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North Carolina Expungement Laws: How to Clear or Seal a Criminal Record

How to expunge or seal a criminal record in North Carolina: arrests, misdemeanors, felonies, DUI, juvenile records, waiting periods, fees and how to file.

Quick answers for North Carolina

What relief the state offers
North Carolina's remedy is "expunction," which clears the public record of an arrest, charge or conviction. A person who receives it may leave the matter off most applications, and records checks will not show it. N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 15A-145.5, 15A-146, 15A-149, 15A-153; 7B-3200
Misdemeanor convictions
Nonviolent misdemeanors can be expunged by petition. The wait is 3 years for one misdemeanor, or 7 years for more than one, counted from the conviction or the end of any active sentence, probation or post-release supervision, whichever is later. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-145.5(a), (a1), (b), (c)(1), (c2)
Felony convictions
Up to three nonviolent felonies can be expunged by petition. The wait is 10 years for one felony (15 years for one felony breaking or entering under G.S. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-145.5(a), (c)(2), (c3)
Automatic (clean slate) relief
Partly. Cases where all charges were disposed of on or after December 1, 2021 and every charge was dismissed or ended in a not-guilty or not-responsible finding are expunged automatically 180 to 210 days after the final disposition. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-146(a4)

Last verified: 2026-10-27

Who qualifies

What relief the state offersNorth Carolina's remedy is "expunction," which clears the public record of an arrest, charge or conviction. A person who receives it may leave the matter off most applications, and records checks will not show it. Expunction is available for dismissed charges and not-guilty findings (automatically for cases disposed of on or after December 1, 2021), for nonviolent misdemeanor and felony convictions after waiting periods, for juvenile adjudications, and after a pardon of innocence. Other expunction statutes in Article 5 (such as G.S. 15A-145 and 15A-145.2) cover first offenses committed when young and certain drug offenses.
Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 15A-145.5, 15A-146, 15A-149, 15A-153; 7B-3200
Arrests and dismissed chargesCases in which every charge was dismissed (other than a felony dismissed under a plea agreement) or ended in a not-guilty or not-responsible finding, with all charges disposed of on or after December 1, 2021, are expunged automatically 180 to 210 days after the final disposition. For other dismissed charges or not-guilty findings, the person or the district attorney may petition the court in the county where the charge was brought. The court must order expunction once it confirms the dismissal or not-guilty finding, usually without a hearing. The costs of expunging these records are not charged to the petitioner.
Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-146(a)–(a6), (b)
Misdemeanor convictionsNonviolent misdemeanors can be expunged by petition. The wait is 3 years for one misdemeanor, or 7 years for more than one, counted from the conviction or the end of any active sentence, probation or post-release supervision, whichever is later. Convictions in the same court session count as one. Class A1 misdemeanors, offenses with assault as an element, sex offenses requiring registration, certain stalking and sex-related offenses, and impaired driving are not eligible. The court must grant the petition if the person is of good moral character, has no other convictions (other than traffic violations) during the waiting period, has no pending charges or outstanding restitution, and has not already received a misdemeanor expunction under this law (with exceptions for some petitions filed before December 1, 2021).
Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-145.5(a), (a1), (b), (c)(1), (c2)
Felony convictionsUp to three nonviolent felonies can be expunged by petition. The wait is 10 years for one felony (15 years for one felony breaking or entering under G.S. 14-54(a)), or 20 years for two or three felonies, counted from the conviction or the end of the sentence, probation or post-release supervision, whichever is later. Two or three felonies must have been committed within the same 24-month period. Not eligible: Class A through G felonies, assault offenses, offenses requiring sex offender registration, felonies involving methamphetamine, heroin or selling cocaine, felonies committed with a commercial motor vehicle, certain hate-crime and other listed offenses, and attempts to commit them. The court may grant the petition if the person is of good moral character, has had no misdemeanor (other than traffic) in the past 5 years and no other felony during the waiting period, and meets the other conditions.
Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-145.5(a), (c)(2), (c3)
DUI / DWI convictionsNo. An offense involving impaired driving cannot be expunged under the nonviolent misdemeanor and felony expunction law.
Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-145.5(a1)
Juvenile recordsA person 18 or older may petition to expunge records of an undisciplined adjudication. Records of a delinquency adjudication can be expunged if the offense would not have been a Class A through E felony for an adult, the person has been released from juvenile court jurisdiction for at least 18 months, and the person has had no new delinquency adjudication or adult conviction (other than traffic violations). The waiting and record requirements do not apply to human trafficking victims. The petition needs the person's affidavit of good behavior and two character affidavits from unrelated people, and the district attorney has 10 days to object.
Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-3200

How to apply

How to applyFor conviction expunction, file a petition in the court of the county of conviction. It must include the person's affidavit of good moral character and of no disqualifying convictions, affidavits from two unrelated people vouching for the person's good character, an affidavit of no outstanding restitution, and an Administrative Office of the Courts application authorizing state and national criminal record checks. The petition is served on the district attorney, who has 30 days to object (extendable by 30 days), and the DA tries to notify any victim, who may attend the hearing. If convictions are in several counties, all petitions must be filed within 120 days.
Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-145.5(c1), (c4)
Filing feeA petition to expunge nonviolent misdemeanor or felony convictions costs $175, paid to the clerk of superior court at filing. The fee does not apply to petitions filed by indigent people. The costs of expunging dismissed or not-guilty charges, and records after a pardon of innocence, are not charged to the petitioner.
Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 15A-145.5(g), 15A-146(b), 15A-149(b)
Automatic (clean slate) reliefPartly. Cases where all charges were disposed of on or after December 1, 2021 and every charge was dismissed or ended in a not-guilty or not-responsible finding are expunged automatically 180 to 210 days after the final disposition. This does not apply to a felony charge dismissed under a plea agreement. Convictions require a petition.
Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-146(a4)
Getting a copy of your criminal recordThe North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) provides a fingerprint-based check of your own North Carolina record, called a Right to Review, using its Request for Access to Criminal History Record Information - Right to Review form (English and Spanish). The NC state check costs $14 and the result comes as a response letter on SBI letterhead. A national check is separate: request an Identity History Summary from the FBI (listed at $18) from the FBI CJIS Division, 1000 Custer Hollow Road, Clarksburg, WV 26306.
Source: NC State Bureau of Investigation, Personal Review

After your record is cleared

What clearing a record doesExpunction clears the public record so that the person may leave the expunged charge or conviction off responses to potential employers and others, and records checks will not show it. A person is not guilty of perjury or false statement for not mentioning it. Employers and schools may not require applicants to disclose expunged records or knowingly ask about them; violations can bring civil penalties after a first warning. State and local agencies must tell applicants they need not mention expunged records and may not deny an application only for not disclosing them. Exceptions: applicants for law-enforcement certification must disclose expunged convictions, and certain agencies may still get confidential expunction records.
The section reviewed does not address firearm rights or immigration; state expunction may not control how federal authorities treat a record.
Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-153
PardonsA person who receives a pardon of innocence may petition the court of conviction, on a form from the Administrative Office of the Courts, to expunge all records of the apprehension, charge and trial. Once the clerk confirms the pardon warrant has been filed, the court must order expunction, at no cost to the petitioner.
Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-149

Where to get help in North Carolina

Expungement & Criminal Records FAQ

Can you get a criminal record expunged in North Carolina?
North Carolina's remedy is "expunction," which clears the public record of an arrest, charge or conviction. A person who receives it may leave the matter off most applications, and records checks will not show it. Expunction is available for dismissed charges and not-guilty findings (automatically for cases disposed of on or after December 1, 2021), for nonviolent misdemeanor and felony convictions after waiting periods, for juvenile adjudications, and after a pardon of innocence. Other expunction statutes in Article 5 (such as G.S. 15A-145 and 15A-145.2) cover first offenses committed when young and certain drug offenses.
Can you clear an arrest or dismissed charge in North Carolina?
Cases in which every charge was dismissed (other than a felony dismissed under a plea agreement) or ended in a not-guilty or not-responsible finding, with all charges disposed of on or after December 1, 2021, are expunged automatically 180 to 210 days after the final disposition. For other dismissed charges or not-guilty findings, the person or the district attorney may petition the court in the county where the charge was brought. The court must order expunction once it confirms the dismissal or not-guilty finding, usually without a hearing. The costs of expunging these records are not charged to the petitioner.
Can a misdemeanor be expunged in North Carolina?
Nonviolent misdemeanors can be expunged by petition. The wait is 3 years for one misdemeanor, or 7 years for more than one, counted from the conviction or the end of any active sentence, probation or post-release supervision, whichever is later. Convictions in the same court session count as one. Class A1 misdemeanors, offenses with assault as an element, sex offenses requiring registration, certain stalking and sex-related offenses, and impaired driving are not eligible. The court must grant the petition if the person is of good moral character, has no other convictions (other than traffic violations) during the waiting period, has no pending charges or outstanding restitution, and has not already received a misdemeanor expunction under this law (with exceptions for some petitions filed before December 1, 2021).
Can a felony be expunged in North Carolina?
Up to three nonviolent felonies can be expunged by petition. The wait is 10 years for one felony (15 years for one felony breaking or entering under G.S. 14-54(a)), or 20 years for two or three felonies, counted from the conviction or the end of the sentence, probation or post-release supervision, whichever is later. Two or three felonies must have been committed within the same 24-month period. Not eligible: Class A through G felonies, assault offenses, offenses requiring sex offender registration, felonies involving methamphetamine, heroin or selling cocaine, felonies committed with a commercial motor vehicle, certain hate-crime and other listed offenses, and attempts to commit them. The court may grant the petition if the person is of good moral character, has had no misdemeanor (other than traffic) in the past 5 years and no other felony during the waiting period, and meets the other conditions.
Does North Carolina have automatic record clearing (clean slate)?
Partly. Cases where all charges were disposed of on or after December 1, 2021 and every charge was dismissed or ended in a not-guilty or not-responsible finding are expunged automatically 180 to 210 days after the final disposition. This does not apply to a felony charge dismissed under a plea agreement. Convictions require a petition.
Can a DUI be expunged in North Carolina?
No. An offense involving impaired driving cannot be expunged under the nonviolent misdemeanor and felony expunction law.
How do you seal a juvenile record in North Carolina?
A person 18 or older may petition to expunge records of an undisciplined adjudication. Records of a delinquency adjudication can be expunged if the offense would not have been a Class A through E felony for an adult, the person has been released from juvenile court jurisdiction for at least 18 months, and the person has had no new delinquency adjudication or adult conviction (other than traffic violations). The waiting and record requirements do not apply to human trafficking victims. The petition needs the person's affidavit of good behavior and two character affidavits from unrelated people, and the district attorney has 10 days to object.
How do you file for expungement in North Carolina?
For conviction expunction, file a petition in the court of the county of conviction. It must include the person's affidavit of good moral character and of no disqualifying convictions, affidavits from two unrelated people vouching for the person's good character, an affidavit of no outstanding restitution, and an Administrative Office of the Courts application authorizing state and national criminal record checks. The petition is served on the district attorney, who has 30 days to object (extendable by 30 days), and the DA tries to notify any victim, who may attend the hearing. If convictions are in several counties, all petitions must be filed within 120 days.
How much does expungement cost in North Carolina?
A petition to expunge nonviolent misdemeanor or felony convictions costs $175, paid to the clerk of superior court at filing. The fee does not apply to petitions filed by indigent people. The costs of expunging dismissed or not-guilty charges, and records after a pardon of innocence, are not charged to the petitioner.
What happens after a record is expunged or sealed in North Carolina?
Expunction clears the public record so that the person may leave the expunged charge or conviction off responses to potential employers and others, and records checks will not show it. A person is not guilty of perjury or false statement for not mentioning it. Employers and schools may not require applicants to disclose expunged records or knowingly ask about them; violations can bring civil penalties after a first warning. State and local agencies must tell applicants they need not mention expunged records and may not deny an application only for not disclosing them. Exceptions: applicants for law-enforcement certification must disclose expunged convictions, and certain agencies may still get confidential expunction records.
How do you get a pardon in North Carolina?
A person who receives a pardon of innocence may petition the court of conviction, on a form from the Administrative Office of the Courts, to expunge all records of the apprehension, charge and trial. Once the clerk confirms the pardon warrant has been filed, the court must order expunction, at no cost to the petitioner.
How do I check my own criminal record in North Carolina?
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) provides a fingerprint-based check of your own North Carolina record, called a Right to Review, using its Request for Access to Criminal History Record Information - Right to Review form (English and Spanish). The NC state check costs $14 and the result comes as a response letter on SBI letterhead. A national check is separate: request an Identity History Summary from the FBI (listed at $18) from the FBI CJIS Division, 1000 Custer Hollow Road, Clarksburg, WV 26306.

Expungement & Criminal Records in other states

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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.