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Recipient Site

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Recipient sites are privately or publicly owned lands onto which tortoises that are displaced by development will be relocated under a new permitting system created under the management plan. The objective of the recipient site program is to provide the highest level of long-term security for the gopher tortoise and its habitat on permitted recipient sites. Permitted recipient sites help to prevent the loss of tortoises on development sites, help retain the local or regional tortoise resource, and can contribute to habitat preservation if sites receive long-term protection.

Private landowners can play a key role in helping conserve and restore gopher tortoise habitat and several elements of the plan are of direct interest to private landowners. One exciting element is the opportunity for landowners to have their land certified as a gopher tortoise recipient site. Landowners that have their properties certified as recipient sites may receive financial compensation from the donor site owner (such as a developer).  This financial compensation can offset any upfront costs associated with becoming a certified recipient site.

Recipient sites will require active management to ensure that habitat continues to remain suitable for the gopher tortoise. (Refer to Appendix 3 of the FWC gopher tortoise permitting guidelines (1MB) for habitat management plan requirements.)  To assist with this management, FWC provides landowner assistance programs for appropriate privately owned uplands for gopher tortoise conservation. Technical and financial assistance is available for several habitat management activities (e.g., prescribed burning, vegetation management).

Long-Term Protected Recipient Site Permit

Long-term protected recipient sites may qualify to receive up to 4 gopher tortoises per acre depending on site characteristics [for specifics visit FWC gopher tortoise permitting guidelines(1MB)].

To receive certification as a long-term protected recipient site, candidate properties must:

• contain a minimum of 40 acres of contiguous suitable uplands;
• contain soils that provide ample depth for tortoise burrows (depth to seasonal high water table value of 1.5 feet or greater);
• provide a plentiful food source (average herbaceous cover of at least 30%);
• have a sparse or open tree canopy to allow sunlight to reach the gopher tortoises since they do not create their own body heat (average canopy cover of 60% or less), and;
• be protected by a conservation easement acceptable to FWC. For a draft conservation easement form please refer to Draft Conservation Easement .

Refer to the long-term protected recipient site permit application checklist for a list of items that will be needed to complete the online application process.

Short-Term or Unprotected Recipient Site Permit

Short-term or unprotected recipient sites may qualify to receive up to 2 gopher tortoises per acre depending on site characteristics [for specifics visit FWC gopher tortoise permitting guidelines(1MB)].

To receive certification as a short-term or unprotected recipient site, candidate properties must:

• contain a minimum of 25 acres of continuous suitable uplands, and;
• contain soils that provide minimal depth for tortoise burrows (depth to seasonal high water table value of 1 foot or greater), and;
• have a sparse or open tree canopy (average canopy cover of 60% or less).

Refer to the short-term or unprotected recipient site permit application checklist for a list of items that will be needed to complete the online application process.

Apply for a Recipient Site Permit

If you are interested in applying to have your land certified as a long-term protected gopher tortoise recipient site, you can apply online at the FWC gopher tortoise online permitting site. A user name and password is required. Please refer to the long-term protected recipient site permit application checklist for a list of items needed to complete the online application process.

If you are interested in applying to have your land certified as a short-term or unprotected gopher tortoise recipient site, you can apply online at the FWC gopher tortoise online permitting site. A user name and password is required. Please refer to the short-term or unprotected recipient site permit application checklist for a list of items needed to complete the online application process.

A paper-based application for long-term protected and short-term or unprotected recipient sites is also available, but online application submission is preferred to help expedite a more timely review process.

Authorized Agent and Recipient Site locator

If you are looking for authorized gopher tortoise agent or a recipient site location and contact information, please access our online locator map.

For More Information

The permitting guidelines that include the full description on gopher tortoise recipient sites are available for download at SpeciesInfo_GopherTortoise.htm.

If you have questions on gopher tortoise permitting please contact the gopher tortoise conservation biologist in your region.

Gopher tortoise conservation depends on participation of public and private lands.