Registered Sex Offender Residency Restrictions

In January 2011, the City of North Richland Hills passed Ordinance #3125 which regulates the area where certain registered sex offenders may live.

Restrictions

• Convicted/adjudicated sex offenders, whose victims were younger than 17 years of age, are prohibited from residing within a 1,000 feet protected area.
• A person is prohibited from allowing a convicted/adjudicated sex offender, whose victim was younger than 17 years of age, to reside within 1,000 feet of a protected area.

While the ordinance will not regulate the daily movements of these offenders within the 1,000 foot safety zone, it does restrict them from residing within a 1,000 feet of a protected area. The 1,000 foot boundaries are established from property lines. Ordinance #3125 also indicates that nobody will be required to sale or dispose of any real estate as a result of the ordinance.

Identified protected areas include:

parks swimming pools daycare facilities

arcade and gaming businesses schools family entertainment sites

Defenses

There are 5 defenses to prosecution stipulated in the ordinance:

1. Offender resided at the location prior to ordinance adoption.
2. Offender was a minor at the time of offense & conviction.
3. Offender is a minor.
4. The protected area opened after the offender established legal residency.
5. The Information on the Texas Department of Public Safety’s website was incorrect.