Under Florida law in 2026, there is no state-imposed limit on how far back a criminal background check can look for convictions; a felony from 20 years ago can legally appear on a report. However, Florida must comply with the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which creates a "Seven-Year Rule" for third-party screening companies. For positions with an annual salary of $75,000 or less, these agencies generally cannot report arrests without convictions, tax liens, or civil judgments that are more than seven years old. If the salary exceeds $75,000, this "look-back" restriction is lifted, and more detailed history can be reported. For certain sensitive roles, such as healthcare, education, or working with vulnerable populations, a "Level 2" background check is required, which involves a fingerprint-based search of FBI and Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) records that goes back indefinitely. Most employers in Florida focus on the last 7 to 10 years for standard roles, but for any "position of trust," expect your entire adult record to be subject to scrutiny.