A background check in California typically costs between about $52 and $84 when you pay for it yourself. That total combines a $32 fee to the California Department of Justice, a $12 FBI fee if a national search is required, and a rolling fee of roughly $20 to $40 charged by the Live Scan location that captures your fingerprints. How much does a background check cost in California in practice, though, often comes down to a different question: who is legally required to pay. For job applicants and renters, California law shifts or caps much of that cost.
What Makes Up the Price
Three separate charges are stacked into a single Live Scan appointment.
The California Department of Justice charges a flat $32 processing fee for most employment, licensing, and certification background checks.1California Legislative Information. California Penal Code 11105.3 – Fees for Criminal Record Information The amount is the same everywhere in the state because it is transmitted directly to the DOJ from the fingerprinting terminal.
When the position also requires a national criminal history search, the FBI adds $12 per submission. That rate took effect on January 1, 2025.2Federal Register. FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division User Fee Schedule Healthcare, education, and law enforcement roles commonly require both searches, so the government portion alone runs $44.
The third charge is the rolling fee, paid to whoever actually takes your prints. Private vendors, police departments, and sheriff’s offices set their own prices, generally between $20 and $40.3firstinspires.org. California Live Scan Guide The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, for example, charges $32.4San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. Live Scan Mobile appointments and after-hours slots can carry surcharges. This is the one piece of the bill you can shop around for; the California Attorney General’s office publishes a directory of authorized Live Scan locations, and calling a few for current pricing is worthwhile.
If a submission is rejected by the DOJ for image quality, many vendors will redo the scan at no additional cost.
Total Cost by Type of Check
Adding the government fees to a typical rolling fee gives you a realistic budget:
- State-only check (DOJ): $32 processing plus $20 to $40 rolling, for a total of about $52 to $72.
- State and federal check (DOJ plus FBI): $32 plus $12 processing plus $20 to $40 rolling, for a total of about $64 to $84.
- Personal record request: $25 DOJ fee plus $20 to $40 rolling, for a total of about $45 to $65.
These figures cover fingerprinting and government processing only. If a third-party screening company is involved, as is common with employers and property managers, that company may charge its own service fee on top.
Requesting Your Own Record
You can order a copy of your own California criminal history for less than an employer or licensing agency pays. The DOJ fee for a personal record review is $25 rather than $32.5State of California – Department of Justice. Apply for a Fee Waiver You still visit an authorized Live Scan location and pay a rolling fee, so the total lands in the $45 to $65 range.
Fee waivers are available for the $25 DOJ portion if you receive public assistance, are an adoptee seeking birth parent information, or meet other qualifying criteria. The waiver does not cover the Live Scan provider’s rolling fee.5State of California – Department of Justice. Apply for a Fee Waiver Pulling your own record before a job search can help you spot and correct errors before an employer sees them.
Volunteer Discounts
Volunteer fingerprint submissions get a reduced FBI fee of $10 instead of $12.2Federal Register. FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division User Fee Schedule Some California agencies also waive the DOJ fee entirely for qualifying volunteer positions, so ask the requesting organization what reductions apply before you book an appointment.
If an Employer Requires the Check, the Employer Pays
You should not be paying for a background check that an employer requires. California Labor Code Section 450 prohibits employers from making applicants or employees cover expenses the employer has chosen to incur, and that includes application fees, screening fees, and background checks.6California Legislative Information. California Labor Code 450 The protection covers both new hires and existing employees put through periodic re-checks.
When an employer sends you to a specific Live Scan location, the employer is responsible for the full DOJ fee, any FBI fee, and the rolling fee. You can still pay for a personal review out of pocket if you want one, but a mandatory check sits on the company’s books.
Workers who have been made to pay for a required employment background check can file a wage claim with the California Labor Commissioner’s Office to get that money back.7California Department of Industrial Relations. Report a Labor Law Violation Employers who violate the rule can be ordered to reimburse plus pay civil penalties.
What a Landlord Can Charge
Rental applicants have a different protection: a legal cap. Under California Civil Code Section 1950.6, the maximum screening fee a landlord can charge is tied to the Consumer Price Index and adjusts every year. As of late 2025, the cap was approximately $66. If the actual screening costs less than the maximum, the landlord must refund the difference.
The landlord also has to give you an itemized receipt showing what the fee covered, including out-of-pocket costs and time spent reviewing the application. If you paid for the screening, you have the right to a copy of the resulting background or credit report within seven days of the landlord receiving it.8Berkeley Rent Board. Tenant Screening and Application Fees
A landlord cannot collect a screening fee at all if no unit is available or expected to open within a reasonable time.8Berkeley Rent Board. Tenant Screening and Application Fees Some landlords go further and refund the fee to any applicant who is not selected.