Can Sealing a Record Help You Qualify for Affordable Housing or Subsidies?

A criminal record can have long-lasting consequences, even after you’ve completed your sentence. One of the most frustrating barriers people face is difficulty accessing stable housing—especially affordable or subsidized housing programs. If you’re struggling to find a place to live because of your record, you’re not alone. Fortunately, Arizona law provides a potential path forward through record sealing.

This blog explores whether sealing a record in Arizona can help you qualify for housing programs, including Section 8 or other subsidized options, and how this process works under current law.

What Is Record Sealing Under Arizona Law?

Arizona allows individuals to petition the court to seal certain criminal records under A.R.S. § 13-911. This law went into effect in January 2023 and allows people to seal:

• Arrests that didn’t lead to charges
• Charges that were dismissed or resulted in acquittal
• Convictions after completing all sentence requirements and a waiting period

The waiting period for convictions depends on the severity of the offense and can range from two to ten years. Not all offenses are eligible—for example, dangerous or violent felonies and sex-related crimes are excluded.

When a record is sealed, it is hidden from public view, including standard background checks. This is not the same as an expungement (which removes the record entirely), but it’s a powerful tool for improving housing prospects.

How Sealing a Record Helps With Housing Applications

Many landlords and housing authorities conduct criminal background checks during the tenant screening process. If your record appears, it can lead to an automatic denial—even if the conviction was years ago and you’ve rebuilt your life.

Sealing your record means that, legally, you can state that the sealed incident never occurred in most scenarios. This includes:

• Rental applications
• Employment forms
• Private housing background checks

For subsidized housing or Section 8, background checks are typically more thorough and guided by federal and local public housing authority rules. While a sealed record may still be accessible to some government entities, the practical effect is often a significant reduction in housing barriers.

Even if the housing authority retains some access to sealed records, showing that a court deemed the case eligible for sealing—and that you completed all requirements—can signal rehabilitation and responsibility. This can influence discretionary decisions in your favor.

When Sealing Won’t Help

There are situations where sealing your record might not fully remove obstacles. For example:

• Housing authorities may access sealed records when conducting federally mandated checks.
• Certain offenses remain disqualifying under federal housing rules (e.g., manufacturing meth in public housing or lifetime sex offender registration).
• The Arizona MVD and internet search engines are not obligated to erase sealed records, which means your information could still appear on some databases.

Even so, sealing your record is still one of the most effective legal remedies available in Arizona to minimize public exposure of your criminal history and improve your housing options.

Benefits of Record Sealing for Housing (and Beyond)

Here’s how sealing a record can positively impact your search for housing:

• Reduces public visibility of arrests, charges, and convictions
• Improves results on private background checks
• Allows you to legally deny the incident occurred in most housing applications
• Signals rehabilitation and legal eligibility to housing authorities and landlords
• Opens the door to employment opportunities, which further supports stable housing

Beyond housing, sealing can also enhance access to loans, education, and other services where background checks are a barrier.

Taking the Next Step

The process of sealing a record in Arizona is detailed and must follow specific timelines, court procedures, and eligibility standards. Courts also have discretion—they can deny a petition even if the technical criteria are met, based on factors like public safety, the nature of the offense, and your conduct since.

If you’re considering this step, it’s important to gather full documentation, understand your eligibility, and prepare a clear argument for why sealing is justified. While the process doesn’t guarantee a housing subsidy, it dramatically improves your chances of being seen as a qualified applicant—both by landlords and public housing authorities.

Zachary Divelbiss, Lawyer
Future First Criminal Law