Search Sex Offenders in Broward County
Broward County sex offenders and sexual predators must register with local law enforcement under Florida state law, and all registry information is maintained in the FDLE statewide database. The Broward Sheriff's Office handles registration and enforcement across the county's 31 municipalities, making it one of the most active counties in Florida for sex offender compliance monitoring.
Broward Quick Facts
Broward Sheriff's Office and Sex Offender Enforcement
The Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO) is the primary law enforcement agency handling sex offender registration in unincorporated Broward County. BSO also coordinates with municipal police departments throughout the county to make sure offenders registered within city limits stay in compliance. Florida law requires all convicted sexual offenders and sexual predators to register their information with local law enforcement. BSO fulfills that role county-wide.
BSO's approach to sex offender tracking follows the requirements set by both state law and federal standards. The agency processes registrations in line with the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, which sets national baseline rules for how offenders are tracked and how that information is shared. The BSO homepage includes a "Locate Sex Offenders" feature that gives residents a starting point for local searches before going to the full FDLE database.
The BSO FAQ page answers common questions about registration requirements, how the predator designation works, and what residents can do if they suspect a sex offender is not complying with the law.
BSO's FAQ section addresses the most common questions residents have about finding and reporting sex offenders living in Broward County communities.
Where to Register in Broward County
Sex offenders and sexual predators in Broward County register in person at the Broward Sheriff's Office. Contact information and the registration location are listed below.
| Office | Broward Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | Broward County Courthouse, 201 SE 6th Street, Room 1145, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 |
| Phone | (954) 831-8900 |
| Website | www.sheriff.org |
Florida law requires registration to happen in person. You cannot complete initial registration or re-registration by mail or online. Once registered, the information goes into the FDLE database, which the public can search through the FDLE sex offender search tool.
Registration Requirements and State Law
The rules governing sex offender registration in Broward County come from state statute. Under Florida Statute § 943.0435, all registered sex offenders must report any change to their home address, work location, school enrollment, vehicle, phone number, or email address within 48 hours. That requirement applies whether the change is temporary or permanent. Forty-eight hours. That is the law.
Re-registration frequency depends on whether someone carries the offender or predator designation. Sexual offenders re-register twice a year, every six months. Sexual predators must come in four times a year, every three months. Under § 775.21, a court must issue a written order to designate someone as a predator. That designation triggers the quarterly re-registration schedule along with active community notification requirements. Failure to re-register on time is a third-degree felony in Florida, punishable by up to five years in prison.
Residency restrictions also apply under § 775.215. Registered sex offenders in Broward County cannot live within 1,000 feet of a school, daycare center, park, playground, or any other location where children regularly gather. Some municipalities in Broward impose stricter local rules on top of the state standard. § 948.30 sets out conditions that apply to sex offenders on probation or community control, adding another layer of supervision for those still serving a sentence in the community.
Hollywood's Local Ordinances and Enforcement
Among Broward County's cities, Hollywood stands out for its active, local-level enforcement of sex offender rules. The Hollywood Police Department's Special Victims Unit takes a hands-on approach. When a designated sex offender or predator moves into Hollywood city limits, a Special Victims Detective contacts them immediately. That contact is not a one-time check. Detectives conduct routine follow-up visits on a schedule that meets both state and federal standards, including the Adam Walsh Act and Megan's Law requirements.
Hollywood PD maintains ongoing contact with every registered sex offender and predator as long as they live in the city. Monitoring does not stop after the initial visit. The department also enacted a city ordinance that restricts where registered sex offenders may live within Hollywood. This goes beyond the 1,000-foot state rule set by § 775.215, imposing additional geographic limits specific to the city. Residents who know of a sex offender living in Hollywood who has not updated their address with local authorities can call Hollywood PD directly at 954-967-4411.
Hollywood's city page on sexual predators and offenders outlines the department's local enforcement policies and how residents can report compliance concerns.
Florida Offender Alert System
Residents of Broward County can sign up for free email notifications through Florida Offender Alert. The system sends an alert when a registered sex offender or sexual predator moves into or near a neighborhood you choose. You set the area. The system watches it.
Setup is straightforward. You provide an email address and specify the ZIP codes or areas you want monitored. From that point, the system handles the tracking automatically. Alerts go out when changes occur in your specified area, whether a new registrant moves in or an existing one updates their address. The Florida Offender Alert system covers the full state, so Broward residents who own or rent property elsewhere in Florida can monitor multiple areas with one account.
This tool does not replace searching the FDLE database directly, but it fills a gap that manual searches cannot: it watches continuously so you don't have to check repeatedly. For parents, school administrators, and neighborhood groups, the alert system provides an ongoing layer of awareness about who is living nearby.
The Florida Offender Alert site lets Broward County residents set up automatic notifications about sex offender movements in their specified neighborhoods.
Searching Broward County Sex Offenders
The FDLE sex offender search is the most complete tool for finding registered offenders in Broward County. You can search by name, address, ZIP code, or county. Filtering by Broward County returns all registrants with active addresses in the county. Each profile includes a photo, physical description, registered address, and offense history. Predator profiles are labeled distinctly and may include additional detail about court-ordered notifications.
The National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) is another option for searches that span multiple states. It pulls data from all participating state registries, including Florida's FDLE database. If you are tracking someone who may have moved from another state to Broward, NSOPW can help verify whether they are registered across state lines.
For concerns about a specific individual in Broward, the BSO can be reached at (954) 831-8900. If you believe a registered offender or predator is not in compliance with their registration requirements, that is the number to call.
Cities in Broward County
Broward County includes a large number of incorporated cities, many with their own police departments and local sex offender ordinances. All registrants in these cities appear in the FDLE statewide database regardless of which department monitors them locally.
Nearby Counties
Offenders who move across county lines must notify their new county's law enforcement office within 48 hours. The counties bordering Broward each have their own registration offices and local enforcement policies.