Utah's Automatic Expungement (Clean Slate) Explained
Short answer: Utah's Clean Slate law lets certain lower-level criminal records get expunged automatically — the court identifies and clears qualifying cases on its own initiative, with no petition, no BCI application, and no fee to the person whose record it is.
Who this is for
Anyone wondering whether an older, minor Utah case might already qualify for expungement without them having to do anything — or anyone deciding whether they need the full petition-based process instead.
What changed, and when
As of January 1, 2026, Utah courts began identifying and processing eligible Clean Slate cases on their own initiative — a shift from the earlier phase-in period (October 2024 through the end of 2025), during which individuals could submit a form requesting review of their case rather than waiting for the court to act automatically. If your case is genuinely eligible, this newer process means it may already be handled, or may be handled soon, without you needing to apply.
What generally qualifies for automatic expungement
Based on BCI's published guidance, the automatic track generally covers:
- Most class B and class C misdemeanors
- Infractions
- Class A misdemeanor drug-possession offenses specifically
What does NOT qualify for automatic expungement
- Felonies of any kind
- DUI offenses
- Sex offenses
- Domestic-violence-related offenses
- Simple assault
- Other violent offenses
If your case falls into one of these excluded categories, it isn't eligible for the automatic track — you'd need the petition-based process instead (BCI Certificate of Eligibility + court petition). See How to Expunge a Criminal Record in Utah for that process.
How long you have to wait
Reported waiting periods for the automatic track are longer than for the petition-based track — generally in the range of five to seven years from when the case closed, varying by the specific charge. Because sources reporting the exact number of years per charge class didn't fully agree with each other as of this article's last-verified date, don't rely on a specific year count from this article alone — check BCI's Clean Slate page or Clean Slate Utah for the current, case-specific answer.
Do you need to do anything?
If your case is eligible, no — that's the entire point of the automatic track. If you want to confirm whether a specific case has already been (or will be) automatically expunged, Clean Slate Utah (cleanslateutah.org) and BCI's own resources are the right places to check, rather than guessing based on how much time has passed.
Frequently asked questions
Does automatic expungement cost anything? No — unlike the petition-based path, there's no BCI fee or court filing fee for cases handled automatically.
What if I think my case should have been automatically expunged but wasn't? Contact BCI or Utah Courts' Self-Help Center (selfhelp@utcourts.gov, text 801-742-1898, or 888-683-0009) to ask about your specific case rather than assuming either eligibility or ineligibility.
Can I still apply for expungement the traditional way if my case isn't eligible for the automatic track? Yes — the petition-based process (BCI Certificate of Eligibility, then a court petition) remains available for cases the automatic track doesn't cover.