Guides · Updated August 15, 2026
California Sex Offender Map: How to Search It
California's official sex offender map is the state's Megan's Law site. Search by name, address, or ZIP, and see why some listings show less detail.
Checking an address or a new name before meeting someone makes sense. California's official sex offender map is the free Megan's Law website at meganslaw.ca.gov, run by the state Department of Justice. It covers the entire state, so you can search by name, address, city, or ZIP code from anywhere.
A result on the map, or the lack of one, doesn't by itself confirm the listing matches the exact person you're checking on. Names and details can overlap, so read the specifics of any listing carefully. It's okay to slow down if something about the situation still doesn't sit right with you.
Ways to search the California Megan's Law site
The California Megan's Law website offers two search types, by name or by location, that cover three practical tasks: checking a specific person, checking a home or neighborhood, and checking around a point like a school or workplace. The table below shows what each search actually returns.
| How you search | What you get back | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| By name | A profile or list of possible matches, showing the details state law allows the site to disclose, such as the offense and registration status | One of the two search types offered on the California Megan's Law website; useful when you already have a specific name to check |
| By address, city, or ZIP code | A map view showing nearby registrants, with pins placed at either a specific address or a general ZIP-code area depending on the registrant's category | The other search type described on the California Megan's Law website; the most common way to check a neighborhood or a home before visiting |
| Around a specific point, like a school or workplace | The same location search, centered on a spot other than a home address, so you can see registrants near that point | San Francisco Police Department guidance frames this as checking within about ten miles of home; the statewide site itself doesn't publish a set radius |
What the California map is allowed to show
California's Megan's Law website only shows what state law allows it to show, which is narrower than most people expect. The Department of Justice's Megan's Law site states that only information California law permits to be disclosed appears there. Penal Code section 290.46 sets three disclosure levels: a full home address, a community and ZIP code only, or no public listing at all.
The offense that required registration decides which level applies, not the person's overall criminal history or how recently they were convicted. That's why two registrants can look very different on the map: one shows a full street address, another shows only a city and ZIP code, and some don't appear on the public site at all even though they still have to register with local law enforcement. The display level tracks the offense on record. It isn't a measure of risk.
How current is the address information?
The listed information isn't guaranteed to be current. The Megan's Law site notes that details can change quickly and that gaps or errors are possible, so the Department of Justice doesn't claim the data is complete or accurate at any given moment. An address that was correct last month may not be correct today.
How to confirm you have the right person
The state's own disclaimer warns against identifying someone by name, age, and address alone, since mistaken identification can happen with common names or partial details. Use a listing as a starting point to verify, then confirm with more detail. If the name is common, compare the listing's age and photo against what you already know. People move, so a listed community or ZIP code can be outdated. If he's lived in another state, cross-check the same name at the national registry search.
What the state map covers and what it leaves out
California's free state map is the official source for what the law allows to be disclosed about registered offenders, organized around those disclosure categories. For a wider view before a first meeting, TheTeaReport can put together a broader criminal-history and registry check on someone, adding to what the free state map already shows. The state map tells you what's disclosed for one offense category. A private report adds public records and identity details the map was never built to cover.
How to report an error
If something on a listing looks wrong, contact a local police or sheriff's department, or reach out to the Department of Justice directly, rather than trying to edit the page yourself.
Compare other state registries
For a look at how other states handle this same kind of disclosure, see the Alabama sex offender search and Alaska's sex offender registry search guides.
Sources and further reading
- California Megan's Law Website: The state's official, free registry search, and the primary source for what it does and doesn't disclose about registrants.
- California DOJ: Search for Registered Sex Offenders: The state's own summary of the Megan's Law site as the tool for searching the registered sex offender database.
- National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW): A national search tool for checking registries across state lines when California's map alone isn't enough.
- FBI: Sex Offender Registry Websites: Federal guidance explaining the national registry website and how it connects to state-level tools like California's.
- Penal Code section 290.46 (FindLaw): The state law that sets what can be disclosed publicly, why some registrants are excluded, and how offense category affects address detail.
- Contra Costa County Sheriff: Megan's Law: An example of a county sheriff page that points back to the state database and adds local contact information.
- San Diego County Sheriff: Megan's Law Disclaimer: A local agency's version of the state's disclaimer on data currency, errors, and how to report a suspected mistake.
Common questions about California's sex offender map
What if I think a listing is wrong or out of date?
Registry information can be wrong or out of date. If a listing looks off, don't try to fix it yourself. Contact your local police or sheriff's department, or use the contact options on the official Megan's Law site at https://www.meganslaw.ca.gov/ to ask the California Department of Justice to look into it.
Why does my search show a full address for one person but only a city and ZIP for another?
It comes down to the offense. State law decides how much address detail a registrant's listing can show. Only certain convictions, like some rape, sodomy, or lewd-act offenses, qualify for a full street address. Others show just a community and ZIP code.
Can I check one specific address instead of a whole neighborhood?
Yes. You can search by a single street address, and the map will show pins for any registrants near that spot, including full addresses where the law allows it and general ZIP-code areas where it doesn't. This is a common way to check a place before visiting, whether it's a date's home or a new neighborhood.
Why doesn't a nearby offender show up when I search my area?
Some registrants don't appear on the public site because California law limits which registration details can be disclosed. They're still required to register with local law enforcement, even though they don't show up in a public search. A search can be done correctly and still miss someone.
Is the California map the only place to check?
It's the main statewide tool for California, and it covers the most ground. The national registry search at nsopw.gov lets you check across state lines if someone has lived elsewhere, and county sheriff sites sometimes add local detail the state map doesn't show.
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