Orange County Sex Offender Registry

Orange County sex offenders and sexual predators must register with the Orange County Sheriff's Office, and their records are available to the public through the statewide Florida Department of Law Enforcement database. This page covers registration requirements, where to register in Orange County, and how to search for offenders in the Orlando area.

Orange County Sheriff's Office

The Orange County Sheriff's Office (OCSO) handles sex offender registration for all of Orange County. Every person required by Florida law to register as a sex offender or sexual predator who lives, works, or attends school in Orange County must report to OCSO. The sheriff's office processes registrations, updates records when offenders report changes, and sends all data to the statewide FDLE registry. OCSO is one of the busiest sheriff's offices in Florida because Orange County is the fourth most populous county in the state.

Orlando serves as the county seat of Orange County, and the main registration site is located in the city. The sheriff's office can be contacted by phone at (407) 254-7000 for general inquiries. Non-emergency matters, including questions about registration, can reach the OCSO non-emergency line at (407) 836-4357. The mailing address for OCSO is PO Box 1440, Orlando, FL 32802-1440. For more information about the sheriff's office and its programs, visit ocso.com.

The OCSO website provides information about public safety services, including sex offender registration and registry search tools.

From the OCSO site, residents can access links to registration information and the statewide offender database that covers Orange County.

Where to Register in Orange County

All sex offenders and sexual predators in Orange County must register in person at the Orange County Sheriff's Office registration location on West Colonial Drive. This is the designated site for all sex offender registrations in the county. You cannot register by mail or online. You must appear in person. Under Florida Statute § 943.0435, registration must happen in person at the sheriff's office, and this requirement applies throughout Orange County without exception.

Sexual predators in Orange County are specifically directed to the West Colonial Drive location. The statute governing sexual predators, § 775.21, places additional registration duties on predators beyond those that apply to standard sex offenders. Both groups must use the same registration site in Orange County.

Registration Requirements in Orange County

Florida has one of the most detailed sex offender registration systems in the country. When a sex offender reports to the Orange County Sheriff's Office, they must supply a wide range of personal information. The list goes far beyond a home address. It includes identifying details, digital identifiers, vehicle data, and a full account of their conviction history. All of this is required under § 943.0435, and OCSO collects every required item at the time of registration in Orange County.

Required information includes full legal name and any aliases, date of birth, race, sex, social security number, eye color, hair color, height, and weight. The registration unit at OCSO takes a current photograph and palm prints. Home address and any secondary addresses are recorded, along with employer information and school enrollment details if applicable. All email addresses and online usernames must be disclosed, as must any social media accounts. Vehicle data is also required: make, model, color, and VIN for every vehicle the registrant owns or regularly uses. Finally, the registrant must state the date and location of their conviction and give a description of the offense that resulted in their sex offender status in Orange County or elsewhere in Florida.

Timing matters. Florida law gives sex offenders 48 hours to report after being released from custody, moving to Florida, or being convicted of a qualifying offense without being jailed. If you move to Orange County or establish a new residence there, that 48-hour clock starts the moment you arrive. OCSO enforces this deadline. Missing it is a criminal offense, not an administrative one.

Sexual Predators in Orange County

Florida law draws a clear line between sex offenders and sexual predators. Sexual predators face stricter registration rules and harsher penalties for non-compliance. Under Florida Statute § 775.21, a sexual predator designation is applied to people convicted of the most serious sexual offenses or to repeat sex offenders. Once designated, a predator remains on the registry for life in most cases.

Sexual predators in Orange County must comply with all standard sex offender registration requirements and additional ones on top of that. They must re-register more frequently than standard offenders. They are subject to active community notification, meaning law enforcement can notify neighbors, schools, and community organizations about their presence. The FDLE is required to post predator information prominently on the public registry, separate from standard sex offender listings. Orange County residents searching the FDLE database will see predator designations clearly marked in search results.

The distinction also affects residency. § 775.215 bars registered sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of a school, child care facility, park, or playground. This rule applies to all sex offenders in Orange County, but enforcement is especially active for sexual predators. Orange County has many schools and parks, which limits where predators can legally reside. OCSO verifies addresses during registration and re-registration to confirm compliance with this rule.

Probation conditions under § 948.30 apply to sex offenders released on supervision in Orange County. These conditions restrict where offenders can go, who they can contact, and what technology they can use. Violations of probation conditions can result in separate charges on top of any registration violations.

Searching the Orange County Registry

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement runs the official sex offender and predator registry for the entire state, including Orange County. The search tool is free and available to anyone. You do not need to create an account or give any personal information to run a search. Go to offender.fdle.state.fl.us to begin. You can filter results by county to search only within Orange County, or search by city, zip code, or name.

Each record in the database shows the offender's current registered address, physical description, offense history, and a current photograph. Predators are shown separately and clearly labeled. The database is updated regularly as OCSO sends new and changed registrations to FDLE. Keep in mind that the address shown is the last registered address. If an offender moves and has not yet updated their registration in Orange County, the address in the database may be out of date.

The FDLE database for Orange County is shown in the search portal below.

You can also set up free email alerts for the Orange County area through floridaoffenderalert.com. This service notifies you when an offender registers, moves, or updates their record in a neighborhood you select. The national registry at nsopw.gov also includes Orange County data for people searching across state lines.

Residency Restrictions in Orange County

Sex offenders in Orange County face strict limits on where they can live. Under § 775.215, no registered sex offender may establish a permanent residence within 1,000 feet of any school, child care facility, park, or playground. Orange County is a densely developed area with many such sites, which makes finding a compliant residence genuinely difficult in some neighborhoods, particularly in and around Orlando.

The restriction applies from the moment a person registers in Orange County. OCSO checks registered addresses against maps of protected locations during the registration process. If an address is within the restricted zone, the registrant will not be allowed to register that address and must find a different place to live. The 1,000-foot measurement is calculated from property line to property line, not from a building entrance. This means even homes that appear to be outside a zone may fall within it depending on property boundaries.

Local municipalities within Orange County may also have their own restrictions that go beyond the state minimum. Orlando, for example, has enforced ordinances that tighten residency rules in specific areas. Offenders planning to move within Orange County should verify their intended address before signing any lease or purchase agreement. OCSO can help confirm whether an address is compliant during the registration process.

Cities in Orange County

Orange County contains several large cities. Sex offenders living in any of these cities must register with OCSO. The registration site on West Colonial Drive in Orlando serves the entire county.

Nearby Counties

Orange County borders several other Florida counties. Each has its own registration process. If you move from Orange County to a neighboring county, you must notify OCSO and then register with the new county's sheriff's office.