All resourcesState guide · VT
Vermont background check laws
A practitioner-grade reference to Vermont 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 VT.
The four levers at a glance
| Lookback period | 7 years (FCRA default) |
| Ban-the-Box scope | Statewide (21 V.S.A. §495j) |
| Salary history | Banned (21 V.S.A. §495m) |
| Cannabis testing | Recreational legal; limited employer protections |
Lookback period
Vermont applies FCRA. Expunged records under 13 V.S.A. §7601 must be suppressed.
Ban-the-Box and Fair Chance rules
Employers may not inquire about criminal history on the initial application except where federal law mandates inquiry.
Salary history
Employers may not seek wage-history information.
Cannabis & drug testing
Act 86 (2018) legalized adult use; 21 V.S.A. §513 preserves drug-free workplace rights.
Governing statutes & references
- 21 V.S.A. §495j
- 21 V.S.A. §495m
- 21 V.S.A. §513
SafestHires compliance note
Federal-law exception is narrow — DOT and Department of Energy-regulated only.