Florida Bird Laws
Potential and current vendors, please review these pages to become familiar with Vivid Bird Show’s rules and show schedule, and also to review State and local laws and requirements. You may also register for tables using our online form or contact a Vendor Coordinator at the Booking Office.
Bookings Office Hours:
10:00am-4:00pm EST
Monday–Friday
407- 734-EXPO
Florida Rules & Information
These Rules & Information are provided as a convenience to Vivid Bird Show vendors and exhibitors, and may not be comprehensive for every animal. Each vendor is responsible for researching and complying with all current laws regarding their animals.
Birds and Other Animals
Florida Vendors selling birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles require a Class III Wildlife for Exhibition or Public Sale permit. This $50 permit Authorizes any person, firm, corporation, or association to possess specific wildlife for exhibition or public sale.
No migratory Birds can be sold. Java Finches and Java sparrows are a prohibited species, so those would not be allowed.
Exemptions (you may not need this permit if you fall into these categories)
- FWC Employee performing assigned duties
- Any employee of the commission who takes freshwater fish, saltwater fish, or game as part of employment with the commission, or any other person authorized by commission permit to take freshwater fish, saltwater fish, or game for scientific or educational purposes
- Ostrich, Cassowary, Rhea, Emu Farm
- Persons possessing ostrich, cassowary, rhea, and emu exclusively for the meat, skin or hides, feathers or progeny, and not for personal possession or public display or exhibition.
- Ostrich, Emu, Rhea & Bison Farms
- Commercial ostrich, emu, rhea, and bison farming operations (exemption does not apply to hunting preserves or game farms or animals kept primarily for exhibition in zoos, carnivals circuses or for display to the public).
- Publicly Owned Wildlife Exhibits
- Any municipal, county, state, or other publicly owned wildlife exhibit.
Research Facility (Animal Welfare Act)
Any entity operating solely as a research facility, which is registered and regulated in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2131, et. seq.) and regulations authorized under the Act.
Traveling Zoo, Circus, or Exhibit
Any traveling zoo, circus, or exhibit licensed as provided by chapter 205, Florida Statutes.
Wildlife Listed in 68A-6.0022(3)
Dealers whose sales are limited to poultry, hamsters, guinea pigs, domestic rats and mice, or chameleons (Anolis) only.
Permit application and all other info, can be found at:
https://myfwc.com/license/captive-wildlife/
https://myfwc.com/media/1084/cw-class3exhibitionorpublicsale.pdf
or contact Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, for
Licensing and Permitting – 850-488-6253
For USDA, Main office # – 919-855-7100, fax: 919-855-7100
How to Apply for this License
Captive Wildlife Critical Incident - Disaster Plan Form
License to Possess Class III Wildlife for Exhibition or Public Sale
Authorities for this License
379.211 Florida Statutes
379.3761 Florida Statutes
68-1.010 Florida Administrative Code
68A-24.002 Florida Administrative Code
68A-25.002 Florida Administrative Code
68A-6.0011 Florida Administrative Code
68A-6.002 Florida Administrative Code
68A-6.0022 Florida Administrative Code
68A-9.002 Florida Administrative Code
68A-9.006 (4)(a)2. Florida Administrative Code
Temporary Possession, Transportation or Importation - Captive Wildlife Permit
Authorizes the importation and/or temporary possession of wildlife that requires a license or permit for possession in Florida. Temporary permits are generally valid for 45 days.
Cost: $0.00
For Additional Information
Exemptions (you may not need this permit if you fall into these categories)
- Aquaculture - Turtles
- An individual transporting more than one turtle who possesses an aquaculture certificate from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The aquaculture certificate will not cover harvest of wild fish or organisms.
- FWC Employee performing assigned duties
- Any employee of the commission who takes freshwater fish, saltwater fish, or game as part of employment with the commission, or any other person authorized by commission permit to take freshwater fish, saltwater fish, or game for scientific or educational purposes
- Nuisance Wildlife to be Euthanized
- Live captured nuisance wildlife transported under authority of 68A-9.010, F.A.C., may be done only for the purpose of euthanizing the nuisance wildlife.
- Ostrich, Cassowary, Rhea, Emu Farm
- Persons possessing ostrich, cassowary, rhea, and emu exclusively for the meat, skin or hides, feathers or progeny, and not for personal possession or public display or exhibition.
- Proof of Purchase - Turtles
- Any person who can show documentation proving that the turtles were not taken from the wild (receipt from pet store, etc.).
- Research Facility (Animal Welfare Act)
- Any entity operating solely as a research facility, which is registered and regulated in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2131, et. seq.) and regulations authorized under the Act.
- Wildlife for Exhibition & Sale Permit
- Any entity exhibiting or selling wildlife as authorized by the required permits.
How to Apply for this License Captive Wildlife Application and Permit (temporary)
Authorities for this License
379.231 Florida Statutes
68-1.010 Florida Administrative Code
68A-24.002 Florida Administrative Code
68A-25.002 (6) Florida Administrative Code
68A-6.0011 Florida Administrative Code
68A-6.002 Florida Administrative Code
68A-6.0022 Florida Administrative Code
68A-9.002 Florida Administrative Code
68A-9.010 Florida Administrative Code
Conditional, Prohibited, and Nonnative Species Permit
Authorizes researchers and public exhibitors to import and possess conditional and prohibited species; authorizes commercial dealers involved in import/export to import and possess conditional species; authorizes individuals to collect nonnative species from FWC managed lands for the purposes of research, public exhibition or commercial sales. Also authorizes the release of nonnative species for research purposes and the importation of African tortoises.
Cost: $0.00
For Additional Information
Exemptions (you may not need this permit if you fall into these categories)
- Aquaculture - Conditional Species
- A person engaged in aquaculture who possesses a valid certificate of registration from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and who is authorized to possess conditional nonnative species in accordance with Ch. 597, F.S. The aquaculture certificate will not cover harvest of wild fish or organisms.
- Resident Freshwater Fish Dealer
- Anyone who holds a Resident Fish Dealers License.
How to Apply for this License Conditional, Prohibited or Nonnative Species
Authorities for this License
379.28 Florida Statutes
379.363 Florida Statutes
379.372 Florida Statutes
68-1.010 Florida Administrative Code
68-5.001 (3)(4)&(6) Florida Administrative Code
68-5.002 Florida Administrative Code
68-5.003 Florida Administrative Code
Promote current deal
Mobile Exhibition
Any vendor who is applying for or renewing their Class III Permit and plans to vend at shows in FL, needs to submit an itinerary that tells FWC where and when they plan on doing a Mobile Exhibition.
The rule for needing the calendar itinerary is 68A-6.005 (Transportation Requirements for Wildlife; Caging Requirements for Performing and Non-Performing Animals) and can be found at www.FLrules.org. Vendors just need to write a letter including their name and business name (whichever is on their Class III Permit) and list the show dates and venue addresses where they plan on vending. That letter may be faxed or mailed in anytime before the show. Vendors can send a fax right up until the show, but it is recommended no later than about 1-2 days before a show for fax and a week beforehand for mail.
The fax # is: 850-921-6283.
It should be labeled Att: Captive Wildlife Office.
Mailing address is:
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Division of Law Enforcement, Captive Wildlife Office
620 South Meridian Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600
*Note: Any vendors traveling from out-of-state with non-native species are required to have an Transport/Import Permit. The Transport/Import permit is free and needs to be applied for at least 2 weeks in advance.
There is no cost for this permit – it is free!
Follow this link to fill out the form and send it in: http://www.myfwc.com/license/captive-wildlife/transport-import/