The Stuff That’s Illegal To Bring Into Florida

Plants You Can’t Bring When Moving to Florida

Believe it or not, there are actually several plants that Florida prohibits you from moving into the state. Illegal plants and seeds include:

• Non-native aquatic plants or seeds
• Citrus plants
• Dogwood plants
• Sugarcane
• Noxious weeds
• Any plant hosting boll weevils or fruit flies

Florida’s Department of Agriculture website provides additional information about pests and agricultural items to avoid, so check it before bringing any plant, seed, or tree into the state.

Why Can’t You Bring These Plants Into Florida?

Florida has a thriving citrus fruit industry. There are approximately 275,000 citrus groves in the state, but the number has dropped in recent years, due to hurricanes, infectious diseases, and citrus tree pests. It should be no surprise, then, that the state operates 23 agriculture inspection stations. Authorities at these stations work around the clock to keep plant pests and diseases (like the pests lurking in your sugarcane or non-native aquatic plants) from destroying Florida’s crops.

These inspection stations are located along the Georgia-Florida border and highways leading from the panhandle into the peninsula. If you are driving a rental truck, you're required by law to stop for inspection (although if you're in your own vehicle, you’re not required to stop).

But what about taking citrus fruit out of Florida? FDACS says citrus plants may leave Florida only if they are certified by the USDA and come from a nursery operating under FDACS compliance.

What About Fruit?

If you happen to have a tangerine in your vehicle for a snack as you drive, no problem! You can legally bring citrus fruits into Florida.

However, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services makes citrus tree entry more difficult. Citrus trees and their parts require a special permit from the Division Director. Non-native aquatic plants or seeds need a permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

And while your tangerine gets a free pass, your ficus tree does not. Household plants coming into Florida must be accompanied by a certificate of inspection. If your home state doesn’t offer this certification, you must give the DEP a Florida address where the plants will be located. The department can conduct a follow-up inspection if deemed necessary.

Check the interactive search tool on the FDACS website if you’re wondering whether your plants are legal. If you can’t find answers online, contact the Division of Plant Industry at 1-800-282-5153 or the Office of Agriculture Law Enforcement at (850) 922-6507. You can also stop and ask the inspection station about regulations if you’re worried about your truck's contents.

Can You Take Plants Out of Florida?

You can usually take common houseplants out of Florida, but it ultimately depends on what kind of plant it is and where you’re going. The biggest issue is whether the plant, soil, fruit, seeds, or pests could create a problem in the state or country you’re entering.

For a normal domestic move, check three things before packing plants: TSA rules if you’re flying, inspection rules if you’re driving, and plant-entry rules for your destination state.

Flying With Plants Out of Florida: TSA Rules

TSA allows plants in both carry-on and checked bags, so you can take plants from Florida on a plane and go through security with a potted plant. However, the final screening decision still rests with the TSA officer.

A few practical tips can make airport screening easier:

• Use a small, light pot that fits your airline’s carry-on or personal-item size rules.
• Wrap the pot or place it in a plastic bag so soil does not spill in the bin or overhead compartment.
• Avoid overwatering before you leave, since wet soil is heavier and messier.
• Keep the plant easy to remove if TSA wants a closer look.
• Check specific airline rules, especially if the plant has thorns, a large pot, or tall stems.

Keep in mind that these rules apply to domestic flights, which are much simpler than international ones. If you’re flying out of the U.S. or bringing plants back from another country, plant rules usually involve customs, agricultural inspection, and sometimes a phytosanitary certificate.

Driving Plants Across State Lines

If you plan on driving plants across state lines, the rules on whether that’s allowed depend on the state you’re entering and the type of vehicle you’re driving. In Florida, trucks, rental trucks, vans, trailers, and vehicles carrying agricultural, horticultural, or livestock products may need to stop at agricultural inspection stations even when going out of the state.

At an inspection station, officers may ask what you’re carrying, look at your plants, and check for pests, soil, fruit, or restricted plant material. This is meant to stop pests and plant diseases from spreading within Florida.

To lower the chance of delays:

• Keep plants near the back of the truck or vehicle so they are easy to inspect.
• Mark “houseplants” clearly on your moving inventory.
• Remove dead leaves, bugs, and loose outdoor soil before moving day.
• Keep plant tags, receipts, or inspection paperwork with you.
• Do not pack citrus plants, cuttings, or suspicious-looking plants without checking the specific laws first.

What Your Destination State Requires

Florida isn’t the only state with laws about what plants are allowed, so if you’re moving across state lines, you need to check the rules in place at your destination as well. Some states allow common houseplants if they are pest-free and kept indoors, while others inspect plants at the border or require paperwork for certain species.

For example, California asks people moving with houseplants to declare them and keep them accessible for inspection. Arizona allows some personal houseplants in commercially prepared potting mix without a certificate, but other plants may need a certificate from the origin state.

A certificate of inspection is usually a domestic plant-health document from a state agriculture agency. It says the plant or shipment was inspected and appears free of pests or disease. A phytosanitary certificate is an official plant-health certificate used for international movement and some regulated shipments. USDA APHIS issues phytosanitary certificates for plants and plant products exported from the U.S.

To get the right document, start with the Department of Agriculture in the state where the plant is located. If you’re moving internationally, check USDA APHIS and the destination country’s rules well ahead of time.

Exotic Animals and Uninspected Pets

You can bring most traditionally domesticated animals into Florida. However, you must get these animals inspected during the first month there. Plan to obtain a certificate of veterinary inspection within 30 days of moving your dog, cat, or bird into the state.

What Are Florida’s Dog Laws?

If you have a cat, you have it easy in Florida — owners have few regulations. But dogs are kept on a shorter regulatory leash.

Florida state law requires vaccinations for nearly a dozen different diseases. One of them is leptospirosis, a potentially fatal disease that usually originates with smaller forms of wildlife or livestock. This disease is often transmitted via animal urine in ponds, puddles, or streams.

Florida’s local laws also typically require you to leash your pup in public. These laws help keep you, your dog, and those around you safe. Florida also has statewide statutes known as strict liability laws that cover dog bites. If your dog snaps, the state holds you responsible for the consequences of your dog’s behavior. So when you’re moving with your dog in Florida, make sure they’re leashed or safely contained during the trip.

What About Other Animals?

Do you own exotic animals or reptiles? You can keep nonvenomous, nonthreatened snakes, reptiles, and amphibians. These pets are welcome during your move to the Sunshine State, but be prepared to transport them yourself. Many Florida moving companies have restrictions on domestic and exotic pet transport.

Exotic animals like gorillas, snow leopards, and Komodo dragons are out of the question, at least without a proper permit. Please don’t take our word for it, though — check what the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has to say.

Recreational Marijuana

Recreational marijuana is still illegal in Florida, whether you live there or you’re just passing through during a move. So if you’re coming from a state where adult-use cannabis is legal, don’t pack it in your car, rental truck, or moving boxes. This is true no matter what state you’re traveling to, since marijuana is still illegal at the federal level, but Florida law specifically treats possession of 20 grams or less of cannabis as a first-degree misdemeanor, and larger amounts or other cannabis products can create more serious legal problems.

Medical marijuana is legal in Florida, but only through Florida’s medical marijuana program. To use or buy medical marijuana legally, a patient must be a permanent or seasonal Florida resident, have a qualifying condition, be entered in Florida’s Medical Marijuana Use Registry, and have a Florida Medical Marijuana Use Registry ID card.

That means an out-of-state medical card does not give you the same rights in Florida. And even if you’re a medical marijuana patient, transporting cannabis across state lines can still create federal legal issues, so it’s not something to bring with you during a move.

Other Legal Things to Check If You’re Moving to Florida

What a bummer it would be to learn about Florida’s major laws only to get nailed for a minor moving violation. With that in mind, here are some things to remember as you roll down the Floridian pavement:

• Seat belts: They're required in the front seat of your vehicle and are mandatory for everyone under 18. This is true no matter where minors are seated.
• Boating: You don’t need a license to operate a boat in Florida. However, you must have a boating education ID card (or out-of-state equivalent) if the vessel has a motor with at least 10 horsepower. This card proves you have completed a boater safety course.
• Yielding to emergency vehicles: Florida's Move Over Law requires motorists to move or give emergency vehicles the right of way. Drivers must move over as soon as it's safe to do so. This law covers authorized law enforcement, emergency, or service vehicles displaying visible signals while stopped on the road.

Florida Driver’s License and Car Registration

You must get a Florida driver’s license within 30 days of becoming a resident. Obtaining a non-driver's ID is an option if you don't drive as well. REAL ID-compliant identification is required if you wish to fly domestically or access most federal buildings in Florida.

Failure to update your license within 30 days can result in fines or other penalties. You may even get your license suspended or revoked after multiple violations.

After moving to Florida, you must obtain insurance for your car or mobile home within 10 days. This insurance must be purchased from a licensed Florida agent or company. You can register and title your vehicle after getting insurance coverage.

If your vehicle has a lien, contact the lienholder about your change of residence. Your lienholder should transfer the title to Florida.

Florida Gun Laws

Despite not being an open-carry state, bringing a gun into Florida is usually legal. This is true even if you don't have a license, but some restrictions do apply. You must be at least 18 years old, and you can’t have a legal history that prevents gun ownership.

Keep in mind you can’t leave your gun out in the open or within easy reach. However, it’s legal to have a gun in your unlocked glove compartment or a box with a lid.

Keep in mind that other states you drive through may have different and stricter laws. Check them before you head for the highway with a gun in tow.

Which weapons can I bring into Florida?

If you own a Florida Concealed Weapons and Firearms License, almost anything goes. Some of the more common weapons Florida allows are:

• Handguns
• Knives
• Brass knuckles
• Tear gas
• Tasers

There are, however, a number of places where carry is still restricted, such as government buildings, schools, and polling places.

No license is required in Florida for:

• Pocket knives under 4 inches
• Chemical spray containing less than 2 ounces of chemicals
• Nonlethal stun guns

You can use this FDACS link if you wish to apply for a CWFL.

Only handguns have specific statewide regulations. For all other weapons, local statutes can vary. Always check before bringing a weapon outside of your home!

Also, keep in mind there's no open carry in Florida except in a few limited circumstances. And while it's legal to own and keep a firearm or weapon in your residence, a private property owner (like your landlord) has the final say.