Boca Raton Repeals Its Iguana Feeding Ban: What Homeowners Should Know

Featured image: concept illustration of a Boca Raton-style canal setting, not a photograph of a particular property.

Boca Raton's City Council voted 4-1 on October 13 to adopt Ordinance 5809, repealing its rule against feeding iguanas, pigeons, rats and mice. The official meeting recording identifies the repeal item and records the roll-call result. The ordinance's text says it takes effect immediately upon adoption. For a homeowner, that changes a city enforcement tool, not the wildlife problem on a seawall or in a yard.

What happened

Back in August, the council passed a rule that made it a violation to feed four kinds of nuisance animals: iguanas, pigeons, rats and mice. A separate resolution set a minimum civil penalty of $100 for a violation. The vote was close, 3 to 2.

The rule had limits. Bird feeders were still allowed, and feral cats were left out of it entirely.

According to Boca Raton Magazine, the whole thing grew out of a dispute between two neighbors. One was feeding pigeons, and the other said the birds were damaging his property.

Councilmember Stacy Sipple, who voted for the August rule, requested reconsideration. The city manager's September 15 memo said she would vote differently based on information learned after adoption. The memo did not identify that information.

The repeal is now adopted, not merely proposed. The official October 13 council recording shows the motion to adopt Ordinance 5809 and a 4-1 vote. A proposed amendment to remove only pigeons failed for lack of a second before the council adopted the full repeal.

What it means for Boca Raton homeowners

For most of us, nothing changes day to day. You were never fined for having a bird feeder, and you still won't be.

The change matters if a nearby property's feeding practices attract these animals. The repealed Section 5-4 is no longer the city rule to point to. Other applicable rules, association documents and property-specific facts still need their own review. A conversation with a neighbor and prevention on your own lot may help, but this is not a complete list of legal options.

It also matters for sellers. Here's how I see it: wildlife problems are property problems. Droppings on a pool deck, chewed landscaping or a cracked seawall are things buyers notice when they walk a home. If you are getting ready to list, take a hard look at your yard and waterfront with a buyer's eyes.

Local context the headline leaves out

Iguanas are the big one in our area, and they are more than a nuisance. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, green iguanas are non-native and invasive, and they can damage seawalls, sidewalks and landscaping. They also dig long burrows.

Here is what homeowners should know about iguanas specifically, from the FWC's current green iguana guidance:

They are not protected in Florida, except by the state's anti-cruelty law.

They can be humanely killed on private property with the landowner's permission. FWC says they can be captured and humanely killed year-round without a permit or hunting license on 32 public lands in South Florida. Possessing live captured green iguanas for eradication and control requires a permit. If you cannot safely remove one, seek a professional nuisance wildlife trapper.

Since April 2021, green iguanas are on Florida's Prohibited species list, so catching one and releasing it somewhere else is not allowed.

The council's repeal does not change Florida's rules for green iguanas. If you cannot safely remove them, seek a professional nuisance wildlife trapper. Check any association rules separately; a city repeal does not rewrite an HOA's documents.

If you are in a community with an HOA, check your rules. Some associations have their own language on feeding wildlife, and that does not depend on the city.

My take

Here's how I see it: a city rule that started with one neighbor dispute was always going to be a tough fit for a whole city of homeowners. But the underlying problem is real. Iguana damage to a seawall or a sidewalk is not cheap to fix, and pigeon droppings are not anyone's idea of curb appeal.

So don't wait on City Hall. Walk your property this week. Look at your seawall, your walkways, your roofline and your pool area. Small repairs now are a lot easier than surprises during a home inspection later.

The vote result and what still needs a check

The October 13 vote is complete: Ordinance 5809 passed 4-1. The adopted text removes the feeding prohibition and its direct-citation provision, and says the repeal is effective upon adoption.

The agenda package also included a companion proposal to remove the minimum $100 penalty set by Resolution 79-2026. This update verifies the ordinance vote, not a separate recorded vote on that companion resolution. Ask the city about any existing citation or case; do not assume the repeal cancels a past citation.

For your property, keep the practical work separate from the vote: inspect landscaping, walkways and seawalls, avoid feeding nuisance animals, and ask a qualified professional about damage or removal. The repeal is not a promise that an existing wildlife issue will go away.

Sources:
Boca Raton Magazine, "Boca City Council to Consider Repealing Nuisance Wildlife Ordinance," October 9, 2026
Boca Raton Magazine
City of Boca Raton, Notice of Public Hearing, Ordinance No. 5809 (repeal hearing, October 13, 2026, 10:00 a.m.)
City hearing notice
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Green Iguana species profile
FWC green iguana guidance

Wondering how wildlife damage, a seawall repair or a messy yard could affect what your Boca Raton home is worth? Be friendly. Homes by Cusi can help you understand the property details around a sale.
Call or text 561-289-9305, chris@homesbycusi.com
The Homes By Cusi Team, Keller Williams Realty Boca Raton

October 13 update, official sources: Council recording, Ordinance 5809
Agenda package and ordinance text