Ban the Box Laws

The purpose of Ban the Box is to give you a better chance of getting a job. There are many different types of Ban the Box laws. All of them stop an employer from asking you about having a criminal record on a job application. Usually, the employer is allowed to ask about your criminal record at another step in the hiring process.

Many states, counties, and cities have Ban the Box laws. Each law is different. Some laws only apply to working for a government agency (a public employer). Some apply to both public and private employers.

To find out about your Ban the Box laws, select the county/city/town where you are seeking employment from the drop-down menu below: 

California – Alameda County Ban the Box Law

If you are seeking employment with any agency of the County of Alameda, you are protected by their Ban the Box law (also known as Resolution No. 2006-389).
Loc level field:
State field: California
County field: Alameda

California – East Palo Alto Ban the Box Law

If you are seeking employment with the City of East Palo Alto, you are protected by their Ban the Box administrative policy.
Loc level field:
State field: California
County field: San Mateo
Munic field: East Palo Alto

California – Santa Clara County Ban the Box Law

If you are seeking employment in the County of Santa Clara, you are protected by their Ban the Box policy.
Loc level field:
State field: California
County field: Santa Clara

Connecticut - Bridgeport Ban the Box Law

The City of Bridgeport has a Ban the Box policy. It will not ask about your criminal history on City job applications. The initial job applications states that criminal history information will be sought later in the application process.

Loc level field:
State field: Connecticut
Munic field: Bridgeport

Connecticut - Hartford Ban the Box Law

The City of Hartford has a Ban the Box policy. The City must wait until a conditional offer of employment is made to conduct a background check. This policy also applies to vendors or contractors doing business with the City. Background checks are only required for some positions.

Loc level field:
State field: Connecticut
Munic field: Hartford

Connecticut - New Haven Ban the Box Law

The City of New Haven has a Ban the Box law. The City must wait until a conditional offer of employment is made to conduct a background check. This policy also applies to vendors or contractors doing business with the City. The city applies the EEOC criteria to conduct individual assessments on job applicants with criminal records.

Loc level field:
State field: Connecticut
Munic field: New Haven

Connecticut - Norwich Ban the Box Law

The City of Norwich has a Ban the Box law. The City will not ask about your criminal history for City job applications. The City must wait until a conditional offer of employment is made to conduct a background check.

Loc level field:
State field: Connecticut
Munic field: Norwich

Florida - Fort Meyers Ban the Box Law

The City of Fort Meyers removes questions about felony convictions from city job applications.
Loc level field:
State field: Florida
County field: Lee
Munic field: Fort Meyers

Florida - Gainesville Ban the Box Law

The City of Gainesville does not ask about a criminal history on its applications for employment.
Loc level field:
State field: Florida
County field: Alachua
Munic field: Gainesville

Florida - Tampa Ban the Box Law

The City of Tampa does a background check only after making a conditional offer of employment for prospective city employees.
Loc level field:
State field: Florida
County field: Hillsborough
Munic field: Tampa

Georgia - Augusta-Richmond County Ban the Box Law

Augusta-Richmond County has a Ban the Box policy for County employees. This means that if you apply for a job to work for Augusta-Richmond County, the application does not ask if you have a criminal history. The county will wait until it has decided that an applicant is a finalist for the job before conducting a background check.

Loc level field:
State field: Georgia
County field: Augusta-Richmond
Munic field: Augusta

Massachusetts - Boston Ban the Box Law

The City of Boston has a Ban the bow law. The City and City contractors/vendors will not ask about your criminal histories on City job applications. Background checks are required for only some jobs.

Loc level field:
State field: Massachusetts
Munic field: Boston

Massachusetts - Cambridge Ban the Box Law

The City of Cambridge has a Ban the Box law. The City and its vendors will not ask about criminal history on City job applications. Background checks are required for only some jobs after an applicant is determined to be otherwise qualified for the position.

Loc level field:
State field: Massachusetts
Munic field: Cambridge

Massachusetts - Worcester Ban the Box Law

The City of Worcester has a Ban the Box law. The City and its vendors will not ask about your criminal history on City job applications.

Loc level field:
State field: Massachusetts
Munic field: Worcester

New Jersey - Atlantic City Ban the Box Law

Atlantic City has a Ban the Box law. It will not ask about your criminal history on City job applications. The Ban the Box policy also applies to vendors or contractors doing business with the City. The City conducts background checks only after conditional offers of employment.

Loc level field:
State field: New Jersey
Munic field: Atlantic City

New Jersey - Newark Ban the Box Law

The City of Newark has a Ban the Bow law. City job applications, private employers, local licensing, and housing cannot ask about your criminal history. Questions regarding an applicant’s criminal history must be delayed until a conditional offer of employment is made.
Loc level field:
State field: New Jersey
Munic field: Newark

New York - Buffalo Ban the Box Law

If you are seeking employment in the City of Buffalo, you are covered by Buffalo’s Fair Employment Screening law (Article 5 of Chapter 154 of the Code of the City of Buffalo), which is a Ban the Box law.
Loc level field: municipality
State field: New York
County field: Erie
Munic field: Buffalo

New York - Dutchess County Ban the Box Law

Dutchess County has a Ban the Box Law that applies to jobs with county agencies (Resolution No. 199-2015).
Loc level field: county
State field: New York
County field: Dutchess

New York - Ithaca Ban the Box Law

If you work or are seeking employment with a government agency in the City of Ithaca, you are covered by their Ban the Box law.
Loc level field: municipality
State field: New York
County field: Tompkins
Munic field: Ithaca

New York - New York City Ban the Box Law

If you are seeking employment in New York City (NYC), you are covered by the Fair Chance Act, which is a Ban the Box law.
Loc level field: municipality
State field: New York
County field: New York City
Munic field: New York City

New York - Newburgh Ban the Box Law

If you are seeking employment with a government agency in the City of Newburgh, you are covered by their Ban the Box law (also known as Resolution No. 199-2015).
Loc level field: municipality
State field: New York
County field: Orange
Munic field: Newburgh

New York - Rochester Ban the Box Law

If you work or are seeking employment in the City of Rochester, you are covered under the “Fair Chance Screening” laws.
Loc level field: municipality
State field: New York
County field: Monroe
Munic field: Rochester

New York - Woodstock Ban the Box Law

If you are seeking employment with a government agency in the City of Woodstock, you are covered by their Ban the Box law (also known as Resolution No. 199-2015).
Loc level field: municipality
State field: New York
County field: Ulster
Munic field: Woodstock

New York - Yonkers Ban the Box Law

If you are seeking employment with a government agency in the City of Yonkers, you are covered by their Ban the Box law (also known as Resolution No. 199-2015).
Loc level field: municipality
State field: New York
County field: Westchester
Munic field: Yonkers

North Carolina - Duke University Ban the Box Law

The University has its own Ban the Box policy. It does criminal background checks only when making an offer of employment.

 

Loc level field:
State field: North Carolina
County field: Durham
Munic field: Durham

Pennsylvania - Allegheny County Ban the Box Law

Allegheny County has a Ban the Box policy for County employment applications. The County does not ask about criminal history until after it makes a conditional offer of employment. The county uses background checks for some positions, and it applies EEOC factors to evaluate an applicant's criminal history.

Loc level field:
State field: Pennsylvania
County field: Allegheny

Pennsylvania - Allentown Ban the Box Law

Allentown has a Ban the Box law that applies to applications for City employment. The City will not ask about your criminal history on job applications or during the interview process. The city only asks about criminal history after it makes a conditional offer of employment.

Loc level field:
State field: Pennsylvania
Munic field: Allentown

Pennsylvania - Beaver County Ban the Box Law

Beaver County has a Ban the Box policy for County job applications. The County will not ask about your criminal history on job applications. County agencies do not ask job applicants about their criminal histories until after your first interview, except for certain public safety positions.

Loc level field:
State field: Pennsylvania
County field: Beaver

Pennsylvania - Bethlehem Ban the Box Law

Bethlehem has a Ban the Box policy for City employees. The City does not ask about criminal history until the final stages of the hiring process. The city performs a background check only for job finalists. An individualized assessment is conducted using the EEOC factors when the city considers an applicant's criminal history.

Loc level field:
State field: Pennsylvania
Munic field: Bethlehem

Pennsylvania - Lancaster Ban the Box Law

The City of Lancaster has a Ban the Box hiring policy for City employees. The City does not ask about criminal history on job applications or during the interview process. Lancaster conducts background checks only for job finalists.

Loc level field:
State field: Pennsylvania
Munic field: Lancaster

Pennsylvania - Northhampton County Ban the Box Law

The County of Northampton has a Ban the Box policy for County jobs. It will not ask about your criminal history on job applications, except for law enforcement and positions that involve contact with "vulnerable populations" such as children or the elderly.

Loc level field:
State field: Pennsylvania
County field: Northhampton

Pennsylvania - Philadelphia Ban the Box Law

Philadelphia was the first city in the nation to apply ban the box for public and private employers. An employer can conduct a background check only after it makes a conditional offer of employment.

Loc level field:
State field: Pennsylvania
Munic field: Philadelphia

Pennsylvania - Pittsburgh Ban the Box Law

Pittsburgh has two Ban the Box laws, which apply to City employees and contractors.  The City cannot ask about your criminal history on job applications. If denied employment, you have the right to appeal.

Loc level field:
State field: Pennsylvania
Munic field: Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania - Reading Ban the Box Law

The City of Reading has a Ban the Box policy for City employees. It will only conduct a background check after it makes a conditional offer of employment.

Loc level field:
State field: Pennsylvania
Munic field: Reading

Pennsylvania - York Ban the Box Law

The City of York has a Ban the Box hiring policy for City employees. The City will not ask about your criminal history on city job applications and encourages private employers in the city to do the same.

Loc level field:
State field: Pennsylvania
Munic field: York

South Carolina - Columbia Ban the Box Law

The Columbia city government has a policy that restricts asking about criminal records during its hiring process. Although the mayor in 2019 publicly supported extending Ban the Box to city contractors, the city has not adopted the Ban the Box ordinance. 
 

Loc level field:
State field: South Carolina
Munic field: Columbia