Criminal Records

A 2025 NC law reduced the wait for one non-violent misdemeanor from 5 years to 3 years. Dismissed charges and not-guilty verdicts have no waiting period. Once granted, you may legally deny the charge ever occurred on job and housing applications.

File at Buncombe County Clerk of Superior Court · Filing fee $175 (waiver available)

1. 1 Step 1 — Check eligibility: Visit ncsecondchance.org for a free eligibility screening tool
2. 2 Step 2 — Get your record: Request your criminal history from the NC State Bureau of Investigation at ncsbi.gov/expungements
3. 3 Step 3 — Fill out forms: Download petition forms free at nccourts.gov (search "expunction") — one form per county per charge
4. 4 Step 4 — File the petition: Buncombe County Clerk of Superior Court, 60 Court Plaza, Asheville — $175 filing fee
5. 5 Step 5 — Fee waiver: If you cannot afford the fee, file the fee waiver form on the same NC Courts page
6. 6 Step 6 — Wait: The SBI runs a background check; a judge reviews. Typically 3–6 months
7. 7 Free legal help: Pisgah Legal Services — 828-210-0705 · pisgahlegal.org

Industries most open to second-chance hiring: construction, warehousing, food service, landscaping, trades, and community service roles. NC is at-will, but federal EEOC guidelines protect against overly broad exclusions. Expungement dramatically improves hiring odds — pursue it first if eligible.

Asheville area + online job boards

1. 1 Search "felony friendly" jobs: ziprecruiter.com · indeed.com/q-felony-l-north-carolina-jobs.html · simplyhired.com
2. 2 NC Reentry Initiative: commerce.nc.gov → Jobs & Training → Former Offenders
3. 3 Sunrise Community (Asheville): sunriseinasheville.org/recovery-friendly-workplaces — lists local recovery and second-chance friendly employers
4. 4 Major fair-chance employers locally: Lowe's, Goodwill, McDonald's, Dollar General, construction/trade firms, landscaping
5. 5 Best tip: Expungement removes the record from most employer background checks — prioritize this if you are eligible