For job seekers and renters across Dallas–Fort Worth, the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act sets the ground rules for every background check. It requires background check and tenant screening companies to use reasonable procedures to report accurately. Employers must get written permission before ordering a report, and before rejecting an applicant based on one, they must provide a copy of the report and a summary of rights. A 2023 Texas law bars cities and counties from regulating private employers' hiring practices, so the local rule listed here covers only county jobs.
The FCRA also limits what can be reported. Arrests that did not lead to a conviction generally cannot be reported once they are more than seven years old, except for jobs paying $75,000 a year or more. Convictions are not subject to that time limit, which makes it important that a conviction is reported correctly. Common errors include another person's record matched only by name or birth date, a deferred adjudication shown as a conviction, and a sealed case that should not appear at all.
Background check cases from Dallas, Tarrant and the southern and eastern counties are filed in the Northern District of Texas, in Dallas or Fort Worth. Cases from Collin and Denton counties go to the Eastern District of Texas in Plano or Sherman.
Where Dallas–Fort Worth FCRA cases are filed
FCRA claims are federal, so they go to a United States District Court. Cases from Dallas–Fort Worth are heard in 2 federal districts:
- Northern District of TexasDallas, Ellis, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman and Rockwall counties (Dallas Division), and Tarrant, Parker and Wise counties (Fort Worth Division). Courthouses: Dallas, Fort Worth.Our attorneys are admitted here
- Eastern District of TexasCollin and Denton counties (Sherman Division). Courthouses: Plano, Sherman.Our attorneys are admitted here
Local and state rules in Dallas–Fort Worth
- Dallas County background investigation rules (county jobs) (Dallas County Code §§ 86-191 to 86-193)
Dallas County runs a pre-employment background investigation on applicants who have been offered a county job, and its code says a criminal history may not automatically disqualify an applicant. Hiring managers must weigh factors such as the nature of the job, the type and age of the offense and evidence of rehabilitation. These rules cover only county jobs; Texas Labor Code § 1.005, added in 2023, bars Texas cities and counties from regulating private employers' hiring practices. Read it
State law also applies: see Texas Background Check Error Lawyers.
Common background check errors
- Someone else's criminal or eviction record matched to you by name
- Dismissed, sealed or expunged cases still reported
- Charges reported as convictions, or misdemeanors as felonies
- The same case listed several times
- Eviction filings reported without the dismissal or outcome
Learn how these cases work on our background check lawsuits page, or read our lawsuit guides for Checkr, Sterling, HireRight, First Advantage, RealPage, SafeRent, RentGrow and TransUnion Rental Screening.
Frequently asked questions
Does the FCRA apply to every background check a Dallas–Fort Worth employer runs?
It applies whenever an employer uses a consumer reporting agency, such as a background check company, to screen applicants or employees. The employer must give a standalone written disclosure and get your permission first. Before rejecting you based on the report, it must give you a copy and a summary of your rights.
My background check showed a deferred adjudication as a conviction. Is that accurate?
Reporting a case in a way that misstates its outcome may make a background report inaccurate under the FCRA. You can dispute the entry with the background check company and provide court records showing the actual outcome. If the company does not correct it, you may have a claim.
An apartment complex denied me based on a tenant screening report. What are my rights?
The landlord must give you an adverse action notice that names the screening company. You can request a free copy of the report within 60 days and dispute anything inaccurate. The screening company generally must reinvestigate within 30 days.
How long do I have to file an FCRA lawsuit in Dallas–Fort Worth?
FCRA deadlines are the same everywhere: generally two years from when you discover the violation, and no more than five years from when it happened (15 U.S.C. § 1681p). Waiting can cost you the claim.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area Population Totals: 2020–2025
- 28 U.S.C. § 124 (judicial districts of Texas)
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681c (limits on reporting old information)
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681c-2 (blocking identity theft information)
- Dallas County Code ch. 86, Personnel and Employment (rev. Mar. 17, 2026)
- Texas Labor Code § 1.005 (H.B. 2127, 2023)
Updated November 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.