diff --git a/atst/forms/new_request.py b/atst/forms/new_request.py
index a4a30c3c..368fa63a 100644
--- a/atst/forms/new_request.py
+++ b/atst/forms/new_request.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import pendulum
 from wtforms.fields.html5 import DateField, EmailField, IntegerField, TelField
 from wtforms.fields import BooleanField, RadioField, StringField, TextAreaField
-from wtforms.validators import Email, Length, Optional, Required
+from wtforms.validators import Email, Length, Optional, Required, DataRequired
 
 from .fields import SelectField
 from .forms import ValidatedForm
@@ -136,7 +136,14 @@ class DetailsOfUseForm(ValidatedForm):
 
     start_date = DateField(
         description="When do you expect to start using the JEDI Cloud (not for billing purposes)?",
-        validators=[Required()],
+        validators=[
+            DataRequired(),
+            DateRange(
+                lower_bound=pendulum.duration(days=1),
+                upper_bound=None,
+                message="Must be a date in the future.",
+            ),
+        ],
         format="%m/%d/%Y",
     )
 
diff --git a/atst/forms/validators.py b/atst/forms/validators.py
index 47673101..9b094d1c 100644
--- a/atst/forms/validators.py
+++ b/atst/forms/validators.py
@@ -1,12 +1,17 @@
 import re
 from wtforms.validators import ValidationError
 import pendulum
+from datetime import datetime
 
 
 def DateRange(lower_bound=None, upper_bound=None, message=None):
     def _date_range(form, field):
         now = pendulum.now().date()
-        date = field.data
+
+        if isinstance(field.data, str):
+            date = datetime.strptime(field.data, field.format)
+        else:
+            date = field.data
 
         if lower_bound is not None:
             if (now - lower_bound) > date:
diff --git a/tests/forms/test_new_request.py b/tests/forms/test_new_request.py
index a9a8b297..e97cc236 100644
--- a/tests/forms/test_new_request.py
+++ b/tests/forms/test_new_request.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ class TestDetailsOfUseForm:
         "dollar_value": "42",
         "number_user_sessions": "6",
         "average_daily_traffic": "0",
-        "start_date": "12/12/2012",
+        "start_date": "12/12/2050",
     }
     migration_data = {
         "jedi_migration": "yes",
@@ -87,3 +87,11 @@ class TestDetailsOfUseForm:
 
         request_form = DetailsOfUseForm(data=data)
         assert request_form.validate()
+
+    def test_start_date_must_be_in_the_future(self):
+        data = {**self.form_data, **self.migration_data}
+        data["start_date"] = "01/01/2018"
+
+        request_form = DetailsOfUseForm(data=data)
+        assert not request_form.validate()
+        assert "Must be a date in the future." in request_form.errors["start_date"]