You Need a Permit for Collecting Fossils in Florida

On May 17, 2021
By Kimberly

Get Your Permit – Stay Legal While Hunting Fossils in Florida

If you think you might want to collect a few fossils while in Florida, make sure you apply for and receive your Florida Fossil Permit in advance.

However, it’s not necessary for collecting shark teeth.

Permit Applications

Florida Fossil Permits are $5 a year.

Here is the link: Florida Fossil Permit Application and Permit.

They do ask that you send an annual report of your finds.

Prohibited Actions

Even when you hold a Florida Fossil Permit, you are prohibited from destroying, defacing, buying or selling of vertebrate fossils found on or under land owned or leased by the state and on land in state-designated vertebrate paleontological sites.

Your Responsibilities When Collecting

The permittee must abide by all the provisions contained in Florida Statutes § 1004.575-576 and the University of Florida Regulation implementing this law.

This means allowing accredited institutions the option for temporary or permanent loan of the fossils you find under permission of your Florida Fossil Permit so they can study, display, or curate them.

*Photos of collections that are located at the Venice Dive Center and Florida West Scuba and Charters.

Fines and Charges

Participating in any of the prohibited actions without first obtaining a Florida Fossil Permit is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of no more than $500 or six month and under imprisonment in the county jail, and the fossil will be confiscated.

Submitting Images of Your Finds

The Florida Museum would like to see digital images of your fossil finds, and, in return, they will identify them! Hooray!

You can even post photos of your fossils on your website, and email them the address! Mailing specimens is also allowed, and they will be returned.

Great Resources

Best of all, there’s a large section on The Florida Museum’s website about preserving fossils! Removing deposits, preparation, conservation – it’s all covered here, and from the experts. It’s a whole book’s worth of information.

Just having access to this information is worth the $5 a year the Florida Fossil Permit will cost you.

Doing the Right Thing Even When No One Is Watching

While some people might tell you there’s no enforcement, or that no one bothers; it’s still a good idea to apply for and receive your Florida Fossil Permit. My dive partner Bill has no interest in collecting bones, so he doesn’t maintain a permit. I do, so I do.

First of all, it’s the law. That’s enough for me. Secondly, our natural resources are not infinite, and what’s out there doesn’t really belong to me; it belongs to all of us. So, it’s best to be responsible and “do it right.”

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Stream2Sea Reef Safe SPF 20 or 30 mineral, regular or tinted sunscreen, mask defog, shampoo, conditioner, rash guards and more reef-safe supplies. Use my code “DeepWH” for 10% off. The packages are biodegradeable – not just recycled and recyclable.
MyMedic Individual Bleeding Control Kits, this link and my code “DeepWH15” will save you 15% on your purchase. We take ours everywhere.
Girls That Scuba – members discount card for all things diving.
REI Co-op for great sports equipment and travel clothes.
Dazer Ii Ultrasonic Aggressive Dog Deterrent Repeller Dazzer – keeping dogs at bay while we cycle.
Guardline Security Wireless Driveway Alarm – alerts us when someone approaches. Less expensive directly from the company.
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