2025 Rule Changes for Green Iguana Outdoor Caging and Biosecurity
Green iguanas are a Prohibited species in Florida due to the high risk they pose to Florida’s environment and economy. To maintain protection for Florida’s native wildlife resources and continue to encourage more Floridians to remove Prohibited nonnative green iguanas from Florida, Commissioners of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved rule changes to Chapter 68-5, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) in November 2025 to provide practical and secure alternatives for outdoor caging of green iguanas. In addition to addressing outdoor caging of green iguanas, these changes establish collection and transport rules for wild-caught green iguanas, define the term "locked”, and add clarifying language to the current rules for transport and emergency preparedness plans for Prohibited reptiles.
A recording of the proposed final rule presentation for item 6B Nonnative Prohibited Reptiles can be viewed on the Florida Channel using the link below and navigate to minute 02:34:16 for the beginning of this agenda item.
11/5/25 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission - The Florida Channel
Changes to Chapter 68-5.002, F.A.C.- Definitions
The rule changes will create a definition of “locked” as it pertains to caging and enclosure biosecurity for Conditional and Prohibited nonnative wildlife kept in captivity. In Chapter 68-5, F.A.C., locked will be defined “as fastened or secured by a device operated by a key, combination lock, key card, or other locking device.”
Changes to Chapter 68-5.007, F.A.C.- Possession of Prohibited Non-Native Species
Current rule states, green iguanas possessed by permittees must be maintained in cages or other confinement facilities that prevent escape. Outdoor enclosures housing green iguanas must be topped with close-meshed wire or equivalent barrier and equipped with a double-doored safety entrance. The floor of the outdoor enclosure must be constructed with concrete or masonry block of at least two (2) inches in thickness. The sides of the enclosure must be at least four (4) feet in height, and eight (8) inches in thickness.
The rule changes will add alternative outdoor caging options for permittees in possession of green iguanas in addition to the outdoor caging requirements currently listed in Chapter 68-5.007, F.A.C. Alternative options include:
- The allowance of the floor to be constructed with concrete or masonry blocks that are 1.5 inches in thickness. Floor must have proper drainage and prevent escape.
- Floor, sides, and top of outdoor enclosures can be constructed of metal one-quarter (¼) inch by one-quarter inch (¼) inch closed-mesh wire.
- If flooring material is not used, a permittee can utilize a natural floor with a dig barrier that has a depth of at least two (2) feet. Depth must be verifiable during construction and inspection.
- Materials used for enclosure sides, top, and flooring must be securely fastened to all connecting walls and the enclosure must have a constructed frame to provide structural integrity
- Outdoor enclosures must be equipped with a double-door safety entrance OR in lieu of a double-door safety entrance, the primary enclosure may be housed within a secondary containment and constructed with the requirements outlined in the alternative outdoor caging options and upon effective date.
- Additionally, exhibition and research facilities in long-term or permanent possession of green iguanas that have a snout-vent length longer than nine (9) inches can be kept in an outdoor enclosure constructed of metal one (1) inch by three (3) inch closed-mesh wire.
Currently, Prohibited materials for outdoor enclosure construction include lumber byproducts such as oriented strand board (OSB), medium density fiberboard (MDF), and melamine.
The rule changes will add diamond mesh lath to the prohibited materials list. These materials cannot be used for enclosure construction.
The rule changes will create new rules specifically for collection and transport of live, wild-caught green iguanas, including:
Collection
- All wild-caught green iguanas must be maintained in collection containers throughout the duration of field collection activities by the sales or eradication permittee(s). The collection containers may include, but are not limited to, cloth sacks, buckets, or traps. Collection containers must be secure and escape proof.
- Wild-caught green iguanas of varying sizes may be kept in the same collection container.
Transport
- Following the completion of collection activities, prior to transportation via a vehicle, vessel, or other motorized device, the permittee will be required to transfer all closed and sealed collection containers into a secure, locked transport container labeled “Prohibited Reptiles”. Once transport has begun, collection containers must remain closed or sealed until collector arrives at a permitted facility where the green iguanas will be temporarily housed prior to sales out-of-state or humanely killed.
Currently, permitted entities transporting live Prohibited reptile species can transport only after the placement of the Prohibited reptiles(s) in a closely woven, double-seam sewn, cloth sack. This cloth sack must be placed in a second cloth sack of similar construction, and placed in a secure, locked container. Said containers must be prominently labeled “Prohibited Reptiles.”
The rule change will add clarification to the transportation requirements for Prohibited reptiles stating that cloth sacks containing Prohibited reptile(s) must be tied or sealed shut.
Current rule states that no later than 24 hours prior to the National Weather Center’s projected onset of hurricane-force winds of Category 3 or greater, all Prohibited reptiles must be placed individually in a closely woven, double-seam sewn, cloth sack. This cloth sack is then placed in a second cloth sack of similar construction, which is placed in a secure, locked container. Persons authorized to possess Prohibited reptiles shall report their critical incident preparation status to their local FWC Captive Wildlife Investigator prior to the onset of critical conditions.
The rule changes will add multiple points of clarification to the current rule that includes:
- Closely woven, double-seam sewn, cloth sack containing Prohibited reptiles must be tied or sealed shut
- Once the Prohibited reptiles(s) are double bagged, they should be moved indoors or moved temporarily out of the projected path of the storm to a safe and secure location that prevents escape
- Commercial Use of Tegus and/or Green Iguana and Eradication and Control of Nonnative Species permittees in possession of live wild-caught green iguanas have the option to humanely kill these animals at any time
- Permittees must communicate their emergency preparedness plans to their local Captive Wildlife Investigator
Frequently Asked Questions
A mobile or rolling enclosure would not be compliant with the outdoor caging requirements currently outlined in rule or as part of the approved rule changes. A mobile or rolling enclosure would violate the transport requirements and outdoor caging requirement of a double-door safety entrance, or a primary enclosure within a secondary containment. In both cases, the double-doored safety entrance or secondary containment would need to be constructed to provide appropriate biosecurity to prevent escape from an outdoor enclosure.
The FWC received feedback from our Nonnative Fish and Wildlife Technical Assistance Group members representing large zoos and small exhibitors’ interests requesting an allowance for a larger metal closed-mesh wire mesh size to ensure adequate viewing ability of their exhibited green iguanas. Permitted exhibition facilities or research permittees who are in long-term or permanent possession of green iguanas with a snout-vent length longer than nine (9) inches can use a metal closed-mesh wire of one (1) inch by three (3) inches. Additionally, these facilities typically possess larger animals in low volumes, as opposed to sales permittees who may collect high volumes of various sizes of green iguanas.
A double-doored safety entrance is a protected, escape proof area that can be entered by a keeper and prevents escape. Safety entrances are constructed so that one door can be fully closed before the second door is opened. The enclosure can only be accessed through the safety entrance and only one door can be opened at a time when the keeper is entering or exiting the enclosure.
In lieu of a double-doored safety entrance, a primary enclosure may be housed within a larger secondary enclosure (essentially a smaller enclosure inside of a larger enclosure) that would be constructed with the outdoor caging requirements outlined in the approved rule changes and upon effective date and/or requirements listed currently in Chapter 68-5.007, F.A.C. The primary enclosure must be constructed of metal one-quarter (1/4) inch by one-quarter (1/4) inch closed-mesh wire. Secondary containment must be entered by a keeper in a manner that prevents escape of green iguanas. The secondary enclosure must be constructed so that the entrance can be fully closed before the door of the primary enclosure is opened.
The rule changes will require permittees housing green iguanas to utilize either a dig barrier or construct a floor in the outdoor enclosure. If the permittee is not utilizing a dig barrier, the floor of the outdoor enclosure must be constructed in accordance with the flooring requirements outlined currently in Chapter 68-5.007, F.A.C. or the alternative outdoor caging requirements outlines in the approved rule changes to Chapter 68-5.007, F.A.C. and upon effective date. The rule change will not require both construction options to be utilized. However, using a dig barrier with the addition of a constructed floor may increase biosecurity.
If using a dig barrier, depth can be verified through photographs during construction and during on-site inspections by FWC Law Enforcement.
Yes, permittees constructing outdoor enclosures housing green iguanas can still use outdoor caging and biosecurity requirements currently listed in Chapter 68-5.007,F.A.C. Upon effective date, the rule changes will offer alternative outdoor caging options for permittees in possession of live green iguanas.
The rule changes will require permittees who have an outdoor enclosure housing green iguanas with a mesh size larger than one-quarter (¼) inch by one-quarter (¼) inch to replace the current closed-mesh wire with a metal closed-mesh wire that has a mesh size of one-quarter (¼) inch by one-quarter (¼) inch. Alternatively, the permittee could add an additional layer of metal closed-mesh wire with a compliant mesh size to any area or surface that has a mesh size larger than one-quarter (¼) inch by one-quarter (¼) inch.
The rule changes regarding alternative outdoor caging options will only apply to permittees housing live green iguanas.
The rule change would require that outdoor enclosures constructed using the alternative outdoor caging requirements for green iguanas be constructed with a sturdy frame that provides structural integrity and prevents escape. Materials used for enclosure sides, top, and flooring must be securely fastened to all connecting walls.
The rule changes will require any permittee housing green iguanas in an outdoor enclosure to construct the floors, walls, and the top of your enclosure with specifications currently outlined in Chapter 68-5.007, F.A.C. or using the alternative outdoor caging specifications outlined in the approved rule change and upon effective date.
No, the rule change will not require a specified gauge size requirement for metal closed-mesh wire. However, permittees must follow the metal closed-mesh wire mesh size requirement outlined in the rule change.
Upon effective date, if using metal closed-mesh wire, the rule change will require a mesh size of one-quarter (¼) inch by one-quarter (¼) inch be used regardless of the size of the green iguana(s) housed in an outdoor enclosure. However, an exception is made for permitted exhibition facilities or research permittees, who are in long-term or permanent possession of green iguanas with a snout-vent length longer than nine (9) inches. These permitted facilities or permittees can use a metal one (1) inch by three (3) inch closed-mesh wire.
A double-doored entrance is a protected, escape-proof area that can be entered by a keeper and prevents escape of Prohibited reptiles.
Multiple green iguanas can be placed inside the same collection container.
Upon effective date, the rule change will establish collection and transport requirements for live, wild-caught green iguanas and would only apply to wild-caught green iguanas collected from the field.
We have additional information and FAQ pages set up for the following topics:
2025 Rules Changes for Green Iguanas and Tegus
If you still have questions, you can reach us at:
NonnativeSpeciesRules@MyFWC.com or NonnativePermitApps@MyFWC.com