2026 Career Offender Registration Law Updates
Pursuant to Senate Bill 1332, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) provides this notice to highlight updates to Florida’s career offender registration laws that impact those required to register. If you have received this notice, FDLE has received information that you are required to register as a career offender under Florida law.
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2026
Updates to Definitions
“Permanent residence” means a place where the career offender abides, lodges, or resides for 3 or more consecutive days that is the person's home or other place where the person primarily lives.
“Temporary residence” means a place where the career offender abides, lodges, or resides, including, but not limited to, vacation, business, or personal travel destinations in or out of this state, for 3 or more days in the aggregate during any calendar year that is not the person’s permanent or transient residence. For a career offender whose permanent residence is not in this state, the term also includes a place where the career offender is employed, practices a vocation, or is enrolled as a student for any period of time in this state.
“Temporary residence” now also includes an “in-state travel residence”:
“In-state travel residence” means a temporary residence in Florida established by a person who already has an existing permanent, temporary, or transient residence in Florida.
“Transient residence” is a new residence definition and means a county where the career offender lives, remains, or is located for the purpose of abiding, lodging, or residing for a period of 3 or more days in the aggregate during a calendar year that is not the person's permanent or temporary residence. The term includes, but is not limited to, a place where the career offender sleeps or seeks shelter and a location that has no specific street address.
Clarification was added on how to calculate each residence type:
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For a permanent and temporary residence, the first day the career offender abides, lodges, or resides at a place is excluded and each subsequent day is counted.
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For a transient residence, the first day the career offender lives, remains, or is located in a county for the purpose of abiding, lodging, or residing is excluded and each subsequent day is counted.
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In calculating all residence types, a day includes any part of a calendar day.
These definitions are new within the career offender registration law:
"Professional license" means the document of authorization or certification issued by an agency of this state for a regulatory purpose, or by any similar agency in another jurisdiction for a regulatory purpose, to a person to engage in an occupation or to carry out a trade or business.
"Vehicles owned" means any motor vehicle as defined in section 320.01, Florida Statute, which is registered, coregistered, leased, titled, or rented by a career offender; a rented vehicle that a career offender is authorized to drive; or a vehicle for which a career offender is insured as a driver. The term also includes any motor vehicle as defined in s. 320.01, F.S., which is registered, coregistered, leased, titled, or rented by a person or persons residing at a career offender's permanent residence for 5 or more consecutive days.
Updates to In-Person Reporting
There are new in-person reporting requirements. Effective October 1, 2026, in addition to existing reporting requirements, you are required to reregister annually. You must also report the information in the chart below within the timeframes listed. This chart does not include everything you are required to report, it only includes new information that you must start reporting effective October 1. Also note that FDLE is no longer an in-person reporting location. All reports must be made in person at the sheriff’s office or in person with the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC), depending on what you are reporting and your supervision status.
Updates to Driver License/Identification Card Requirements
As a career offender, you will be required to have your driver license or identification (ID) card marked with the marking “775.261, F.S.” Starting October 1, 2026, you must report to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) during your birth month to have this marking added to your driver license or ID card.
IMPORTANT NOTE: DHSMV is working to add this designation to the Florida driver license and ID card; however, the marking will not be ready by October 1, 2026. You must still report during your birth month, and if the marking is not yet available to be printed on your license/ID card when you report, DHSMV will provide you with a letter acknowledging you have reported as required. Your marked license or ID card will be mailed to you when it is ready.
Updates to Address Verification
If you are not under the care, custody, control, or supervision of FDC, county and local law enforcement agencies are required to verify your address(es) at least one time per calendar year. County and local law enforcement agencies are authorized to verify the addresses of those who are under the care, custody, control, or supervision of FDC. Verifications may be via mail or in person. You must respond to any address verification correspondence from FDLE or county or local law enforcement agencies within 3 weeks after the date of the correspondence. Address verifications are not the same as in-person annual reregistration. Completion of an address verification by a local agency or FDLE does NOT alter or negate in-person annual reregistration requirements.
Updates to Reporting Residence and Name Changes within Florida
Any change in permanent, temporary, or transient residence within Florida, or change in name by reason of marriage or other legal process, must be reported in person to DHSMV within 48 hours after the change. If you are unable to secure or update a driver license or ID card with DHSMV within 48 hours as required, you must report these changes within 48 hours after the change in person to the sheriff’s office in the county in which you live or are otherwise located. These reporting requirements do not negate the requirement to obtain a driver license or ID card as required under Florida’s registration laws. This paragraph does not apply to an in-state travel residence.
An in-state travel residence shall be reported within 48 hours after establishing the residence. Where to report an in-state travel residence depends on whether you are under supervision with FDC:
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If you are NOT on supervision, in-state travel shall be reported in person at the sheriff’s office in the county in which you are located.
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If you are under the custody, control, or supervision of FDC, in-state travel shall be reported in person to FDC.
If you vacate a permanent, temporary, or transient residence and do not establish or maintain another permanent, temporary, or transient residence, you must report in person to the sheriff’s office of the county in which you are located within 48 hours after vacating the residence. During the report, you must:
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provide the date upon which you vacated or intend to vacate the residence,
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provide or update all required registration information, and
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provide an address or location where you are or will be during the time in which do not have a permanent, temporary, or transient residence.
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If you do not vacate the permanent, temporary, or transient residence after reporting your intent to vacate it, you must report in person to the same agency to report that you remain at the residence. This report must be made within 48 hours after the date you indicated you would or did vacate the residence.
Updates to Reporting a Non-Florida Residence
If you intend to establish a permanent, temporary, or transient residence in another state or jurisdiction other than Florida, you must report in person to the sheriff’s office in the county of your current residence at least 48 hours before the date you intend to leave this state to establish residence in another state or jurisdiction. Any travel that is not known 48 hours before you intend to establish a residence in another state or jurisdiction must be reported in person to the sheriff's office as soon as possible before departure.
If you indicate your intent to establish a permanent, temporary, or transient residence in another state or jurisdiction other than Florida and later decide to remain in Florida, you must report in person to the same sheriff's office to report your intent to remain in this state. This report must be made within 48 hours after the date upon which you indicated you would leave this state.
The changes above are referenced in sections 322.141, 775.261, 944.608, and 944.609, Florida Statutes. For quick access to Florida’s career offender registration laws and to access registration-related frequently asked questions (FAQs), visit the career offenders section of the FDLE Mobile App. You can download the app by scanning the QR codes or by searching “FDLE” in your mobile device’s app store.
Florida statutes are also available online at https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes. FAQs are available at https://coffender.fdle.state.fl.us/coffender/coast/faq.jsf. FDLE cannot provide legal advice on registration requirements. If you have questions regarding your registration requirements, please contact your local sheriff’s office.