Key Highlights
- Residency Restrictions: Texas enforces 1,000-foot residential exclusion zones near schools, playgrounds, and child-care facilities under Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 62.301, and municipalities may add local zones under Tex. Local Gov’t Code § 341.906.
- Presence / Proximity Rules: Certain individuals may not loiter or be present near places where children gather as restricted by Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 62.102.
- Duration of Registration: Registration is either 10 years or for life, depending on the offense; see Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 62.101.
- Tiering / Level System: Texas has a two-level framework: 10-year registrants must verify annually, while lifetime registrants must verify every 90 days; see Tex. Code Crim. Proc. arts. 62.058 & 62.101 and the DPS Sex Offender Registry Overview.
At a Glance
- Register in person with your primary registration authority (local law enforcement) if you have a reportable conviction/adjudication under Chapter 62. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. ch. 62.
- Initial deadline: Initial registration/verification within 7 days after release/placement or arrival in Texas; see Art. 62.053 and Art. 62.051(a).
- Verification: Annual birthday-window verification for most; every 90 days if you have two+ sexually violent offense convictions/deferreds; every 30 days if civilly committed; see Art. 62.058 and DPS guide.
- Primary method: In person with local law enforcement; mail verification may be used only as directed. DPS maintains the statewide database and public site. See DPS program page.
- ⚠️ Report address changes ≥7 days before moving and ≤7 days after arrival; if the move falls through, weekly check-ins apply. See Art. 62.055.
- ⚠️ Online identifiers must be reported within 7 days of change/creation. See Art. 62.0551.
- ⚠️ Higher-ed work/school triggers extra notice within 7 days. See Art. 62.153.
- ⚠️ Homeless / no fixed address: report every 30 days with detailed location description. See Art. 62.055(i).
- ⚠️ Failure to comply is a felony (degree varies by cadence). See Art. 62.102.
Official Links
What this means in practice
- Register in person with local law enforcement; DPS runs the public site.
- Most people verify once a year near their birthday; some verify every 90 days.
- Report moves before and after; report online IDs within 7 days.
See Art. 62.051, 62.055, and 62.058.
Reviewed 10/10/2025
Who Must Register & Duration
Those with a reportable conviction/adjudication (defined in Art. 62.001) must register, including certain out-of-state/federal cases. Nonresident workers/students present in Texas are covered by Subchapter H.
Duration: Registration is either 10 years or for life, depending on the offense; see Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 62.101.
Deadlines & Reporting Triggers
- Initial verification/registration within 7 days after release/placement/arrival. See Art. 62.053 and Art. 62.051(a).
- Address change: notify verifying agency ≥7 days before a move and ≤7 days after arrival; if you don’t move as planned, weekly reports required. See Art. 62.055.
- No fixed address: report every 30 days with location description. See Art. 62.055(i).
- Online identifiers: report additions/changes within 7 days. See Art. 62.0551.
- Higher-ed notice: within 7 days of starting work/vocation/classes; notify campus security and your verifying agency. See Art. 62.153.
What this means in practice
- Register/verify within 7 days of release/arrival.
- Report address changes before you move and after you arrive.
- Update online identifiers within 7 days.
See Art. 62.053, 62.055, 62.0551.
Verification & In-Person Requirements
- Annual window: once each year 30 days before to 30 days after your birthday (most registrants). See Art. 62.058.
- Quarterly: if you have two+ sexually violent offense convictions/deferreds, report every 90 days (7-day grace each side). See Art. 62.058(a).
- Civilly committed: verify every 30 days. See DPS guide and Art. 62.202 cross-refs noted by DPS.
What this means in practice
- Annual birthday-window for most; every 90 days for certain repeat sexually violent offenses; every 30 days if civilly committed.
See Art. 62.058 and DPS guidance.
Residency, Presence, & Loitering Restrictions
No single statewide residency ban applies after supervision; parole/probation may impose child-safety-zone limits. See Gov’t Code § 508.187 and AG Op. GA-0526 (home-rule cities may adopt certain residency ordinances). Local rules vary—confirm locally.
What this means in practice
- No blanket statewide residency ban after supervision.
- Parole/probation can impose child-safety zones; some cities have local ordinances.
See Gov’t Code § 508.187 and AG Op. GA-0526.
Employment, Education, & Internet Use
- Prohibited employment (conditional): certain offenses with minor victims bar specific jobs (e.g., bus/taxi/limousine; unsupervised in-home services). See Art. 62.063.
- Internet identifiers: disclose and update within 7 days (emails, usernames, etc.). See Art. 62.0551.
- Higher-ed: campus residency limits and notice duties. See Art. 62.064 and Art. 62.153.
What this means in practice
- Certain offenses with minor victims bar specific jobs.
- Report online usernames/emails within 7 days.
- Higher-ed work/school has extra 7-day notice rules.
See Art. 62.063, 62.0551, 62.153.
Public Website Exposure
- TXDPS maintains the public registry searchable by name/address/ZIP. See DPS public registry and program page.
- Local agencies may also host listings; newspaper/community notification is authorized in some cases. See Art. 62.056 and DPS program page.
Travel & Relocation (Interstate Moves)
- Moving out of Texas: complete Texas notice duties (address change timing) and register in the destination state as required. See Art. 62.055.
- Nonresident workers/students in TX: covered by Subchapter H with thresholds (14+ consecutive or 30 aggregate days/year). See Art. 62.151–.153.
Visiting or Traveling in the State
- Short visits that don’t create residence/work/school ties generally don’t trigger registration, but supervision rules may add limits. Start with Art. 62.051 and verify with your officer if supervised.
What this means in practice
- Brief visits usually don’t trigger Texas registration unless you work/go to school here.
- If supervised, follow your officer’s travel rules.
Start with Art. 62.051 and Subch. H.
Compliance & Enforcement
Failure to comply is a felony: state jail (post-10-year cases), 3rd-degree (annual verifiers), or 2nd-degree (quarterly/civil-commit). See penalty tiers in Art. 62.102.
What this means in practice
- Missing deadlines can be a felony; penalties are higher if you’re on a 90-day or 30-day cadence.
See Art. 62.102.
Relief Paths
- Expiration: most duties are lifetime (see list) unless eligible for early termination; see Art. 62.101.
- Early termination: limited path via risk assessment and court order; see Subchapter I (Art. 62.402–.408).
Special Populations
- Homeless / lack of address: report every 30 days with detailed location description; see Art. 62.055(i).
- On supervision: child-safety-zone conditions under Gov’t Code § 508.187; policies vary by board/court.
- Nonresident worker/student: thresholds and dual-notice to campus police per Art. 62.151–.153.
Costs & Payments
- ID requirement: classified sex-offender DL/ID is annually renewable and required within 30 days of registration; failure can cause revocation. See Art. 62.060 and DPS guidance.
- Court filing/assessment costs for early-termination petitions and individual risk assessment. See Art. 62.406.
Recent Changes & Litigation
- Statute: HB 2000 (Audrii’s Law) — 89th Leg., R.S. (2025); effective 2025-09-01. Adds child grooming (Penal Code § 15.032) to reportable convictions, expanding who must register. link
Compliance Checklists & Scripts
New Arrival: First 30 Days
- Within 7 days of release/arrival: appear in person at your primary registration authority to register/verify. See Art. 62.053.
- Set a reminder for your verification cadence: annual (birthday window) or every 90 days (qualifying sexually violent repeaters). See Art. 62.058.
- Gather required info: IDs, vehicles, phone numbers, online identifiers, employer/school details. See Art. 62.051(c).
- If no fixed address: plan for 30-day check-ins with a detailed location description. See Art. 62.055(i).
- Apply for the Classified Sex Offender DL/ID within 30 days. See Art. 62.060.
Moving Out / Traveling
- Notify your verifying agency ≥7 days before you move and ≤7 days after arrival at the new address. See Art. 62.055.
- If moving out of Texas, register in the new state as required and keep proof of completion.
- If the move falls through, complete weekly reports until resolved. See Art. 62.055.
Records Request Template
To: Texas Department of Public Safety — Sex Offender Registration Unit (TxSOR@dps.texas.gov)
Subject: Registry File Request — [Your Name, DOB]
Under Chapter 62, please provide my current registry record, including:
• Registration dates (initial/periodic) and verifying agency
• Reported addresses, employment/school, vehicles, and online identifiers on file
• Verification cadence (annual/90-day/30-day) and next due date
• Any notices of non-compliance or pending actions
I prefer electronic delivery. Please advise of any fees. Thank you.Relief Petition Outline
1) Confirm offense and federal minimum status via DPS list (Art. 62.402(b)).
2) Obtain individual risk assessment per Art. 62.403.
3) File motion for early termination with sentencing court under Art. 62.404, attaching the assessment and qualifying explanation.
4) Serve the prosecutor; calendar hearing under Art. 62.405.
5) Prepare evidence of treatment, compliance, stability; request order per Art. 62.407.Tips for using these checklists
- Use the checklists to meet 7-day, 30-day, and 90-day/annual windows; keep stamped copies and receipts.
Procedures drawn from Art. 62.053, 62.055, 62.058 and DPS guidance.
Citations
- Ch. 62 — Sex Offender Registration Program
- Art. 62.051 — Duty to Register
- Art. 62.053 — Initial Verification
- Art. 62.055 — Change of Address (7-day rules; weekly reports)
- Art. 62.0551 — Online Identifiers (7 days)
- Art. 62.058 — Verification Cadence (annual/90-day)
- Art. 62.060 — Classified Sex-Offender DL/ID
- Art. 62.101 — Expiration (duration)
- Art. 62.102 — Penalties
- Art. 62.151–.153 — Nonresident Workers/Students
- Gov’t Code § 508.187 — Child-Safety-Zone Conditions
- AG Op. GA-0526 — Home-Rule Residency Ordinances
- DPS — Program Overview
- TXDPS Public Registry
- HB 2000 (Audrii’s Law) — Effective 9/1/2025