Other Proposed Changes for Nonnative Species
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is considering changes to rule 68-5, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) that will address Grandfathered Prohibited Species for Personal Use Permit renewals, caging requirements for juvenile tegus and green iguanas, FWC law enforcement options for placement of Prohibited species, and clarification regarding importation of Conditional or Prohibited species kept as pets.
One of the goals is to identify reasonable ways to ensure accountability and compliance for permitted individuals keeping Prohibited species as pets. The proposed changes will also seek to provide FWC Law Enforcement with additional options on where to place Prohibited species and maintain protections for Florida’s native wildlife resources.
Proposed Changes to Chapter 68-5, F.A.C.
Additional details below highlight information for each of the topics to be covered at the virtual public meetings. Draft rule language pertaining to these concepts will become available at a later date.
Currently, anyone who had a Prohibited species as a pet prior to its regulation as a Prohibited species can keep their pet(s) for its lifetime with a no-cost permit from the FWC. This permit requires annual renewal and does not allow the permittee to acquire new Prohibited species as pets.
The proposed changes would remove the annual renewal application requirement for these pet owners. Pet owners who are in legal possession of Prohibited species would only need to apply for the no-cost permit one time (e.g., within the grace period of 90-days allotted in rule after a species is designated as Prohibited). The pet owner would need to inform the FWC when a Prohibited species kept as a pet dies, is rehomed through the Exotic Pet Amnesty Program, leaves the facility/state, or if the owner’s address changes.
Currently, male and female green iguanas and tegus cannot be housed in the same cage or enclosure to prevent breeding of the species. The proposed changes would allow people in legal possession of green iguanas or tegus under 9” snout-vent length (SVL) to keep their animals in the same enclosure. Animals under this size should not be reproductively active. Any individual over 9” SVL would still need to be kept in its own enclosure to prevent breeding.
Any eggs laid by green iguanas or tegus must be destroyed immediately.
*Note: Rule 68A-6.01214(1,b) also identifies caging requirements for reptiles and amphibians and would still apply.
Currently, facilities with authorization to exhibit Prohibited species at residential properties are not able to acquire additional Prohibited species beyond what is in their current inventory.
The proposed changes would allow facilities with authorization to exhibit Prohibited species at residential properties the ability to acquire additional Prohibited species through FWC action and permit amendment.
The proposed changes would allow FWC Law Enforcement (LE) to temporarily or permanently place Prohibited species with Prohibited species exhibition facilities operating at residential properties. FWC and the facility must first complete appropriate documentation of transfer of additional Prohibited species to the facility. The facility must then immediately request an amendment to their existing permit on the specific animal(s) accepted.
The proposed changes would also allow FWC to provide authorization to house Prohibited species at permitted Prohibited species exhibition facilities when FWC LE needs to place Prohibited species temporarily (less than 72 hours). Temporary placement paperwork would be completed by FWC LE in coordination with the temporary holding facility. In these situations, the permit holder does not need to request permit amendments but must meet caging requirements for Prohibited species prior to acquisition of these animals and must maintain a copy of the temporary acquisition paperwork at the facility.
Currently, pet owners cannot import into Florida any Conditional or Prohibited species kept as pets; however, this rule language could be stated more clearly. The proposed changes would clarify existing rule language to state Conditional and Prohibited species cannot be imported into Florida for the purposes of personal possession.
Virtual Public Meetings
To obtain feedback on these concepts from the public, the FWC hosted six virtual public meetings. The virtual public meetings covered the following topics and took place during the below dates and times. Recordings of the meetings and more details on each topic can be found below.
Series 1 Topics:
- Sales of Wild-Caught Green Iguanas in Florida
- Qualifications for sales of green iguanas
- When qualifying entities can apply for a permit
- Transfer of Sales Permits to Spouse, Beneficiary, or New Business Owner
- Transfer Allowances for Eradication/Control Permit Holders to Prohibited Species Sales Permit Holders
- Batch Marking Wild-Caught Green Iguanas
Power Point Presentation for Series 1 Presentation
Series 2 Topics:
- Prohibited Species Pet Permit Renewals
- Caging Requirements for Juvenile Tegus or Green Iguanas
- Options for FWC Law Enforcement Placement of Prohibited Species
- Conditional or Prohibited Species Cannot be Imported into Florida for Personal Use
Power Point Presentation for Series 2 Presentation
Series 1 Meeting Chat Transcripts
Series 2 Meeting Chat Transcripts
*Note: Meetings of the same series number covers the same content. For example, if you attend a meeting listed in Series 1 you do not need to attend another meeting in that series.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the proposed changes would require Grandfathered Prohibited Species for Personal Use permit holders to report if a Prohibited species kept as a pet dies, is rehomed through the FWC’s Exotic Pet Amnesty Program, leaves the state, or is housed in a new location in Florida. Pet owners could submit this information to the FWC by emailing NonnativePermitApps@MyFWC.com.
Juvenile green iguanas or tegus under 9” snout-vent length (SVL) could be kept in the same cage or enclosure. Any individual animal over 9” SVL must be kept in its own enclosure to prevent breeding. Any eggs of green iguanas or tegus must be destroyed immediately.
Rule 68A-6.01214(1,b) also identifies caging requirements for reptiles and amphibians and would still apply.
Yes, once an individual green iguana or tegu grows larger than 9” snout-vent length, it would need to be housed in its own enclosure to prevent breeding.
Generally, no – permit holders with authorization from the FWC to exhibit Prohibited species at residential properties are not able to acquire new Prohibited species.
However, these proposed changes would allow the FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement to place Prohibited species with permittees authorized to exhibit Prohibited species at a residential property. This activity would occur through the FWC's Division of Law Enforcement only after completing appropriate documentation of transfer of additional Prohibited species to the facility and would require the permit holder to request an amendment to their existing permit immediately upon acceptance of newly acquired Prohibited species.
No, Conditional and Prohibited nonnative species cannot be acquired as new pets in the state of Florida, nor can they be imported into Florida.
No, the importation of Conditional and Prohibited species for personal use is not allowed in Florida.
We have additional information and FAQ pages set up for the following topics:
