Arizona background check laws
A practitioner-grade reference to Arizona pre-employment background screening: lookback caps, ban-the-box scope, salary-history limits, cannabis testing rules, and the statutes the SafestHires compliance team applies on every order routed to AZ.
The four levers at a glance
| Lookback period | 7 years (FCRA default) |
| Ban-the-Box scope | Public sector (Executive Order 2017-07) |
| Salary history | No restriction |
| Cannabis testing | Medical + recreational; AMMA off-duty protections |
Lookback period
Arizona reports follow the FCRA seven-year cap for non-convictions; convictions can be reported indefinitely.
Ban-the-Box and Fair Chance rules
Governor Ducey's 2017 executive order removed the conviction question from initial state-agency applications. There is no private-employer requirement statewide.
Salary history
No statewide salary-history ban.
Cannabis & drug testing
The Arizona Medical Marijuana Act (ARS §36-2813) protects registered patients from discrimination unless impairment is shown at work. Prop 207 (2020) legalized recreational use but preserved employer drug-free workplace rights.
Governing statutes & references
- ARS §36-2813 (AMMA)
- ARS §13-905 (set-aside)
- Exec. Order 2017-07
SafestHires compliance note
Set-aside is not expungement — disclose carefully and respect AMMA registered-patient status.
Frequently asked questions about Arizona background checks
How long does a background check take in Arizona?
Most SafestHires Arizona background checks complete in under 24 hours when the county courts of record are electronic. Manual-access counties in Arizona typically add 1–3 business days, and verification-heavy packages (employment, education, professional license) usually land in 1–3 business days end-to-end. See the state-by-state turnaround guide for county-level detail.
What shows up on a Arizona employment background check?
A standard Arizona employment background check returns an SSN trace and address history, national criminal database scan, sex offender registry, county criminal records for every Arizona county lived or worked in during the FCRA lookback window, federal criminal records, and OFAC/global sanctions. Common AZ add-ons include employment and education verification, professional license verification, motor vehicle records, and drug screening.
How much does a Arizona background check cost?
SafestHires prices Arizona background checks per component — no platform fees, no seat licenses, no minimums. A standard county criminal + national database + SSN trace package for Arizona typically falls in the $20–$45 range depending on how many AZ counties are searched and which add-ons are included. Use the pricing calculator for a AZ-specific quote.
Do I need consent to run a background check on a Arizona candidate?
Yes. Federal FCRA §1681b(b)(2) requires a stand-alone written disclosure and the candidate's written authorization before any consumer report is procured, and Arizona follows that federal baseline. Additional AZ-specific disclosures may apply — SafestHires builds the correct Arizona disclosure package into every order automatically. See the sample forms library for templates.
Can Arizona employers run a Financial Risk Search?
Yes. The SafestHires Financial Risk Search (bankruptcies, civil judgments, and tax liens from public records) is available for Arizona hires in fiduciary, finance, cash-handling, and other roles with a documented permissible-purpose need. It is a public-record search — scoped and adverse-actioned like any other component under FCRA §§615 and 604.
How far back can a Arizona employer look at criminal records?
Arizona reports follow the FCRA seven-year cap for non-convictions; convictions can be reported indefinitely.