Find Sex Offenders in Fort Myers
Fort Myers residents can search for registered sex offenders through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement public registry, which lists every person required to register under Florida law. The FDLE database covers Fort Myers and all of Lee County, displaying current addresses, photographs, offense history, and classification details for each registered offender. Registration in Fort Myers is handled by the Lee County Sheriff's Office, which maintains records for the city and the surrounding county.
Fort Myers Quick Facts
Fort Myers Sex Offender Registration
The Lee County Sheriff's Office processes all sex offender registrations for Fort Myers residents. The main office is at 2210 Widman Way, Fort Myers, FL 33901, reachable at (239) 477-1000. The Fort Myers Police Department at (239) 321-7700 can assist with local questions, but formal registration is the responsibility of the Sheriff's Office. Any person convicted of a qualifying sex offense who establishes a residence in Fort Myers must report to the Sheriff's Office within 48 hours.
That 48-hour window is non-negotiable under Florida law. It starts the moment an offender sets up any kind of residence in the city, whether that is a permanent home, a temporary rental, or staying with someone else. Coming from another county, another state, or returning from jail or prison does not change the requirement. The rule applies the same way to everyone. Missing the registration deadline is a third-degree felony in Florida, which carries a sentence of up to five years.
Fort Myers sees a meaningful population of registered sex offenders given its size and role as a regional hub in Southwest Florida. The city has grown significantly over the past two decades, and the FDLE database reflects that growth with an ongoing list of registered individuals across Fort Myers zip codes. Residents can search by zip code to narrow results to specific parts of the city. Common Fort Myers zip codes include 33901, 33907, 33908, 33912, and 33919.
How to Search Fort Myers Sex Offenders
The primary search tool is the FDLE sex offender registry. You can search by the offender's name, by city, by county, or by zip code. Searching for Fort Myers returns all offenders who have a registered address in the city. Results include a photo, full name, current address, date of birth, physical description, offense details, and whether the person is classified as a sexual offender or the more serious designation of sexual predator.
Sexual predators are flagged clearly in search results. They face stricter registration requirements and are considered a higher public risk under Florida law. The FDLE site is free and does not require registration or a login to use. You can run as many searches as you need. Results are updated regularly as offenders report changes to their information.
For ongoing monitoring, Florida Offender Alert lets you sign up for email notifications tied to a specific address or area in Fort Myers. When an offender registers, moves into the area, or changes status, the system sends you an alert automatically. This is a free service and is useful for parents, property owners, and anyone who wants passive monitoring without having to check the FDLE site manually.
Fort Myers Sex Offender Registration Rules
Florida's core registration statute is Florida Statute § 943.0435. This law defines who must register, what information must be provided, and how often updates are required. The law covers anyone convicted of a qualifying offense in Florida or in any other state. People moving to Fort Myers from out of state must register within 48 hours of setting up any residence here, regardless of whether they were registered in their previous state.
Registration intervals vary by classification. Sexual offenders must re-register twice per year, once in their birth month and again six months later. Sexual predators must register every three months, four times per year, under Florida Statute § 775.21. Offenders without a fixed address must appear in person every 30 days. All three categories must report any changes to their registered information within 48 hours of the change occurring.
Information required at registration includes full name, address, phone numbers, email addresses, internet usernames, vehicle registration details, photograph, fingerprints, and DNA. Any time one of these items changes, the offender must update the registration. Getting a new cell phone number, changing an email account, or buying a new vehicle all require a return trip to the Lee County Sheriff's Office within 48 hours of the change.
Offenders planning to leave Florida temporarily must give 48 hours notice before departing. International travel requires 21 days advance notice. These travel reporting rules apply in addition to the standard registration schedule, not as a replacement for it.
Note: Failing to provide required information or providing false information during registration is treated as a separate criminal offense under Florida law, independent of the failure-to-register charge.
Residency Limits for Sex Offenders in Fort Myers
Florida Statute § 775.215 bars sex offenders and sexual predators from living within 1,000 feet of schools, daycare centers, parks, playgrounds, and other locations where children congregate regularly. In Fort Myers, a city with many public parks and neighborhood schools, this restriction can exclude large portions of residential areas from being viable housing options for registered offenders.
The 1,000-foot buffer is measured from property line to property line, not from building entrance to building entrance. That distinction matters when evaluating a specific address. The Lee County Sheriff's Office can advise on whether a particular Fort Myers address falls within a restricted zone. Some offenders attempt to verify an address before signing a lease, which is a reasonable approach given how easy it is to inadvertently violate the restriction.
Beyond the statewide rule, local governments in Florida can adopt ordinances that expand restricted zones or add new categories of prohibited locations. Fort Myers residents should contact the Fort Myers Police Department or check the Lee County Sheriff's website at sheriffleefl.org for information about any local ordinances that may apply within city limits.
The image below shows the FDLE sex offender search portal, which Fort Myers residents can use to run location-based queries for their neighborhood or street.
Use the FDLE search tool to enter Fort Myers zip codes or the city name directly to view all registered offenders in your area.
Lee County Sex Offender Records
Fort Myers is the county seat of Lee County and falls under the 20th Judicial Circuit. All registration records for Fort Myers are part of the larger Lee County system managed by the Lee County Sheriff's Office. The county page has more detail on registration offices, local procedures, and how to access records for the full county.
View Lee County Sex OffendersNearby Cities with Sex Offender Registries
These nearby Southwest Florida cities also have publicly accessible sex offender records through the FDLE registry.