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Gopher Tortoise Help
for Homeowners

Pools, lanais, sheds, septic, driveways, fences — what the burrow in your yard means for your project, in plain English.

🏛️ FWC Authorized Agent
📏 We Measure the 25-Foot Rule
💬 Free Straight Answers by Phone
💲 Survey $350
Quick answer: A gopher tortoise in your yard only becomes a project when construction would come within 25 feet of its burrow. Outside that buffer: build freely. Inside it: the tortoise needs an FWC-permitted relocation first — we survey ($350), get the permit, and relocate (from $1,400). Never move one yourself. Call 941-315-2772.

The One Rule That Decides Everything

Gopher tortoises are a state-threatened species, and FWC protects a 25-foot radius around every burrow entrance. You don't need permission to share your yard with a tortoise — thousands of SWFL homeowners do. You need an FWC permit only when work (digging, equipment, material piles, grade changes) would intrude on that circle.

Your Project vs. the Burrow

ProjectWhat Usually Triggers a Permit
PoolThe dig itself, the excavator's path, and the spoil pile — pools eat yard space, so burrows in back yards conflict often
Lanai / additionFooter excavation and slab prep within 25 feet of a burrow
Shed / detached garagePad grading and delivery-truck access through the buffer
Septic systemTank and drainfield excavation — drainfields are large; check the whole footprint
DrivewayCutting or widening within the buffer, including base compaction
FenceUsually fine — unless the line or equipment crosses within 25 feet of a burrow
Land clearingAny mechanical clearing of a lot with burrows — this is the big one; never clear before surveying

What "Handled" Looks Like

  1. Survey ($350/quarter acre) — we GPS-map every burrow and measure against your project footprint. Sometimes the answer is "you're 30 feet clear, build your pool" — and that's the whole engagement.
  2. Permit — if there's a conflict, we file the FWC permit (typically the 10 or Fewer Burrows type for homeowners) and manage the 2–6 week review.
  3. Relocation (from $1,400, permit included) — on-site to an undisturbed part of your own lot when it qualifies, or off-site to a recipient conservation site when required (waterfront/canal lots always go off-site: +$5,000/tortoise to the site).

Wondering about the burrow itself — active vs. abandoned, tortoise vs. armadillo? See our burrow identification guide.

Homeowner FAQs

There's a gopher tortoise burrow in my yard. Do I have to do anything?
If you're not building anything near it — no. You can leave it alone and enjoy the neighbor; there's no obligation to remove a tortoise. Rules kick in only when construction or ground disturbance would come within 25 feet of the burrow.
Can I move a gopher tortoise myself?
No — not without FWC authorization. Handling a tortoise or disturbing its burrow without a permit violates state law, even if you're 'rescuing' it to the woods next door. (Under a 10 or Fewer Burrows permit, FWC does let property owners who complete its e-learning handle certain relocations themselves — but the permit still comes first. Most owners have us do the whole thing.)
Can I build a pool if there's a burrow in my yard?
Yes — the only question is sequence. If the dig, equipment path, and spoil pile all stay 25+ feet from the burrow, build away. If not, the tortoise needs an FWC-permitted relocation first ($1,400 including the permit, after a $350 survey). We measure and tell you which case you're in.
Does a shed or fence need a gopher tortoise permit?
Same 25-foot test. A fence line that passes 25+ feet from every burrow needs nothing. A shed pad, septic drainfield, or driveway cut inside the buffer requires the burrow resolved under permit first. Post-hole-only work near (not on) a burrow is often fine — ask us before you dig.
How much does it cost to have a tortoise removed from my property?
Survey first: $350 for a quarter-acre lot. If relocation is needed: $1,400 (up to 2 tortoises, FWC permit application included). If your lot borders a canal or has no suitable habitat, off-site relocation adds $5,000 per tortoise paid to the recipient conservation site — we quote everything before you commit.
What if I accidentally collapsed a burrow mowing or grading?
Stop work in that area and call an FWC Authorized Agent (us: 941-315-2772). Tortoises can dig out of minor collapses, but a burrow buried by grading is an emergency for the animal and a legal problem for you. Fast engagement of an authorized agent is both the right thing and the best protection.
Will the tortoise survive being relocated?
Relocation under FWC rules is designed for exactly that — tortoises go to qualifying habitat (on your own land where possible, or a managed recipient conservation site), with temperature and handling protocols that protect the animal. It's a far better outcome than the alternative people attempt: 'moving it down the road,' which usually kills the tortoise as it tries to walk home.

Not Sure What Your Yard Needs?

Send a photo of the burrow and your project plan — we'll tell you honestly if you even need us.

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