Florida Statute 775.13: Felon Registration, 48-Hour Deadline

Florida Statute 775.13 requires anyone convicted of a felony to register with the sheriff’s office in any Florida county they enter, within 48 hours of arriving. The duty lasts five years after release from incarceration or supervision, and skipping it is itself a crime. Seven categories of people are exempt, so the first thing to figure out is whether the law reaches you at all.

Who the Law Applies To

The statute covers anyone convicted of a felony in a Florida court. It also reaches convictions from federal court, another state, or a foreign country, as long as the offense would be a felony under Florida law.¹

“Convicted” is read broadly. A guilty verdict counts. So does a guilty plea or a no-contest plea. The duty still attaches even when the judge withheld adjudication, which surprises people who don’t think of themselves as having a conviction.¹

Who Is Exempt

Seven groups do not have to register under 775.13:¹

People whose civil rights have been restored.
People who have received a full pardon for the underlying felony.
People lawfully released from incarceration, sentencing, or supervision more than five years ago. This exemption is lost if you are a fugitive on a felony charge or have been convicted of any new offense since release.
People under the supervision of the United States Parole Commission (where it has consented to the person’s presence in Florida), people supervised in the state by a federal probation officer, and people lawfully discharged from that federal supervision.
People already registered as sexual predators under Section 775.21.
People already registered as sexual offenders under Section 943.0435 or 944.607.
People already registered as career offenders under Section 775.261 or 944.609.

The 48-Hour Deadline

If the law applies to you, you must register with the sheriff of whatever Florida county you are physically in, within 48 hours of entering it. The duty is tied to the county, not to your residence. Enter a new county and the clock starts again for that sheriff’s office.¹

At registration, the sheriff’s office will fingerprint and photograph you. You have to provide:

The felony you were convicted of and where the conviction occurred
The sentence imposed
Your current legal name and any aliases
Your current address
Your current occupation

If your felony came with a gang-related finding under Section 874.04, you must also identify yourself as a gang-affiliated offender when you register.¹

How Long the Duty Lasts

The obligation runs for the full five years after you are released from incarceration or supervision, and it follows you across county lines the entire time. Move to a new county and you have 48 hours to register with that sheriff. Travel through a county for work, family, or any other reason, and the same 48-hour deadline applies. The statute draws no line between a permanent move and a short visit.¹

Penalties for Not Registering

For most people covered by the statute, failing to register or keep information current is a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a fine of up to $500.¹²³

If a court previously found that you committed the underlying felony to benefit or further the interests of a criminal gang under Section 874.04, the stakes jump. Failure to register becomes a third-degree felony carrying up to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $5,000.¹²³ The gang finding has to come from the factfinder at trial or sentencing; it isn’t tacked on by law enforcement at registration.⁴

Each failure is its own violation. Missing registration in two counties can produce two charges, not one.

This Is Not the Sex Offender Registry

Florida’s sex offender and sexual predator registration systems are separate statutes with longer durations, stricter rules, and harsher penalties. If you are required to register under one of those systems, that duty replaces the general felon registration under 775.13; you do not register twice.¹

1
Justia Law. Florida Statutes 775.13 – Registration of Convicted Felons, Exemptions; Penalties
2
Florida Senate. Florida Code 775.082 – Penalties; Applicability of Sentencing Structures; Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Certain Reoffenders Previously Released from Prison
3
Florida Senate. Florida Code 775.083 – Fines
4
Online Sunshine. Florida Statutes 874.04 – Gang-Related Offenses; Enhanced Penalties