Green Iguana Collection and Sales
Green iguanas are invasive and due to the high-risk they pose to Florida, are regulated as a Prohibited species. At the May 2025 Commission meeting, Commissioners of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved staff recommendations to make changes to Chapter 68-5, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.). These changes address live green iguana removal and sales from wild populations in Florida and other nonnative fish and wildlife permitting topics. One of the goals of these changes was to allow and activate more Floridians to collect live green iguanas from the wild in Florida, as well as create an allowance to transfer those green iguanas to permit holders who are authorized to sell live wild-caught green iguanas out-of-state.
Changes to Chapter 68-5, F.A.C. Effective August 20, 2025
Effective August 20, 2025, if applying for authorization to sell wild-caught green iguanas through the Commercial Use of Tegus and/or Green Iguanas permit, an applicant is not required to show proof of prior inventory of green iguanas or proof of having been in possession of a Captive Wildlife Class III Exhibition or Sale License. Anyone can apply for a Commercial Use of Tegus and/or Green Iguanas permit with authorization to sell live, wild caught green iguanas, provided the applicant meets caging and biosecurity requirements in rule for the possession of Prohibited green iguanas. These changes increase the opportunity for many individuals to sell live, wild caught green iguanas harvested in Florida.
It is still illegal to import or breed green iguanas in captivity within the state, so permitted sellers must collect green iguanas from the wild in Florida in order for the animals to be sold out-of-state.
There are no changes to who can qualify to sell tegus.
Prohibited species pose a high-risk to Florida, and thus cannot be sold; however, in 2021 FWC Commissioners approved rule changes that created some limited exceptions for people previously selling tegus and green iguanas.
Formerly, qualifying entities could only apply for and obtain authorization to sell Prohibited green iguanas or tegus within a 90-day grace period that started after the species were listed as Prohibited in 2021.
Effective August 20, 2025, the rule change removes the 90-day grace period for applicants to apply for and obtain authorization to sell Prohibited green iguanas or tegus. The rule change will now allow all applicants to apply for a Commercial Use of Tegus and/or Green Iguanas permit at any time, even if there was a lapse in permitting, provided that the applicant meets biosecurity and caging requirements or for qualifying entities to apply for and obtain authorization to sell tegus.
*Note: These limited exceptions only apply to green iguanas and tegus. No other Prohibited species can be sold in Florida.
Formerly, qualifying entities could not transfer valid Commercial Use of Tegus and/or Green Iguanas permits for green iguanas or tegus to another entity.
Effective August 20, 2025, the rule change authorizes Commercial Use of Tegus and/or Green Iguanas permit holders the option to transfer valid sales permits for green iguanas or tegus to a spouse, beneficiary, or new business owner, provided the application of the purchaser is approved by the Commission in accordance with rules and regulations of the Commission.
Formerly, transfer of live wild-caught green iguanas from Eradication and Control of Nonnative Species permit holders to Commercial Use of Tegus and/or Green Iguanas permit holders was not allowed.
Effective August 20, 2025, the rule change authorizes Eradication and Control or Nonnative Species permit holders to transfer live wild-caught green iguanas to Commercial Use of Tegus and/or Green Iguanas permit holders so they can be sold out-of-state. This rule change involves:
- Adding a new transfer endorsement option to the Eradication and Control of Nonnative Species permit application to authorize these permit holders to transfer live, wild caught green iguanas to people permitted to sell them out-of-state
- Anyone can apply for this permit with the transfer endorsement
- Applicants interested in obtaining the transfer endorsement for possession of wild-caught green iguanas harvested in Florida must come into compliance with existing caging and biosecurity requirements before they will be issued a permit
- There are no limits on the number of green iguanas that can be collected, transferred, or sold
- Entities collecting green iguanas from the wild in Florida can be paid by the permittee selling them out-of-state
NOTE: Individuals interested in both harvesting green iguanas from the wild in Florida and selling them out-of-state, only need to obtain one permit the Commercial Use of Tegus and/or Green Iguanas permit. These permit holders will be authorized to collect green iguanas from the wild and will not need to obtain a second permit (i.e., an Eradication and Control of Nonnative Species permit). Sellers must report their sales information to the FWC annually.
Permit holders with a transfer endorsement can be in possession of live green iguanas for as long as needed to make the transfer to a permitted seller.
An Eradication and Control of Nonnative Species permit holder who does not have a transfer endorsement must humanely kill any wild-caught green iguanas within 24 hours of capture per current rule requirements.
Eradication and Control of Nonnative Species permit holders must report their green iguana collection numbers to the FWC every six months.
Effective August 20, 2025, the rule change will require wild-caught green iguanas harvested in Florida over 5” snout-vent-length (SVL) be PIT tagged ONLY if they are in possession by the permit holder for more than 30 days. Green iguanas less than 5” SVL do not need to be PIT tagged prior to sale or transfer.
- This applies to Eradication and Control of Nonnative Species permit holders with a transfer endorsement, and Commercial Use of Tegus and/or Green Iguanas permit holders
- Permit holders in possession of green iguanas for exhibition, research, or personal possession through a limited exception permit must PIT tag all green iguanas regardless of size
Frequently Asked Questions
Commerical Use of Tegus and/or Green Iguanas permit holders could sell their wild-caught green iguanas at any time. There is no time limit to possession of green iguanas prior to sale.
Anyone can apply and have authorization to sell wild-caught green iguanas out-of-state. To qualify for the permit, the applicant must meet the biosecurity and caging requirements in Chapter 68-5, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.).
Yes, any person who previously held a Commercial Use of Tegus and/or Green Iguanas permit can reapply at any time, even if a lapse in permitting had occurred.
Yes, an Eradication and Control of Nonnative Species permit holder with a transfer endorsement can collect live wild-caught green iguanas from the environment in Florida, then transfer the live green iguanas to Commercial use of Tegus and/or Green Iguanas permit holder so they can be sold out-of-state.
Additionally, the Commercial Use of Tegus and/or Green Iguanas permit holder can pay the Eradication and Control of Nonnative Species permit holder with a transfer endorsement for the transfer of their wild-caught green iguanas.
No, breeding of Prohibited green iguanas is not allowed. Any live green iguanas sold by permitted entities must be collected from the wild in Florida and sold out-of-state.
Yes, if a green iguana or tegu lays eggs, the eggs must be destroyed immediately.
Yes, anyone can apply for this permit and transfer endorsement. To qualify for the transfer endorsement, the applicant must meet the biosecurity and caging requirements in Chapter 68-5, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.).
Yes, anyone in possession of a live green iguana who does not obtain the Eradication and Control of Nonnative Species permit with the transfer endorsement must humanely kill each green iguana collected. If the trapper/collector is in possession of any live green iguanas, they will need an Eradication and Control of Nonnative Species permit that requires these animals are humanely killed within 24 hours of collection.
If the green iguana(s) is (are) humanely killed at the site of capture immediately after collection, no permit is required.
Yes, if you want to request the new transfer endorsement you would need to apply for the Eradication and Control of Nonnative Species permit and request the transfer endorsement on your new application.
The transfer endorsement allows these permittees to collect wild-caught green iguanas from the environment in Florida, then transfer the live green iguanas to Commercial Use of Tegus and/or Green Iguanas permit holders so they can be sold out-of-state. Commercial Use of Tegus and/or Green Iguanas permit holders can pay these individuals for their transferred live wild-caught green iguanas.
Yes, all Eradication and Control of Nonnative Species permit holders with the transfer endorsement must be in compliance with existing caging and biosecurity requirements.
Permit holders with a transfer endorsement could be in possession of live wild-caught green iguanas for as long as they need to make the transfer. Wild-caught green iguanas larger than 5" snout-vent-length (SVL) must be PIT tagged if the animal is possessed for more than 30 days. Green iguanas less than 5” SVL do not need to be PIT tagged.
Reporting requirements for these permit holders must occur upon annual renewal of the permit and every six months thereafter to the FWC.
Eradication and Control of Nonnative Species permit holders with a transfer endorsement must report the number of green iguanas removed, location of removal (county of capture location), date of removal, and final disposition of each animal.
No, any Commercial Use of Tegus and/or Green Iguanas permit permittee is authorized to collect wild-caught green iguanas without the need for a second permit. Sellers must report their sales information to the FWC annually and collection of green iguanas from the wild every six months.
We have additional information and FAQ pages set up for the following topics:
2025 Rule Changes for Green Iguanas and Tegus
Other Changes for Nonnative Species
If you still have questions, you can reach us at NonnativeSpeciesRules@MyFWC.com or NonnativePermitApps@MyFWC.com
