Gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) are a state-protected species in Florida. Their burrows are common across Florida Gulf Coast scrub, palmetto, and pine flatwood lots — and clearing land with active burrows without the proper paperwork is a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) violation. Fines are real and not minor.
Step 1 — Survey before any clearing
Before any clearing starts, a qualified surveyor walks the parcel and documents any active or potentially active burrows. Most Florida Gulf Coast lots in scrub or palmetto habitat have some — we don't assume otherwise.
Step 2 — FWC permit + relocation
If burrows are present, an FWC relocation permit is required. Permitted relocation moves the tortoises to an approved recipient site, supervised by a qualified agent. This is the step that adds time — typically several weeks from application to clearance to clear.
Step 3 — Authorized clearing
Once the FWC clearance is in hand, clearing proceeds. The relocation report and the FWC clearance close out the file.
Why this matters for your project budget and schedule
Clearing a Florida Gulf Coast lot without screening for tortoises is the kind of mistake that gets a project shut down mid-job, with FWC penalties on top. Building the survey into the front of the schedule is cheaper and faster than fixing it later.
How we handle it
On every land-clearing job in suitable habitat, we screen for burrows up front and walk you through the FWC step before we quote a schedule. If burrows are present, we coordinate the survey and the relocation as part of the scope. You're not running that paperwork yourself, and you're not exposed to the fine.
Brookins Site Development handles the paperwork as part of the scope. You don't run permits, surveys, or notices yourself.