A method for supporting handover in a Broadband Wireless Access communication system is provided. The system includes a MS, a serving BS, and a plurality of neighbor BSs. The coverage area of each of the BSs is divided into sectors using different subcarrier bands. The MS collects information broadcast from the serving BS on the serving BS and the neighbor BSs, measures a signal level for each ofthe sectors of the serving BS and the neighbor BSs according to the collected information, and sends a handover request based on the measured signal level for each of the sectors. The serving BS broadcasts information on the serving BS and the neighbor BSs to the MS, determines if the MS can perform a soft handover from its current sector to another sector upon receiving the handover request fromthe MS, and permits the MS to perform the soft handover.