North Port, FL Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- ULDC § 6.4.2
- Authorization required from
- U.S. FWS or Florida FWC
- Default response
- Avoidance of take recommended
- Species covered
- 17 listed threatened/endangered bird species
Summary
North Port requires developers to avoid harming endangered and threatened bird species like the crested caracara and snowy plover, with ULDC Administrator review and possible federal or state permits before construction can proceed.
A. Pursuant to 68A-27.003(a), Florida Administrative Code, no person shall take, possess, or sell any of the endangered or threatened bird species included in this subsection, or parts thereof or their nests, eggs, or young is permitted without proper authorization by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) or the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) as applicable.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of the City: Supplement 65 | Unified Land Development Code: Supplement 22).
Full Breakdown
North Port's Unified Land Development Code bars anyone from taking, possessing, or selling any of seventeen state- or federally-listed threatened or endangered bird species named in the code -- including the crested caracara, Florida scrub-jay, snowy plover, and red-cockaded woodpecker -- without authorization from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. When a site environmental assessment or city Natural Resources Division inspection finds one of these species present, the ULDC Administrator's default recommendation is avoidance of take, and federal or state permits must be secured before development can proceed.
Violations & Fines
Violating the take, possession, or sale prohibition without FWS or FWC authorization can trigger federal Endangered Species Act penalties and state wildlife-code enforcement, plus denial or delay of city development approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does North Port regulate bird protection separately from state law?
Which birds are protected under North Port's code?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in North Port
Florida rules heatmap·Compare North Port to another location·View the Florida animal ordinances overview
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Bird Protection in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sarasota County handle bird protection.