgment-was-a-judgment-or-judgment-of-dismissal-entered-in-the-applicant-s--oregon",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/eviction-record-sealing-and-expungement-by-state/the-judgment-was-a-judgment-or-judgment-of-dismissal-entered-in-the-applicant-s--oregon/",
      "source": "https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors105.html",
      "source_quote": "(c) The judgment was a judgment or judgment of dismissal entered in the applicant\u2019s favor.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "relief_effect",
        "triggering_event"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "relief_mechanism",
        "state",
        "statute_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "Illinois",
      "relief_mechanism": "by motion",
      "triggering_event": "the plaintiff's action is sufficiently without a basis in fact or law",
      "relief_effect": "a court file in an eviction action be placed under seal",
      "statute_citation": "735 ILCS 5/9-121",
      "id": "the-plaintiff-s-action-is-sufficiently-without-a-basis-in-fact-or-law-illinois",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/eviction-record-sealing-and-expungement-by-state/the-plaintiff-s-action-is-sufficiently-without-a-basis-in-fact-or-law-illinois/",
      "source": "https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=073500050K9-121",
      "source_quote": "(b) Discretionary sealing of court file. The court may order that a court file in an eviction action be placed under seal if the court finds that the plaintiff's action is sufficiently without a basis in fact or law, which may include a lack of jurisdiction, that placing the court file under seal is clearly in the interests of justice, and that those interests are not outweighed by the public's interest in knowing about the record.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "relief_effect",
        "triggering_event"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "relief_mechanism",
        "state",
        "statute_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "Washington",
      "relief_mechanism": "by motion",
      "triggering_event": "the tenancy was reinstated under RCW 59.18.410 or other law",
      "relief_effect": "a tenant screening service provider must not: (a) Disclose the existence of that unlawful detainer action in a tenant screening report",
      "statute_citation": "RCW 59.18.367",
      "id": "the-tenancy-was-reinstated-under-rcw-59-18-410-or-other-law-washington",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/eviction-record-sealing-and-expungement-by-state/the-tenancy-was-reinstated-under-rcw-59-18-410-or-other-law-washington/",
      "source": "https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=59.18.367",
      "source_quote": "(b) the tenancy was reinstated under RCW 59.18.410 or other law; or",
      "verified_fields": [
        "relief_effect",
        "triggering_event"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "relief_mechanism",
        "state",
        "statute_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "Nevada",
      "relief_mechanism": "automatic",
      "triggering_event": "Thirty-one days after the tenant has filed an affidavit described in subsection 3 of NRS 40.253 or subsection 3 of NRS 40.2542 , if the landlord has failed to file an affidavit of complaint",
      "waiting_period": "Thirty-one days",
      "relief_effect": "the eviction case court file is sealed automatically and not open to inspection",
      "statute_citation": "NRS 40.2545",
      "id": "thirty-one-days-after-the-tenant-has-filed-an-affidavit-described-in-subsection--nevada",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/eviction-record-sealing-and-expungement-by-state/thirty-one-days-after-the-tenant-has-filed-an-affidavit-described-in-subsection--nevada/",
      "source": "https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-040.html",
      "source_quote": "(c) Thirty-one days after the tenant has filed an affidavit described in subsection 3 of NRS 40.253 or subsection 3 of NRS 40.2542 , if the landlord has failed to file an affidavit of complaint pursuant to subsection 5 of NRS 40.253 or subsection 5 of NRS 40.2542 within 30 days after the tenant filed the affidavit.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "relief_effect",
        "triggering_event",
        "waiting_period"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "relief_mechanism",
        "state",
        "statute_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "Nevada",
      "relief_mechanism": "by motion",
      "triggering_event": "Upon motion of the tenant and decision by the court",
      "relief_effect": "the court may order the sealing of an eviction case court file",
      "statute_citation": "NRS 40.2545",
      "id": "upon-motion-of-the-tenant-and-decision-by-the-court-nevada",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/eviction-record-sealing-and-expungement-by-state/upon-motion-of-the-tenant-and-decision-by-the-court-nevada/",
      "source": "https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-040.html",
      "source_quote": "(b) Upon motion of the tenant and decision by the court if the court finds that:",
      "verified_fields": [
        "relief_effect",
        "triggering_event"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "relief_mechanism",
        "state",
        "statute_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "Colorado",
      "relief_mechanism": "automatic",
      "triggering_event": "Upon the commencement of an action pursuant to this article 40",
      "relief_effect": "any court record of the action is a suppressed court record",
      "statute_citation": "13-40-110.5",
      "id": "upon-the-commencement-of-an-action-pursuant-to-this-article-40-colorado",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/eviction-record-sealing-and-expungement-by-state/upon-the-commencement-of-an-action-pursuant-to-this-article-40-colorado/",
      "source": "https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2024-title-13.pdf",
      "source_quote": "(2) Upon the commencement of an action pursuant to this article 40, any court record of the action is a suppressed court record.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "relief_effect",
        "triggering_event"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "relief_mechanism",
        "state",
        "statute_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "Nevada",
      "relief_mechanism": "automatic",
      "triggering_event": "Upon the entry of a court order which dismisses the action for summary eviction",
      "relief_effect": "the eviction case court file is sealed automatically and not open to inspection",
      "statute_citation": "NRS 40.2545",
      "id": "upon-the-entry-of-a-court-order-which-dismisses-the-action-for-summary-eviction-nevada",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/eviction-record-sealing-and-expungement-by-state/upon-the-entry-of-a-court-order-which-dismisses-the-action-for-summary-eviction-nevada/",
      "source": "https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-040.html",
      "source_quote": "(a) Upon the entry of a court order which dismisses the action for summary eviction;",
      "verified_fields": [
        "relief_effect",
        "triggering_event"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "relief_mechanism",
        "state",
        "statute_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "California",
      "relief_mechanism": "automatic",
      "triggering_event": "Upon the filing of a case so restricted",
      "waiting_period": "60 days",
      "relief_effect": "access to the court file will be delayed for 60 days",
      "statute_citation": "CCP 1161.2",
      "id": "upon-the-filing-of-a-case-so-restricted-california",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/eviction-record-sealing-and-expungement-by-state/upon-the-filing-of-a-case-so-restricted-california/",
      "source": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP&sectionNum=1161.2.",
      "source_quote": "Upon the filing of a case so restricted, the court clerk shall mail notice to each defendant named in the action. The notice shall be mailed to the address provided in the complaint. The notice shall contain a statement that an unlawful detainer complaint (eviction action) has been filed naming that party as a defendant, and that access to the court file will be delayed for 60 days except to a party, an attorney for one of the parties, or any other person who (1) provides to the clerk the names of at least one plaintiff and one defendant in the action and provides to the clerk the address, including any applicable apartment, unit, or space number, of the subject premises, or (2) provides to the clerk the name of one of the parties in the action or the case number and can establish through proper identification that the person lives at the subject premises.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "relief_effect",
        "triggering_event",
        "waiting_period"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "relief_mechanism",
        "state",
        "statute_citation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "Nevada",
      "relief_mechanism": "by motion",
      "triggering_event": "Upon the filing of a written stipulation by the landlord and the tenant to set aside the order of eviction and seal the eviction case court file",
      "relief_effect": "the court may order the sealing of an eviction case court file",
      "statute_citation": "NRS 40.2545",
      "id": "upon-the-filing-of-a-written-stipulation-by-the-landlord-and-the-tenant-to-set-a-nevada",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/eviction-record-sealing-and-expungement-by-state/upon-the-filing-of-a-written-stipulation-by-the-landlord-and-the-tenant-to-set-a-nevada/",
      "source": "https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-040.html",
      "source_quote": "(a) Upon the filing of a written stipulation by the landlord and the tenant to set aside the order of eviction and seal the eviction case court file; or",
      "verified_fields": [
        "relief_effect",
        "triggering_event"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "relief_mechanism",
        "state",
        "statute_citation"
      ]
    }
  ]
}