Surety Bond Encyclopedia

Venomous Reptiles Exhibit ($10,000) Bond - Statewide in Florida

Brief Summary

Florida will not let you show a venomous snake to the public, paid admission or free, until a $10,000 bond payable to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is on file. The bond lets you meet that requirement for an annual premium instead of tying up $10,000 in cash with the Commission.

Section 379.374(1), Florida Statutes, requires anyone who exhibits a venomous reptile to the public, with or without an admission fee, to first post a $10,000 bond payable to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The bond guarantees the exhibitor will indemnify people injured by the animals and will follow every state law and FWC rule on capturing, keeping, possessing and exhibiting venomous reptiles. The surety must be authorized to do business in Florida.

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How to Apply for a Venomous Reptiles Exhibit ($10,000) Bond:

Hold or apply for the FWC License to Possess or Exhibit Venomous Reptiles and/or Reptiles of Concern (VRC).
Download the FWC Bond Form for Exhibition of Venomous Reptiles from the captive wildlife application page.
Provide the exhibitor's legal name exactly as it appears on the FWC license application.
Owner name, address and Social Security number for the credit review.
Complete the bond application, review the quote and pay the premium.
File the executed $10,000 bond with FWC before any public exhibition begins.

Detailed Information About the Florida Venomous Reptiles Exhibit ($10,000) Bond:

Who has to post this bond

The trigger is public exhibition. Section 379.374(1) says no person, party, firm or corporation shall exhibit any venomous reptile to the public, either with or without charge or admission fee, without first posting the bond. Roadside attractions, snake shows, educational programs, festivals and traveling exhibits all fall inside that language. Free shows are covered the same as paid ones.

The bond is a separate step from the FWC license itself. To possess venomous reptiles you also need the License to Possess or Exhibit Venomous Reptiles and/or Reptiles of Concern (VRC). FWC requires 1,000 hours of documented experience with the species or the same biological family, spread over at least one calendar year, two reference letters, and a passed facility and caging inspection before it issues the permit. None of that replaces the bond.

What the bond guarantees

The bond is conditioned on two promises. The exhibitor will indemnify and save harmless all persons from injury or damage caused by the reptiles exhibited, and will fully comply with all state laws and Commission rules on capturing, keeping, possessing or exhibiting venomous reptiles. The statute caps the surety's total liability for all claims at the $10,000 penal sum. If the surety pays a claim, you owe that money back to the surety.

Bond or cash

The statute allows $10,000 in cash posted with the Commission instead of a surety bond. Florida Administrative Code rule 68A-6.005 restates the requirement as a performance bond of $10,000 payable to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. FWC publishes its own Bond Form for Exhibition of Venomous Reptiles on its captive wildlife application page, and that is the form the surety should execute.

Do not confuse this with the Class I rule

Subsection (2) of the same statute covers Class I wildlife such as big cats and bears. That subsection allows $2 million per occurrence liability insurance in place of the $10,000 guarantee. That insurance option is written into the Class I subsection only. The venomous reptile exhibit requirement in subsection (1) calls for the bond or cash.

How premium is set

The surety prices the bond from the owner's personal credit and the applicant's history with the animals. Because the bond carries an indemnity promise for injuries to the public, underwriters look closely at the facility, the handling experience and any prior claims.

Eligibility and Requirements for a Florida Venomous Reptiles Exhibit ($10,000) Bond:

Penal sum of exactly $10,000, payable to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
A surety company authorized to do business under Florida law.
Bond conditioned on indemnifying injured persons and complying with all FWC venomous reptile rules.
FWC licensing prerequisites met separately: 1,000 documented hours, two reference letters and a passed facility inspection.
Owner credit review and a review of handling experience by the underwriter.

Florida Venomous Reptiles Exhibit ($10,000) Bond FAQs:

I do free educational snake shows. Do I still need the bond?

Yes. Section 379.374(1) applies to exhibiting a venomous reptile to the public either with or without charge or admission fee. Whether you charge is irrelevant.

Can I carry liability insurance instead?

The $2 million liability insurance option in section 379.374(2) is for Class I wildlife. For venomous reptile exhibits, subsection (1) calls for a $10,000 bond from a surety authorized in Florida, or $10,000 cash posted with the Commission.

Does my VRC license satisfy the bond requirement?

No. The VRC license, the experience hours, the references and the facility inspection are licensing steps. The bond is a separate filing required before you exhibit to the public.

What is the most the surety will pay?

The statute limits the surety's aggregate liability for all injuries or damages to the $10,000 penal sum of the bond. You remain personally responsible for anything above that and for repaying the surety.

Which form do I use?

FWC lists a Bond Form for Exhibition of Venomous Reptiles on its captive wildlife application and information page. Confirm you have the current version with the FWC Captive Wildlife Office before the bond is issued.