Commercial Sellers
IMPORTANT DATES FOR RULE CHANGES TO CHAPTER 68-5, F.A.C.
Effective date: : April 29, 2021
The 90-day grace period to apply for a permit, upgrade indoor caging, and have any qualifying animals PIT tagged ended: July 28, 2021
The 180-day grace period to upgrade outdoor caging requirements for Prohibited reptile species ended: October 26, 2021
Persons or businesses in possession of the recently listed Prohibited reptiles for commercial sale use had until July 28, 2021 to liquidate their inventory in Florida. These species may not be possessed for commercial sale purposes in Florida after July 28, 2021, except green iguanas or tegus possessed by qualifying entities under a limited exception commercial use permit.
To qualify as a commercial seller of green iguanas or tegus, a licensee must have had a valid License to Possess Class III Wildlife for Exhibition or Public Sale (ESC) on June 30, 2020, and documented possession or planned possession of green iguanas or tegus on their 2018 or 2019 ESC application. Importation of the recently listed Prohibited reptiles is no longer allowed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Qualifying facilities may apply for a permit to possess tegus and/or green iguanas for commercial sales under the limited exception in 68-5.007, F.A.C. To qualify, a licensee must have had a valid License to Possess Class III Wildlife for Exhibition or Public Sale (ESC) on June 30, 2020, and documented possession or planned possession of green iguanas or tegus on their 2018 or 2019 ESC application. Commercial sellers who did not qualify for this exception, had until July 28, 2021 to liquidate their commercial stock.
No. Tegus and green iguanas may not be imported into Florida either domestically or internationally for commercial sale by commercial sellers with a limited exception commercial use permit.
Limited exception commercial sales permittees may continue breeding tegus and green iguanas until June 30, 2024. No breeding of these species may occur after June 30, 2024.
To qualify for a limited exception commercial sales permit, a licensee must have had a valid License to Possess Class III Wildlife for Exhibition or Public Sale (ESC) on June 30, 2020, and documented possession or planned possession of green iguanas or tegus on their 2018 or 2019 ESC application. If you believe you meet the qualifications for the limited exception commercial sales permit but have not been included in the list of qualifying entities, please reach out to our staff at NonnativePermitApps@MyFWC.com.
No. Under the rules, green iguanas and tegus may not be bred or reared outdoors. Only green iguanas or tegus that have been marked with a PIT tag can be maintained in outdoor enclosures that meet the caging requirements in Rule 68-5.007, F.A.C.
Yes. Green iguanas and tegus that have been marked with a PIT tag may be maintained in outdoor enclosures that meet the requirements in 68-5.007, F.A.C. Permitted entities had until October 26, 2021 to bring any outdoor enclosures into compliance with the caging rules.
Yes. Stricter caging and biosecurity measures have been put in 68-5.007, F.A.C. for indoor cages. Facilities had until July 28, 2021 to come into compliance with the requirements.
No. The following nonnative reptiles have not been allowed to be kept as pets in Florida since 2010:
- Burmese or Indian python (Python molurus)
- Reticulated python (Python reticulatus)
- Scrub python (Morelia kinghorni)
- Amethystine python (Morelia amethistinus)
- Northern African python (Python sebae)
- Southern African python (Python natalensis)
- Green anaconda (Eunectes murinus)
- Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus)
Any entities authorized to keep these species for commercial sale prior to April 29, 2021 are no longer be able to conduct commercial sale activity with their animals. People in possession of these species for that use will had until July 28th, 2021 to liquidate their inventories. Commercial sale is not authorized after July 28, 2021.
Yes. Any entities with a limited exception commercial sales permit must PIT tag any green iguanas or tegus before they are sold.
All green iguanas and tegus over 5 inches in snout-to-vent length must be PIT tagged. Any juvenile tegus or green iguanas that are not PIT tagged may not be housed in outdoor enclosures. Prohibited reptiles may only be housed in outdoor enclosures if they have been marked with a PIT tag.
Yes. Entities with a valid limited exception commercial sales permit for tegus or green iguanas can sell tegus or green iguanas removed from the wild. Entities wishing to conduct this activity must also obtain and maintain a valid eradication or control permit.
No. People in possession of these animals could sell or rehome the recently listed Prohibited species until April 29, 2021. After April 29, 2021, people in possession of these animals had until July 28, 2021 to liquidate their commercial stock.
Eradication and control permit holders that also have a valid limited exception commercial sales permit may sell wild caught green iguanas and tegus to other limited exception commercial sales permittees for sale out of state. It is unlawful to buy, sell, or transfer any Prohibited species to or from any person or business that is not permitted to possess them.
FWC personnel may conduct scheduled or unannounced inspections of the location where the animal(s) is being held. Inspections may occur before or after a permit is issued.
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