Herptile Permits

​Section 885.15 Purpose: to govern the taking, acquisition, possession, transport, disposition and commercial use of herptiles defined and specified in the Act, the issuance of those permits, and reporting requirements.

• Administrative Rule 17-885
• Herptile Code Permit Application

A Herpetoculture Permit (HRHN) is required of any persons wishing to:

• be exempt from his or her possession limits for non-listed native herptile taxa, regardless of whether the permit holder only possesses, or also breeds or commercializes;
• commercialize any non-listed native herptile taxa that have not originated from the wild in Illinois;
• breed (either intentionally or unintentionally) any non-listed native herptile taxa.
• Residents seeking to obtain a Herpetoculture Permit must submit an application form, provided by the Department, along with a non-refundable annual fee of $50.

An Endangered/Threatened Species Propagation Permit (HETP) is required of any persons wishing to:

• Acquire or possess, for the purpose of propagation, any State or federally endangered/threatened herptiles that have been legally obtained;
• Propagate/breed (either intentionally or unintentionally) any State or federally endangered/threatened herptiles;
• Commercialize any State or federally endangered/threatened herptiles that result from captive propagation efforts;
• Residents seeking to obtain an E/T Species Propagation Permit must already have a current IDNR E/T possession permit, submit an application form provided by the Department, and pay a non-refundable annual fee of $150 per permittee.

A Herptile Special Use Permit (HSUR) is required of any resident who:

• commits to conducting at least 6 educational programs per calendar year for which he or she is seeking to possess any venomous reptile or other special use herptile species, including, but not limited to, any crocodilian, Komodo dragon, or crocodile monitor lizard.
• The non-refundable annual fee for a residential Herptile Special Use Permit shall be $250 per permittee.
   

A Limited Entry (Nonresident) Herpetoculture Permits (HLEH) - Nonresidents seeking to transport, ship, display or commercialize legally obtained Illinois native herptiles through or within the State must apply for a Limited Entry Herpetoculture Permit.

• The permit shall be valid for a specified period that does not exceed 15 consecutive days.
• The nonrefundable fee for the Limited Entry Permit is $25.

A Limited Entry (Nonresident) Special Use Herptile Permits (HSUL) - Nonresidents seeking to transport, ship or display venomous or other special use herptiles through or within the State must apply for a Limited Entry Special Use Herptile Permit.

• The permit shall be valid for a specified period that does not exceed 15 consecutive days.
• The nonrefundable fee for the Limited Entry Permit is $25.

Instructions:

• Fill out the appropriate Herptile application section and email it to scott.ballard@illinois.gov.

To pay the permit fee:

• You can make a one-time electronic payment using your debit or credit card at Herptile Permit Payments. Select the Office of Resource Conservation as the category and Herptile Permits as the payment type.
• Or you can mail a paper check to Ana Tooley, IDNR 1027 South Division Street, Carterville, IL 62918.

When your permit is approved, authorized, and signed, we will email you a pdf of the permit and mail you the paper version. Once you have a permit you are required to fill out the Herptile Code Permit Annual Reporting Form.

If you have any questions about Herptiles or the Permits, email scott.ballard@illinois.gov.