Other Changes for Nonnative Species
At the May 2025 Commission meeting, Commissioners of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved staff recommendations to make changes to rule 68-5, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.). These changes 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 defined "transshipment".
One of the goals of these changes was to identify reasonable ways to ensure accountability and compliance for permitted individuals keeping Prohibited species as pets. The new rule also provides FWC Law Enforcement with additional options on where to place Prohibited species and maintain protections for Florida’s native wildlife resources.
Changes to Chapter 68-5, F.A.C. Effective August 20, 2025
Additional details below highlight information on the rule changes.
Anyone who had a Prohibited species as a pet prior to its regulation as a Prohibited species in Florida could keep their pet(s) for its lifetime with a no-cost permit from the FWC. This permit does not allow the permittee to acquire new Prohibited species as pets.
Formerly, the Grandfathered Prohibited Species for Personal Use permit required annual renewal.
Effective August 20, 2025, the rule change removes the annual renewal application requirement for Grandfathered Prohibited Species for Personal Use permit holders. Pet owners applying for the permit will need to provide proof to the FWC that they had the animal(s) prior to its listing as Prohibited.
Though Prohibited species pet permits are valid for the life of the pet, without annual renewal requirements, the pet owners need to inform the FWC via email or in writing when a pet dies, is rehomed through the Exotic Pet Amnesty Program, leaves the facility/state, or if the owner’s address changes. This information must be reported to the FWC within 90 days of these changes occurring.
Additionally, people moving into Florida can now apply for a Grandfathered Prohibited Species for Personal Use permit for tegus or green iguanas if they can provide the documentation of pet ownership prior to the species designation in Florida as Prohibited. Applicants moving to Florida would need to meet current biosecurity, PIT tagging, and caging requirements in rule prior to obtaining this permit. This permit would allow these permittees to import the animal(s) into Florida one time.
Pet owners are not allowed to acquire additional Prohibited species as pets with this type of permit.
The 2025 rule change also allows permitted exhibitors operating at residential properties with authorization to possess Prohibited species to retire their Prohibited tegus or green iguanas previously authorized for use in educational exhibition by transferring them to a Prohibited species pet permit.
- This transfer can be authorized once per animal and the newly permitted pet could no longer be used for exhibition purposes or transferred to another permit.
Effective August 20, 2025, people in legal possession of green iguanas or tegus under 9” snout-vent length (SVL) are allowed to house these animals in the same enclosure. Any individual over 9” SVL must 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.
Effective August 20, 2025, facilities with authorization to exhibit Prohibited species at a residential property are allowed to acquire additional Prohibited species through FWC action and permit amendment.
- FWC Law Enforcement (LE) can temporarily or permanently place Prohibited species at permitted exhibition facilities operating at residential properties.
- Temporary placement paperwork is completed by FWC LE in coordination with the temporary holding facility. The permit holder must meet caging requirements for Prohibited species prior to acquisition and must maintain a copy of the temporary acquisition paperwork at the facility.
- If the animal becomes available and the permit holder in temporary possession has interest in keeping it, they may request an amendment to their existing permit to keep the Prohibited animal(s).
Effective August 20, 2025, transshipment is defined as a shipment of wildlife that stops temporarily at an intermediate destination prior to reaching its final destination. The intermediate destination must be a bonded facility, port or airport. The temporary destination must be bonded to be exempt from Florida rules pertaining to the importation or transport of Prohibited species. A bonded facility, port or airport is a secure storage location under customs supervision, where businesses can store imported or exported wildlife without having to clear customs. Some business models require export of Prohibited species out of country via certain ports, such as the Miami airport, and these shipments are commonly referred to as transshipments. These shipments do not leave a bonded facility, port or airport, and do not legally enter the State of Florida in some cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the rule change 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 within 90 days. Pet owners can submit this information to the FWC by emailing NonnativePermitApps@MyFWC.com.
Juvenile green iguanas or tegus under 9” snout-vent length (SVL) can 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.
Maybe. The rule change allows facilities with authorization to exhibit Prohibited species at a residential property to acquire additional Prohibited species through FWC action and permit amendment.
The 2025 rule change would allow the FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement to place Prohibited species with permittees authorized to exhibit Prohibited species at a residential property, following the completion of the appropriate documentation of transfer of additional Prohibited species to the facility. The permit holder would then be required to request an amendment to their existing permit immediately upon acceptance of newly acquired Prohibited species.
No.
We have additional information and FAQ pages set up for the following topics:
2025 Rule Changes for Green Iguanas and Tegus
Green Iguana Collection and Sales
If you still have questions, you can reach us at NonnativeSpeciesRules@MyFWC.com or NonnativePermitApps@MyFWC.com.
