How FWC classifies iguanas
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) classifies the green iguana as a non-native, invasive species. In practice that means FWC does not protect them the way it protects native animals, and it generally encourages the public to remove iguanas from private property and to report sightings so the state can track their spread. Homeowners are typically allowed to remove them humanely on their own land year-round without a special permit.
The recurring principles
A few points come up again and again under FWC guidance, and they're the ones worth committing to memory before you deal with an iguana yourself.
- Humane treatment is required, invasive status notwithstanding.
- Live-captured iguanas generally cannot be relocated and released elsewhere.
- Captured animals are handled or dispatched by recognized humane methods.
- Rules for public lands and for commercial trappers are separate from homeowner rules.
- Guidance is updated over time, so 'current' matters more than what was true a few years ago.
Homeowner rules vs. everywhere else
The permissive homeowner framework applies to your own property. The moment you're on public land, a park, a preserve, a canal easement, or someone else's lot, you're into a different set of rules and permissions, and commercial operators may carry specific licensing for that work. FWC has also run contractor and public-lands removal programs over the years, but those aren't a homeowner bounty.
This is a general summary, not legal advice, and FWC's guidance does get revised. Check the current FWC iguana page or ask a pro who stays current on it before relying on any specific detail.
Common questions
Does FWC pay people to remove iguanas?
FWC has run contractor and public-lands programs over the years, but for a typical homeowner there's generally no bounty — you either remove them yourself under the homeowner rules or hire a company. Program details change, so check FWC's current page.
Are the rules different on public land?
Yes. Removing iguanas on public lands, parks, preserves, or someone else's property involves separate FWC rules and permissions and sometimes commercial licensing. The permissive homeowner rules apply to your own property, not everywhere.
Do I have to report iguanas to FWC before removing them?
No — reporting and removing are separate. FWC encourages reporting sightings to help statewide tracking, but you don't need to report before humanely removing iguanas from your own property. Reporting doesn't get a crew sent to your yard either.
